Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05
WILBUR PROPOSES
DRASTIC CHANGE IN
D. {. LUNACY LAWS
Would Reform Method of
Admission and Treatment
at st. EIizabeth'S.
COMMISSIONERS URGED
TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION
Humanitarian and Medical At
titude Toward Insane Patients
Recommended.

The District government was urged
by Secretary of the Interior Wilbur, in
his annual report today, to take the
initiative in securing legislation for a
complete revision of the city's lunacy
laws in order to change the drastic
method of admission to and the treat
ment of patients at st. Elizabeths
Hospital.
AS a result of a House committee
hearing on bill introduced at the last
session Of Congress, Mr.. Wilbur as
serted that from testimony adduced 1--WE
are more than ever of the opinion that
and treatment of patients at st. Eliza
beth'S Hospital should be revised"
Asks District to Act.
But" he added, I'VE believe that the
initiative should be taken by repre-
sentatives of the District government,
and the Interior Department, through
representatives of the hospital, should
cooperate with the District authorities
in securing enactment of the proposed
bill into a law.
THE District is primarily interested
in such legislation, as it affects the well
fare of its residents. and we believe if
the initiative is taken by them, it would
result in heartier cooperation and have
tendency to receive better considera-
ton"
A committee of medical advisers
which made a survey of the situation
under the direction of Secretary Will
bur made number of recommendations
for remedial legislation, but did not I'M
dertake, it was pointed out, to draft a
measure for this purpose.
Commenting on these suggestions,
Secretary Wilbur said:
The design of the bill suggested was
to provide a method in keeping with
the modern humanitarian and medical
attitude toward this class of patients
ana along lines which have proved eff
fective in several of the States and in
other countries"
Main Changes in Bill.
The main changes incorporated in the
new bill from the existing legislation
as outlined by Secretary Wilbur are:
Provision for voluntary commit
ment for treatment, on request of
patients, with provision for discharge
on three days notice.
Provision that insane persons taken
into custody by the police or other
officials shall not be subjected to trials
as are criminals, but may be held in
the hospital and treated and not tried
except upon their request or requests
OF their relatives, guardians or friends.
IF a trial is demanded by an insane
person, his guardian, or friends, or by
court, upon petition, the insane per-
son shall be heard by the court and
not subjected to trial by jury unless
the insane person, his relatives, guar
dian or friends demand it.
Temporary commitment or deten-
ton is provided for, with provision
that during such temporary commit
ment, and prior to formal commit
ment, the person may be released upon
certificate to the District of Columbia
by the superintendent of the hospital
or by two physicians in regular attend
ance at any other hospital where the
patient may be detained, that the per-
son is not insane or has recovered his
or her reason.
Provision for the automatic restor-
alton Of the civil rights of patients
discharged from the hospital on Ger
tifcate of the superintendent that they
are cured or that further treatment is
unnecessary or undesirable.
THE proposed legislation recon-
mended, 1t is believed, would for the
most part make unnecessary writs OF
habeas corpus and would make simpler
the release of patients to those compe-
tent to care for them"