Evening star., 1935-03-10
Humane Reform Proposed
For Mental Health Cases.

TOR a number of years it has
L been urged that there be a
new method introduced for
the practice prescribed by exist
ing law for inquiry and commit
ment Of insane persons. Different
philanthropic organizations and
specialists in the treatment of
mental diseases have pointed out
the District is far from modern
and humane in the procedure fol-
lowed.
To give the mentally sick and
their families and friends a new
deal the District Commissioners
directed the corporation counsel
to draft a suitable amendment to
the provision of the District code.
This bill, H. r. 3451, has been
under consideration by the Bar
Association, Medical Society and
the Federation of Citizens Associ-
ationS.
The federation's Law and Legis-
lation Committee split on the
proposition, there being majority
and minority reports presented.
These reports with the explana-
tions were not completed at the
meeting on March and the body
recessed until last night. AS this
is written it is not known what
decision will be reached by the
federation.
The majority report approves
the enactment of the Commis-
sioners' bill with certain perfect
ing amendments. regarded as eS-
sential. The minority report holds
the present jury system for han
ding such cases is absolutely nec-
essary for the preservation of lib
berty, and the establishment of
more humane and considerate
procedure is entirely within the
power Of the court.
Many who have studied our lo-
cal procedure, as required by the
District code, believe its similarity
to procedure against criminals is
entirely out of harmony with
modern humane ideas for the
treatment of those who are men
tally sick. There remains in the
District system much Of the old
ignorance and superstition of the
past as to those thus afflicted. The
very terms lunatic and lunacy are
relics of barbaric days when the
mentally sick were supposed to
have been affected by some pecu-
liar influence of the moon.
Insanity, once regarded as in
durable, has under modern meth
DDS of treatment and modern
science been found to be cur
able in a large and increasing
percentage of cases. Proponents
Of this bill aim to give the patient,
at the earliest possible moment,
the benefit of the best curative
treatment available with a mini
mum of shock to both patient and
his family.
The present law operates very
much like a criminal law. The
case is required to be heard in a
criminal court and the patient and
witnesses and next of kin are COM
manded in the name Of the Presi-
dent of the United States to appear
in the criminal court at the ap-
pointed time, where the case is
heard before jury. The proposed
plan Is for hearings before COM
mission consisting Of two physi-
clans and one member Of the bar
of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Proceedings in
the inquiry by the commission
shall be under direction Of the
equity court. Definite provision is
made for hearing before a jury If
demanded by the alleged insane
person or some one in his behalf.
Proponents of this reform are
firm in their opinion that there is
to be found no remedy IN existing
law and depending upon the pro-
cedure being modified by the court.
They claim courts are very reluc-
tant to broaden their jurisdiction
even though the right TO do so be
unquestioned, and that there is no
hope for the introduction of mod
ern methods except through chan
nels Of remedial legislation.
Congress in 1916 recognized
modern thought on this subject by
changing the name of the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane to
that OF st. Elizabeth's Hospital and
gave as its objects "the most hu-
name and enlightened curative
treatment of the insane of the
Army and Navy of the United
States and Of the District Of Co
lumbia.," The name st. Elizabeth's