Evening star., 1939-06-25

act on very questionable legal
grounds. take the person there by
force, and then go through with the
fiction that he is giving himself up
There was typical case of this
only the other day. Two persons
were in the home-a young woman
about to give birth to a baby and
an old man, her stepfather. The old
man suddenly became maniacal. He
was determined to kill the woman
The family doctor was at his wits
end. He sought the advice of psy-
chiatrists and was told that all he
could do was to get enough neigh
bors to handle the abnormally
strong old man, get him into a car
and bring him to Gallinger. There
it was possible, the physicians after
hearing Of the desperate situation
might take a chance on going to Jail
II held to a strict accounting anC
make the assumption that the pa
tient had come there of his own
free will and asked for commit
ment.
Bill Reported Favorably.
The House District Committee al
ready has reported favorably on the
Vreeland bill, but although tomor-
row is District Day in the House
there Is strong possibility this
measure will not be called up. Its
sponsor, Representative Albert L.
Vreeland, New Jersey Republican
said last night he was not quite
ready for the House to consider his
legislation.
In recommending that the Vree-
land bill be approved by Congress,
the District Committee called atten-
ton to these provisions in the meas
ure:
1t repeals the present law provid-
ing for insanity proceedings and
eliminates the Lunacy Commission,
thus saving taxpayers approximate
ly $23, 900 annually.
Without taking away any of the
rights of mentally ill patient, it
expedites the transfer of such pa
tient to a hospital having proper
facilities for his care.
1t says that upon written appli-
cation or petition under oath a per-
son may be temporarily confined
to Gallinger and there be examined
by two physicians having at least
five years residence and five years
practice. Under oath they would
certify to the patients condition.
If sane, release would be imme-
diate. If not, the petition would
be referred to District Court or
Police Court, where a judge, II sat-
isfied with the qualifications of the
physicians, would sign an order tenn
porarily committing the person to
st. Elizabeth's. Such order, how
ever, in no case would require more
than two days confinement at GAL
linger.
Voluntary Commitment Permitted.
During temporary commitment
the patient would be re-examined by
Gallinger's chief psychiatrist and
two staff doctors from st. Eliza
beth's. If adjudged insane, the find
ings would be forwarded to the
health officer and a date set for a
hearing in Equity Court. Unless
jury trial was requested by the
patient or relatives, the court would
determine the sanity or insanity of
the patient. And as the case war
ranted, he either would be freed or
committed to st. Elizabeth's by the
court.
1t also provides for voluntary COM
mitment, and for cured patient to
receive a court order discharging
him from the hospital.
In reporting on the Vreeland bill,
the District Committee said its pur-
pose lis to save the District an un-
necessary expenditure for an unnec-
essary department and to simplify
the procedure and TO prevent the
continuance of the deplorable condi-
tions that now exist In the Gallinger
psychopathic ward, not due to an in
efficiency of personnel. but by lack
of equipment and facilities for the
handling Of patients of this type"