Evening star., 1947-12-02
ST. EIizabeths
Billion Voluntary
Cases Backed
Federal, D. c. Groups
Favor Changing Of
Admission Policy
BY Harold B. Rogers

SpokeSmen Tor several District
and Federal agencies today told q
House Labor subcommittee they ap-
proved the principle Of voluntary
admission Of mental patients to st.
Elizabeths Hospital.
Several amendments were sug-
gested, however, to improve . pend
ing bill which would accomplish this
purpose.
The measure, introduced by Rep
resentative Buck, Republican, Of
New York, at the suggestion Of the
Federal Security Agency, was COM
mended by the District Commission
ers through Assistant Corporation
Counsel Irving Bryan, who pro-
posed several changes, however.
Earlier Bill Opposed.
The Commissioners opposed a
somewhat similar bill in the Sew
enty-ninth Congress sponsored by
the District Medical Society.
The need for such legislation was
stressed by DR.. Winfred Overholser
superintendent of st. Eiizabeths;
Sidney A.. Saperstein, OF the Public
Health Service; Frederick A. Thuee,
acting chairman Of the District
Commission on Mental Health; DR..
william c. Woodward, chairman Of
the District Bar Associations new
subcommittee on mental health;
and Arthur Katimk, OF the same
subcommittee.
In 4 statement submitted by Mr..
saperstein, Dr.. Robert H. Felix,
chief Of the mental hygiene division
of the Public Health Service. de-
clared that under the principle OF
voluntary admission "the patients
cooperation in early treatment and
his will to recover are encouraged.
Furthermore, he added, there is
less possibility that the legal ma
chinery and the delay of adiudica-
ton will create a wedge alternating
the patient from his family and So
cial environment, or from his ply
tsician.'
Phraseology Questioned.
DR.. Woodward, physician as well
as a lawyer, raised several questions
about the phraseology Of the bill.
In response, however, to question
by Representative Brehm, Repub-
lican, OF Ohio, as to whether he IA
vored the idea, DR.. Woodward said
that . properly written bill was
"very highly desirable"
He charged, however, that the
pending measure was only a "skele-
ton bill" and should be perfected In
many particulars.
For the District Commissioners,
Mr.. Bryan told the committee that
the city heads "are In favor of the
purpose to provide voluntary ad-
mission" but proposed five specific
amendments to the Buck bill.
They are for clarification, he said,
or to make more certain that the
District may be able to obtain re-
endorsement from patients or their
Representatives for the cost Of their
care. .
Provisions Of Bill.
The bill provides that q patient
feeling in need Of mental treatment
may voluntarily apply for admission
to st. Elizabeths, but must be certi-
fed by the Board of Public Welfare
as bona fide resident of the Dis
trict.
The bill should be amended, Mr.
Bryan proposed, to specify that the
patient. should have been resident
Fof the District for at least a year
before becoming eligible for such
treatment.
! A long amendment proposed by
the Commissioners would provide
several safeguards to strengthen the
power of the city to collect from
those patients or their legal repre-.
sentatives who could pay for thei'
care