Evening star., 1948-07-03
Truman Signs
ST. EIizabeths,
Ga||inger Bill
Law Will Assure
Prompt Treatment
Of Mentally III

Hospital for hundreds of mentally il
patients, it was learned today.
The new law permits mental pa
tients requiring extended care to g
directly to st. Elizabeths, instead o
stopping first at Gallinger as the,
now are required to do.
It will affect particularly thos.
who have been Ill at home or il
other hospitals for some time under
physicians care and are obviously
in need of considerable hospita
treatment, according to DR.. Winfree
Overholser, superintendent of st
Elizabeths Hospital.
Major Effect Seen.
The change in the law is a simple
one, but health and hospital Off.
cials agree it will have a major
effect on patients.
Previously, even patients who
were known to have been mentally
Ill for some time had to go to Gal.
linger in order to get into St Eliza.
beths.
At Gallinger they were thrown in
with drunks, court prisoners, am
nesia victims, perverts and those
suffering from a variety of diseases
Because Gallinger was understaffed
they got little or no treatment ano
sometimes were even strapped to
their beds.
In this atmosphere, they went
through a physical and mental ex-
animation.
In a matter of a few days OF
weeks, they we're sent to st. Eliza
beths. There they had to &C
through a physical and mental ex-
animation again. They mad to wait
for their belongings, including eye
glasses, to be transferred-a little
thing that could be a big irritation
to an already disturbed patient.
Many Requests"
Dr. Overholser said he had many
requests" from relatives anxious tc
spare their loved ones the trial Of
double disqualification. Having de-
cided finally that a mentally i'll
relative had to be committed fo1
treatment, these members of the
family wanted the relative to be
admitted directly to st. Elizabeths
But, until now, the phrase in the
law providing that all cases had te
be observed first at Gallinger baked
efforts of relatives to get patients
directly admitted to st, Elizabeths
With the Presidents signature
the law now permits direct adAnis-
sion to st. Elizabeths in nonpolice
cases.
Procedure Stated.
To have patient sent to st
Elizabeths, a petition must be flee
In court, with affidavits from two
or more responsible District resi-.
dents.
The afidavits must state that the
signers believe the person is insane
or of unsound mind, incapable OF
managing his own affairs, not fit to
be at large and a fit subject for
treatment. The signers must say
how long they have known the per-
son and that, if he remains at lib
erty, peace and property will be
jeopardized
The court then may issue an
order to have the person taken to
st. Elizabeths Hospital for pre-
liminary examination, leading to his
commitment or release.
Commitment through this court
procedure has been on the books
before, but was little used because
other methods of commitment were
simpler and relatives had no choice
but to see their loved ones go to
Gallinger.
The other methods of commit
ment-through police action-re-
main unchanged. These patients
will continue to go to Gallinger.
Wider Use Seen.
DR.. Overholser and Mental Health
Commission aides agreed that, when
it becomes known the court pro-
cedure will open the door to st.
Elizabeths, it will be more widely
used.
The Mental Health Commission
estimated half dozen cases a week
involve persons who have been
mentally i'll at home for some time.
1t was believed these are cases in
which relatives will take advantage
of the new law.
DR.. Overholser emphasized that
patients going directly to st. Eliza
beths will be protected by the same
legal rights as those going to Gal
linger. The patient must be eX-
amined within five days of admis-
sion and must be released within a
month, if he is found to be of sound
mind.
Only Difference in Law. .
The only difference that the law
makes is the locale. Instead of get
ting a hearing before the Mental
Health Commission at Gallinger
the patient will get it at st. Eliza
beths.
DR.. Overholser estimated that be-
tween 1900 and $500 patients from
Gallingers psychopathic division are
sent to ST Elizabeths annually. He
estimated that perhaps half of then
will now go directly to st. Eliza.
beths.
The Star urged the legislation az
a means of relieving Gallinger's
overcrowded, understaffed psyche.
pathic division. 1t was introduced
in the House May 18 by Chairman
Miller of the House District Sub
committee on Health, Education ant
Recreation.
DR. Miller called on the Distrie
Commissioners to give him. a pro
posed draft after The Star. in al
article entitled "A Study in Futil
ity," pointed out that months hat
passed since Commissioner Gu,
Mason promised action within a
hours
Congress, acting a lot faster thai
the District Building, put through
the legislation in exactly one month
poe&o,on (anfoneed