Penguin68 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I complained to the emergency services and they > said there is nothing we can do until he hurts > someone > > You assume a benevolent society - I would be very > worried if the mentally ill could be banged-up or > sectioned at the say-so of coppers or passers by - > of course sometimes it goes terribly wrong - but > when someone is simply distressed, refuses help > and isn't breaking the law then (I am very glad to > say) there is nothing that anyone can be forced to > do. > > Of course sometimes, if people have time, they may > be able to help by listening - but a society when > the well-meaning can interfere against the will of > the interered with is quite a dangerous society. > > Individual freedom to be miserable without > enforced hospitalisation is, broadly a good thing. > Facilities shouod be available to help those who > have decided they need it, but not to force 'help' > on those who clearly don't want it. As I > understand it, he could have got medical help if > he had not refused that offered. The situation > changes when an individual becomes a clear and > immediate threat to themselves or others, but the > process of 'sectioning' necessarily is complex and > requires qualified medical (psychiatric) > intervention. This. Well said.