All Things Britney Spears - Thread No. 8

[OneLostGrl]

In response to this post http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1974273&postcount=336 by chiperoni-

Sadly, California does not have the same commitment laws described in the link you gave.

The extent of Ca.'s outpatient commitment laws are as follows-

"Outpatient Committal"

There is only limited civil outpatient committal in California. Outpatient commitment occurs when the patient is required to comply with a treatment plan outside the walls of a psychiatric unit. Outpatient committal is the least restrictive form of involuntary commitment. Section 5305 of the Welfare and Institution Code allows outpatient commitment of individuals who had been previously placed on a 180-day hold because of demonstrated danger during their initial involuntary treatment certification. It does not allow outpatient committal for people who are passively dangerous to self, previously dangerous to others, gravely disabled, or suicidal. The person so committed may be placed on outpatient status if the professional in charge of the facility and the county mental health director advise the court the person will no longer be dangerous, will benefit from outpatient status, and will participate in an appropriate program of supervision and treatment. Because of the limit of 180 days, little time is allowed to utilize outpatient status as a successful mode of reintegration to the community and is another reason it is rarely used."
Link-http://www.desertpacific.mirecc.va.gov/news/lps-reform.shtml#legal

Stuff like this is why I brought up the LPS act yesterday. Mental health laws are a joke.

 

[chiperoni]

tnx for the link OneLostGirl. It seems to me an involuntary outpatient comittment, (when possible) would be more focused, based on the real world, and more humane for some patients. California mental health laws need to catch up.

 

[OneLostGrl]

tnx for the link OneLostGirl. It seems to me an involuntary outpatient comittment, (when possible) would be more focused, based on the real world, and more humane for some patients. California mental health laws need to catch up.

I agree! and I agree again!

 

[SuziQ]

There was such a severe abuse of mentally ill patients rights that the pendelum swung completely the other way. We've all heard the stories of patients spending their entire lives in an institution for no other reason than they were a difficult child and weren't mentally ill at all. Or the tubal ligations performed so the wouldn't "breed". And many of those patients weren't mentally ill either. The current laws could be improved upon. But I think everyone is scared of going back to the dark ages.

I remember when the laws changed and Atascadero hospital in Calif. released most of it's patients. For years, and it still may be that way, there were a lot of severly mentally ill patients roaming the streets of nearby Santa Barbara. The police there carried pooper scoopers in their cars to literally clean piles of crap off the streets.

 

[deanws]

.

I remember when the laws changed and Atascadero hospital in Calif. released most of it's patients. For years, and it still may be that way, there were a lot of severly mentally ill patients roaming the streets of nearby Santa Barbara. The police there carried pooper scoopers in their cars to literally clean piles of crap off the streets.

Sad, very sad.

 

[chiperoni]

Those people were just set loose with no mandatory followup. With involuntary outpatient commitment there is a plan of treatment, meds, therapy and strict monitoring. If the patient does not follow through they are warned and if it continues they will be sent back to psych. hospital. In California they have used involuntary outpatient commitment only rarely. I'm sure this kind of program requires resources and manpower. That means money.

 

[jilly]

There was such a severe abuse of mentally ill patients rights that the pendelum swung completely the other way. We've all heard the stories of patients spending their entire lives in an institution for no other reason than they were a difficult child and weren't mentally ill at all. Or the tubal ligations performed so the wouldn't "breed". And many of those patients weren't mentally ill either. The current laws could be improved upon. But I think everyone is scared of going back to the dark ages.

I remember when the laws changed and Atascadero hospital in Calif. released most of it's patients. For years, and it still may be that way, there were a lot of severly mentally ill patients roaming the streets of nearby Santa Barbara. The police there carried pooper scoopers in their cars to literally clean piles of crap off the streets.

I don't live in the US but years ago when our government closed down our major psychiatric hospital they simply turned the patients out onto the street. This hospital is currently being rented out to the movie industry!

A week ago a very detailed police report came out about how they were using most of their time and resources to deal with the mentally ill on the streets (the downtown core). Fortunately this report has come out at a good time because because we are hosting the 2010 Olympics. Seems that the government is now going to reopen parts of the hospital for the severely mentally ill - can't let the tourists see this imperfection in our beautiful City!

 

[SuziQ]

The below linked article is more of the same about Brit's manager being canned. But there is a cute pic of Brit's dad as a chef.

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/02/09/2008-02-09_britney_spears_dad_to_sack_manager.html

 

[SuziQ]

Those people were just set loose with no mandatory followup.

It was the craziest thing! No money, no job training, no follow up care. Just dump them on the streets. That topic raised (Doonsbury comic?) to stardom. It was cruel and unusual punishment, IMO.

 

[deanws]

I don't live in the US but years ago when our government closed down our major psychiatric hospital they simply turned the patients out onto the street. This hospital is currently being rented out to the movie industry!

A week ago a very detailed police report came out about how they were using most of their time and resources to deal with the mentally ill on the streets (the downtown core). Fortunately this report has come out at a good time because because we are hosting the 2010 Olympics. Seems that the government is now going to reopen parts of the hospital for the severely mentally ill - can't let the tourists see this imperfection in our beautiful City!

Well, whatever the cause...at least they are doing the correct thing for these poor people by opening up the hospital again.

 

[SuziQ]

The good news is she isn't driving!
http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/09/britney-at-the-dance-studio-again/

Britney is out and about again -- and this time she has a new bodyguard by her side -- and her usual Starbucks in her hand. (more at link)

 

[SuziQ]

http://perezhilton.com/2008-02-09-your-daily-britney

Britney Spears continues to be protected by a new bodyguard, a good thing. She's also being chauffeured around by a driver, another good thing.
Hopefully these little changes will make a BIG difference in her life.
Slowly, the mother of two seems to be returning back to "normal."
None other than our very own colorist and friend, Kim Vo, paid a visit to Brit Brit at her home on Thursday, where he lightened her hair up a bit. Maybe it's a reflection of a lightening mood in her life!
Spears quietly sneaked out of her home on Friday and went on a little shopping trip. She later hit up her favorite dance studio, Millennium, for some healthy exercise - a good thing.
Meanwhile, Brit's father, Jamie Spears, is taking his conservatorship of his daughter seriously and seriously trying to make sure she gets better (and making changes accordingly).
Poppa Jamie has fired Spears' business manager, Howard Grossman, presumably because of his buddy buddy relationship with the shady Osama Lutfi.
In other Britney developments, her lawyers at Trope & Trope have once again been asked to be removed from her custody case.
That will be determined at a hearing scheduled for March 10th.
The weekend is here now and hopefully Britney will take it easy. Take it easy, girl.

 

[deanws]

I wish they would quit calling her popwreck and all that other crap. She is sick...and it has been show most likely drugged. Geeze...Could the paps give her a break for a week or two?

 

[CarpeDiem]

All the sites and mags are the same. They took a kazzilion pics of her last night, but what do the use? Pics of her after her dance workout with those ugly hose she likes to wear while dancing (couldn't the thief have taken those??? lol) and sweaty, messed up hair. The worse the pic the better for them. They do it to other's too, take tons of pics and use the one where the subject is in mid-blink or whatever and give the impression like the person is drunk or high. That's messed up, not fair.

 

[jilly]

Well, whatever the cause...at least they are doing the correct thing for these poor people by opening up the hospital again.

Oh I agree! It's just sick in itself that the government has previously favored revenue over mental health! Unfortunately, this won't include my harmless brother wandering around with schizophrenia!

 

[deanws]

Oh I agree! It's just sick in itself that the government has previously favored revenue over mental health! Unfortunately, this won't include my harmless brother wandering around with schizophrenia!

AWWWL so sorry Jilly. I know you must worry about him.

 

[jilly]

AWWWL so sorry Jilly. I know you must worry about him.

:blowkiss: I sent you a pm.

 

[deanws]

:blowkiss: I sent you a pm.

:blowkiss:

 

[Utopia]

There is a very good reason why there was a move away from institutionalization, not just for people who experience mental illness but for all people with disabilities who used to be routinely institutionalized. Anyone remember "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"? I agree that tossing people onto the street is not the right solution, but neither is going back to institutionalization. As a person who experienced institional living for 8 years as a child (as a result of physical disability) and as a student of disability studies, I speak from experience. Proper community supports for people who experience disability and their families is what is needed and this is where resources should be allocated - not in warehousing human beings - IMO.

 

[deanws]

There is a very good reason why there was a move away from institutionalization, not just for people who experience mental illness but for all people with disabilities who used to be routinely institutionalized. Anyone remember "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"? I agree that tossing people onto the street is not the right solution, but neither is going back to institutionalization. As a person who experienced institional living for 8 years as a child (as a result of physical disability) and as a student of disability studies, I speak from experience. Proper community supports for people who experience disability and their families is what is needed and this is where resources should be allocated - not in warehousing human beings - IMO.

Good point Utopia.