I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know who he saw at the hospital but they do have several psychiatrists on staff according to their website. I cannot believe that they let him go the same afternoon when the police sent him there. It is very much like Lori Vallow being released immediately after the psych eval in AZ. These mental health ”professionals” need to be taking their jobs a bit more seriously. The 72-hour hold gives them 3 days to evaluate before deciding whether to release or commit for further treatment. So why are people like this being put back on the street? I hope someone files some lawsuits against these doctors and facilities and holds them accountable for these deaths.
I've worked in ER's, psychiatric hospitals, jails and prisons - as a researcher. At first, I was really shocked by who does NOT get held against their will.
But apparently, the US Constitution calls for due process. And local practices and budgets are not up to the task.
Being naked in a store is NOT a reason for most people to get more than a ticket - even though the rest of us think it's a psychiatric issue. It's not our opinion that counts.
To get someone like this on a hold, the family has to be highly energetic and find the right doctor (one who will sign for a 72 hour hold).
I have been through this process with a family member. It is a full time job, really, getting them remanded into care - for three days! During that time, the staff at the facility will try and convince the person to stay longer - voluntarily (and many of them do, as they are horrified at their own behavior once they are stabilized).
Mental illness is real. And I totally agree with you that our system is a failure. 72 hour holds are not given in most places just because someone disrobes in public.
Over and over, the courts rule and the law says:
must be a danger to themselves or others.
Being naked is not a threat to others. There are hundreds of small infractions that people with less than stellar mental health do daily (speeding is more a threat to others - and deliberate speeding is very much a threat to others - do we ever see people put on psychiatric holds for speeding?)
Psychiatrists are trained to a certain standard. If the person is ranting about killing others, if the person ALSO has the means to kill others (guns, knives)...then MAYBE they'll go on a hold. But IME, psychiatrists want to meet the standard of their own profession. The patient either has to state their intentions (I'm going to kill myself) AND have the means. The standard next questions are about the HOW. How do you plan to do it? How do you plan to harm others?
The answers that people give to this (after being naked in public or doing some other weird act) are various. Many of them are able to pull themselves together (in the cold light of the psychiatric assessment) and say "I don't plan to kill anyone."
They will walk free. Unless, of course, they've been throwing rocks off freeways or shooting at cars. But merely being naked in a store? NO way is that to the standard of most of our 50 states.
Legal reform is needed - there's no way to make psychiatrists and other physicians do what they are not trained to do. (If I were a family member of Kali's, I'd be planning a civil suit - that's probably the only way we'll get change; isn't likely to happen, but we can hope).
IMO. IME.
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I hope Zeke and Kali are at peace together now at least.
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