In recent years, several states have made changes to their policies to make involuntary commitment easier for individuals with severe mental illnesses. However, despite these policy changes, there are still concerns about the civil rights implications of forced treatment, with some arguing that it can do more harm than good for patients.
Today, the ethical dilemma of involuntary mental health treatment is being discussed on On Point. The guests for this episode include Will James, the host of KUOW and The Seattle Times’ “Lost Patients” podcast, as well as Dominic Sisti, an associate professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the Scattergood Program for the Applied Ethics of Behavioral Health Care.
Also featured on the program are Laura Craciun, a mother who struggles with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features and anosognosia, and Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu, the founder and executive director of Project LETS.
This episode aired on April 17, 2024, and the audio will be available soon for those who missed the broadcast.