UTAH'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE NATIONAL DRAFT ACT FOR HOSPITALIZATION OF THE MENTALLY ILL
Abstract
1.The experience of a year with the Federal Security Agency Draft Act incorporated into the State Law of Utah in May, 1951, indicates that this "model law" has distinct advantages and, in general, has proved itself to be efficient and workable.
2. Two major and rather important revisions of the law are indicated:
(a). Provision for some form of legally authorized medical personnel to handle the patient who is not dangerous, but is merely uncooperative, lacking in insight, stubborn, or recalcitrant. These persons would have authority to assist in the examination of such patients and to transport them to the hospital as directed by the appropriate commitment procedure.
(b). A regularly constituted medical authority to review the admissions to the hospital and investigate complaints, thus protecting the superintendent and his staff from the often unjust criticism directed at them and protecting the patients from those rare situations in which there is grossly inadequate care and observation.
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