On Aug. 6, the Anchorage Daily News editorial board put forth its opinion on Alaska’s mental health needs. One of the suggestions was that the House should take up Sen. Matt Claman’s Senate Bill 53. If passed, the law would make it easier for people who have been accused of committing a crime to be civilly committed to a psychiatric facility.
The one question that has not been answered about Senate Bill 53 is how nonviolent patients would be adequately protected in psychiatric facilities when more violent patients are added. There is no good answer to that question from the Alaska Legislature. The Legislature has passed very few laws to prevent psychiatric patients from being injured, mistreated or traumatized. That should be considered when looking at Claman’s bill.
There must be a permanent independent advisory committee to the Legislature that makes recommendations on the standard of patient care. It cannot just be left to the Department of Health, providers of psychiatric services, or hospital certification organizations that work for providers.
— Faith J. Myers
Anchorage
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