Treating the Mentally Ill
- Share via
* I support passage of Assembly Bill 1421 to amend the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which bars doctors, judges and counselors from compelling seriously mentally ill people to be treated unless it can be proven they are a danger to themselves or others. As a physician in private practice, as a volunteer in clinics and homeless shelters, and as a concerned citizen I strongly recommend it.
Many of our homeless, vagrant population are mentally ill. They are unable to care for themselves and demean a society that should be more caring of the less fortunate.
Our public health organizations track, treat and sometimes detain those who are a danger to themselves and likely to contribute to the spread of disease. It is my opinion that we have a similar obligation to those who have mental illness and to the welfare of the community as a whole.
JOHN A. KING
Ojai
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
