tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post8793438183960267567..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: why tell Charlie?Spence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-21394894285324216632012-10-07T16:15:26.362+00:002012-10-07T16:15:26.362+00:00Absolutely - but as far as capacity goes, I think ...Absolutely - but as far as capacity goes, I think it's the case that you can't assume a lack of it just because someone has expressed suicidal thoughts / made an attempt. The only grounds for intervening is if you think there's some reason the person isn't able to act rationally - influence of drugs, for example. But I completely agree. All this is fine when you're away from the situation with the luxury of discussing the legal niceties. In the moment, I can't imagine anyone simply standing by and watching as someone attempted to hurt themselves. It just doesn't sound reasonable - or humane!<br /><br />Thanks v much for the comment, Wynn.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-21940632154663577702012-10-07T13:59:29.541+00:002012-10-07T13:59:29.541+00:00I would have thought that his clear statement to t...I would have thought that his clear statement to the warden would satisfy a court that he had suicidal intentions and was a danger to himself.<br /><br />And I think you nailed it, Spence, when you pointed out that, on some level, he wanted to be rescued. The suicidal brain is irrational.Wordfiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11953425796249652505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-7827654102460502602012-10-02T13:50:38.432+00:002012-10-02T13:50:38.432+00:00This whole area of competency / best interest is f...This whole area of competency / best interest is fraught with difficulty. Apparently, you can't deduce a lack of capacity from someone who's attempted / attempting suicide. If you lay a hand on them, it's assault. But on the other hand, you have a duty of care to make sure that they're being rational, and not acting under the influence of anything they've taken / the stresses of the situation. Which on scene is fairly impossible. In this case, the police arrested Josh for breach of the peace. The only reason they took him to the hospital was because of the overdose - not something they'd be able to do anything about at the custody suite. But then - he'd be quite within his rights to refuse treatment, as he's not under section. At least at the hospital he could be seen by someone from the psych team, who'd have more expertise in the subject. <br /><br />Difficult and frustrating. All we can do is the best we can, given the circumstances, working in good faith. I'd rather make a technical error like this, than feel guilty that maybe I'd neglected to give someone a chance. <br /><br />One thing that confuses me, though - at inquests into suicides, they often talk about a person taking their own life 'while the balance of their mind was disturbed' - a retrospective judgement, which seems to suggest that a suicidal act is not the result of a balanced mind, i.e. you <i>could</i> infer mental health issues from the very threat of the act itself. <br /><br />Like I say - a legal minefield. And out in the real world, not something we have much time to think about. <br /><br />:/ Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-51719654536395296292012-10-02T11:19:10.401+00:002012-10-02T11:19:10.401+00:00Not a lot you could do there Spence.
Strange to t...Not a lot you could do there Spence.<br /><br />Strange to think that the only way you could treat him was by having him arrested first.jacksofbuxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420847156401984373noreply@blogger.com