Incurable ? Who Gets To Decide...?

Some of the treatments in asylums back in the days past were brutal, almost criminal !

Back as recently as 1921, laws were being considered that would have made murder legal for some folks needing mental treatment. Here is the story from Listverse.

Chained And Stamped In The Face

There should have been more of an outcry against the treatment of people who were made prisoners in insane asylums. Too many attendants looked the other way, or they joined in on the “fun.”

In 1889, there was a small piece in The State Chronicle (North Carolina) about the sickening abuse of some patients of a Dr. Grissom. Although certain political heads were trying to convince people “that the necessary thing to do to make an insane person act rational is to chain him, throw water in his face, or kick and stamp him in the face,” other people were crying out about the injustice and inhumane treatment.

By 1921, there was a debate among politicians and the doctors for the insane over whether or not it would be better to put the incurably insane out of their own misery. As reported in the Norwich Bulletin (Connecticut):Discussion of the matter was started anew last Saturday by the members of the general assembly’s committee on appropriations, the members being divided as to whether or not a law should be passed providing that persons in state institutions found to be hopelessly insane and suffering mental tortures should be mercifully put to death.

Fortunately, they did not commit mass murder on people they deemed incurable.

The treatment has improved quite a bit from the early day, but there is always room for improvement, ya know ?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. We've had between 8 and 9 inches of rain over the last 24 hours and I'm ready for a break !