Monday, December 27, 2004

Correctional Psychiatry Needs More Clinicians
December 17 Psychiatric News story - "The field of child and adolescent psychiatry is not the only practice area enduring a serious shortage of trained clinicians. A similar chasm between supply and demand is a constant concern in correctional psychiatry as well, pointed out Cassandra Newkirk, M.D., at an APA Assembly session devoted to workforce issues. Newkirk, director of mental health programs at New York's huge Riker's Island prison, described the dimension of the need for psychiatrists in correctional systems by noting that of the 4 million Americans in prison or on parole in 2003, about 25 percent had a psychiatric disorder. She pointed out that inmates are the only population in the United States who have a constitutional right to mental health care. But clinicians have to be available to provide it, of course..."  
  

Court decision on mental illness may free some patients (Oregon)
Statesman Journal story - "Oregon taxpayers have shelled out about $300,000 to keep Richard Laing locked up on crowded psychiatric wards for the criminally insane. Laing says that’s crazy. ... He could have a good case. Hospital records indicate Laing hasn’t shown symptoms of mental illness since he was committed to Oregon State Hospital’s forensic program for the criminally insane nearly three years ago. Now, the fiery mental patient is at the center of a legal controversy due to come before the Oregon Supreme Court in early January. At issue is the legal definition of mental illness, and whether people diagnosed solely with alcohol or drug dependency belong at the psychiatric hospital."