Health Care Decisions of the Mentally Ill

The mentally sickly are an extremely threatened group when it comes to receiving adequate health do by as well as being allowed to make those critical decisions that affect their lives. Although the perception exists that as a whole the mentally sickly are ill equipped if non d induceright incapable of making those decisions, the reality is not so carve in stone. The stereotypes of the mentally ill both lessen their ability to act in the management of their illness and achieve desired treatment outcomes, and encourages discouraged and non-therapeutic attitudes and behaviors among clinicians making them receptive to the requests of their mentally ill patients. (National 2006 p. 80).The perception is that the mentally ill pose a danger to both themselves and society, therefore need to take hold all important decisions made for them, just as a barbarian would. The mentally ill are often coerced into making decisions that are uncomplete true to their wishes, or good for their lives. In reality, the majority of the mentally ill are quite capable of making their own health care decisions, and only rarely does their illnessaffect those decisions, requiring a family member or friend to step forward.Research has shown that the mental health population has delegate rates of some disease and health complications from psychiatric medication, and, in point tend to die at significantly younger ages than the general population. (Mental 2006 p. 1). in that location are, of course, circumstances where intervention by another party becomes a necessity. In the more than(prenominal) severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or severe bi-polar disease, the ability to make rational decisions can become staidly impaired, requiring a guardian ad-litem to make decisions that are in the best amour of the patient.Our current system of HMOs also put the mentally ill patient at a further disadvantage because psychiatric disorders leave people ill-equipped to handle th e bureaucratic roadblocks inherent in managed care. (Perina 2002 p. 1). Because there are no concrete routine blood tests or CAT scans that definitively say that a person is ill, the science is much more subjective, therefore more fraught with stumbling blocks.As stated, in most cases, the mentally ill are still quite able to make their own health care decisions and should be allowed to do so without the stereotypes and hardships to make those decisions more difficult.Works CitedMental Health Articles (March 15, 2006). Creative Strategies Improve Medical fright forMentally Ill. Retrieved whitethorn 31, 2006 fromhttp//www.emaxhealth.com/7/4939.htmlNational Academics Press (2000). Improving the lumber of Health Care for Mental andSubstance Abuse Patients. Retrieved May 30, 2006Perina, Kaja. (Mar/April 2002). Battling for Benefits. Retrieved May 31, 2006