Lacking Insight - Community Law

Part 3 > The Involuntary Patient ExperienceWhat was your understanding of the Board’sprocess? How did it function?I had no idea what to expect . . . all I knew wasthat when I arrived there, there were these ratherstaid looking people sitting behind the table, along table . . . I felt really intimidated by them.TF - Consumer“The first time I wentin, I have been before aReview Board twice, thefirst time I was scared, Ireally didn’t know whatwas going to happen asresult of this flamingReview Board.”BM - ConsumerSome consumers understand the Board’s role butdo not know how it goes about carrying it out. NMdidn’t know that the Board would be reviewing hisclinician’s diagnosis of him by evaluating his mentalstate on the day. Had he have known this he wouldhave conducted himself differently: believing the Boardwould take away all the evidence and review it latermeant that NM attempted to present as much materialas possible, which made him appear disorganised.Well, when I got their report [Statement ofReasons] . . . they made a comment about how Ipresented and used that as evidence to justify oneof the criteria. Okay, um, like I said I was probablya bit disorganised and I think they picked up onthat. Disorganised in the sense, not so much thatI was speaking incoherently more that I wasn’table to present my case properly . . . I found ita confronting experience when I got their reportand it contained elements describing what theyinterpreted to be my psychological state at thattime, and I wasn’t informed about that [beforethe hearing]. I think that was a major issue . . .how can somebody, you know, play a dual role,I thought they were there to ascertain validityin my claims, and to discuss issues relating tothe community treatment order, not to make apsychological assessment of me at that time.I don’t think it [should be] their right to do that.NM - ConsumerWho are these people?Consumers also professed to having littleunderstanding about the different roles of memberson the Board. There was particular confusion aboutthe role of the community member.I couldn’t understand the function of thecommunity representative. I don’t know, I neverreally was able to establish [that]. It wasn’tdocumented what their roles were prior to thehearing, and from that aspect it is obvious thatthey didn’t provide enough information.BF - ConsumerThis situation is not helped by reluctance on the partof some members to introduce themselves and theirrole on the Board.The thing . . . that sticks out in my mind is that. . . they started having discussions, you knowaddressing [my solicitor] and I said to the Boardmembers, “Listen, do you mind if you at least45