Lacking Insight - Community Law

Lacking InsightThis suggests that a therapeutic approach is notbeing achieved. People demand to be seen asindividuals, and for decisions made about theirtreatment to be made in a process that is conduciveto the improvement of their health, rather than adetriment to it.Other features of thehearing situationJust as important as the physical space in which theBoard hearing takes place are other dynamics.These dynamics, which include factors such assalutations, developing rapport, the warmth andpoliteness of Board members, the speed of thehearing, whether explanations of terminology areprovided, and whether or not the consumer isrepresented by an advocate or legal representative,have a great impact upon the perceived formalityand inclusiveness of the hearing process. Theseimportant factors are discussed in more detail laterin this Section (See ‘Training of Board Members’and ‘Summary and Discussion’).Order of speakers – often theconsumer speaks lastConsumers reported a tendency for the Board to onlypermit the consumer to speak last – and they reportbeing confused by a process that has not beenexplained in any great detail, if at all. It means thatpeople are not able to present their version of eventsin the most favourable light. People also reportedthat speaking last gave them the impression that theiropinion was not highly valued, appearing more as atoken gesture than a genuine desire to listen.This view may also be heightened by Board memberscutting short presentations by consumers, oftenhushing people or saying ‘you’ll have your turn soon’in a disciplinarian manner. [Researcher Observations].As the Board process is a flexible one, where theorder of proceedings can vary from review to review,there is no reason why a person should not beencouraged to speak first in a proceeding that isabout that person’s own health.. . . Actually I wasn’t asked a lot of questions.They [asked me if] I had anything to say, after thedoctor had spoken after the nurses had spoken.I think my friend spoke [before me] as well. [Then]they said would you like to say anything. I don’tthink I was able to utter anything, I think I justsaid, ‘No, I don’t know what to say’.TF - Consumer“[And] if the personhas any questions askthem at the start as wellnot just at the end. Bythat time all the lingogoes around and aroundand you haven’t reallyunderstood it and youare like have you got anyquestions and you aretotally bamboozled at theend, so of course you aregoing to say no.”CM - Consumer52