Mental Illness and Responsibility

Paper Summary:

This paper puts forward both sides of the argument that mentally ill patients should be cared for by family and friends and not be a burden to the government. For the pro argument, it examines how assuming the state should assume the cost of caring for people with mental illness is to deny the importance of family and community in caring for people with any disease. It also looks at how state and federal governments are already burdened with exorbitant outlays for medical care and social services. For the con argument, it examines how there are still misconceptions of the severity of mental illness and how diseases like schizophrenia and depression have biological origins and are treatable with medications. It argues that no one should be denied treatment for a mental disease any more than a person should be denied treatment after a car accident and how the health care situation in America is deplorable; one of the areas needing improvement is mental illness.

From the Paper:

"The only role the government has a right to playing in the lives of people suffering from mental illnesses is in ensuring that no one suffers from discrimination in the workplace. Because workplace discrimination is a major issue facing all Americans, this would be a positive development, one that would preserve the rights of all persons with disabilities. People who suffer from chronic mental illness should be treated with equal respect and afforded equal opportunities. The families who care for these individuals should ensure that their insurance plan covers the necessary expenses associated with the disease. In extreme cases, the person or family members may be eligible for some assistance, but only when to do otherwise would compromise humanitarian needs."

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