PMHNP to Have Privilege to Commit Individuals to Hospitals

Or Mental Health Institutions Involuntarily

PMHNP to Have Privilege to Commit Individuals to Hospitals

Or Mental Health Institutions Involuntarily

Introduction

The aim of the paper is to present arguments that would justify that psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are also qualified to involuntarily commit mentally ill patients to mental health institutions. To make the above argument vital to present, the probable symptoms of the mentally troubled patient need to be analyzed. Though their remains instances when they are not able to see decipher or put in efforts to alleviate such prevailing conditions, in an individual, on their own. Individuals enduring from mental disorders at many times are not able to decipher the extent and severity of their ill health. These individuals are incapable to realize their immediate needs for medical support. As such the only option is to acquire legal assistance in order to help their loved one deal with mental ill health. For such moments, the law has provisioned a process, identified as 'Involuntary Commitment'. There is a need to officially permit and recognize the fact that allowing Nurse Practitioners to commit to patients can considerably reduce the pressure and demands on doctors and health care institutions.

Discussion

Description of the Legal Issue

Doctors are mainly converged in their essential job descriptions. Individuals enduring from mental disorders at many times are not able to decipher the extent and severity of their ill health. These individuals are incapable to realize their immediate needs for medical support. The law has equipped them with authority but involuntary commitment practices are almost insignificant in numbers, compared to existent numbers of mental health problems amongst individuals in the US (Sharfstein, 2009). These reforms would mainly emphasize on provisioning nurse practitioners with legal rights to involuntarily commit troubled mental health patients into hospitals and mental healthcare facilities.

The current regime, mandated by law in Texas, advocates that if nurse practitioners are aware of individuals with mental health issues than they can only recommend their suggestions to the psychiatrist. The current process is cumbersome and time consuming due to being somewhat centralized since being dependent on doctors only. As such, only the psychiatrist has the final say of whether the concerned person should be committed to mental health facilities (Lichtblau, 2010). Further, the percentages of mentally challenged individuals in need of mental healthcare, is not being addressed sufficiently. The aim is to advocate reforms in current laws on the topic.

Rationality Being a Legal Issue

The state of Texas has enacted laws that provision for family members or guardians and patient's mental health consultants to file and acquire rights for involuntary commitment. The laws are over complicated due to its procedural requirements and its dependence solely on mental healthcare consultants to provide justification for its ratification for the concerned mentally ill patient. As such the only option is to acquire legal assistance in order to help their loved one deal with mental ill health. Almost one fourth of the incarcerated population in the ...