I think it's very unethical that she published the initial pictures without consent (from what I understand, sounds like he didn't know the pictures until she showed him when he was better) even if she is a family member and did it "in good faith" and even when he gave her implicit permission after the fact.
I also can't help but wonder why she didn't bring him to a hospital when she first saw him in the streets. I'm actually shocked that she basically let him wander around knowing his condition.
Thankfully this turned out fine but it leaves me fairly disheartened.
Why wasn't he brought to a hospital by someone, people clearly saw him wandering around. I mean I can understand letting him be and live free if you know nothing about him (other people passing by daily) but she knew his condition and should have intervened herself imo.
US laws about when someone can be detained in hospital against their will vary by state.
You're right that it tends to require immediate risk of harm to other people or to yourself. (And harm to yourself tends to mean risk of death. Self harm, even severe self harm, with no intent to die would usually not be something people are detained for. (Although I don't know much about the US systems.))
Well you can try. From the post it sounds like she "just" (it was obviously not easy) walked away. I don't see that she involved a psychiatrist or tried to get outpatient treatment (whatever that is called in the US) awarded. AFAIK the latter can be gotten if the person is diagnosed and not living safely, I'd say that's certainly possible.
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/legal-resources/hawai...
I'm probably misunderstanding the post but she had no problem publishing the pictures initially and talks a lot about how hard everything was for her. Apart from the happy end there isn't much about "what did I do to change the situation for him". The time spans are odd, seems like she "just" went on with her life and let him wander about until he finally collapsed.
Once again I'm not trying to say she's heartless or anything but the post is fairly gut wrenching to read. There's too little information on the concrete steps taken to help him.
Nope. For your assisted outpatient treatment, for instance, you must show that the person
"have a history of non-compliance with treatment that has:
been a significant factor in his or her being in a hospital, prison or jail at least twice within the last thirty-six months or [] resulted in one or more acts, attempts or threats of serious violent behavior toward self or others within the last forty-eight months; and
be unlikely to voluntarily participate in treatment; and
be, in view of his or her treatment history and current behavior, in need of assisted outpatient treatment in order to prevent
a relapse or deterioration which would be likely to result in: a substantial risk of physical harm to the patient as manifested by threats of or attempts at suicide or serious bodily harm or conduct demonstrating that the patient is dangerous to himself or herself, or
a substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by homicidal or other violent behavior by which others are placed in reasonable fear of serious physical harm"
etc. So if he hasn't showed that he's going to harm himself or someone else, there's no help from our health care system, whether the government or insurance. No one will admit him and no one will pay for it. Trying to forcibly or bodily move the guy would be a crime for the daughter.
You can (and people do) argue that by refusing to take prescribed meds the sick person is harming themselves. This only works if you have a diagnosis already, of course.
I also can't help but wonder why she didn't bring him to a hospital when she first saw him in the streets. I'm actually shocked that she basically let him wander around knowing his condition.
Thankfully this turned out fine but it leaves me fairly disheartened. Why wasn't he brought to a hospital by someone, people clearly saw him wandering around. I mean I can understand letting him be and live free if you know nothing about him (other people passing by daily) but she knew his condition and should have intervened herself imo.