Mental health law: civil liberties and the principle of reciprocity

Schizophrenia, civil liberties, and the law.

During the past 10 years, extensive studies have shown that schizophrenia is a true biological illness. Like diabetes and hypertension, it cannot be cured as yet, but it often can be controlled by medication. Schizophrenia, therefore, is not a hopeless condition, and many sufferers who receive proper treatment can lead productive lives. The stigma attached to schizophrenia will disappear, and t...

Public health and civil liberties

The opinion pieces that constitute this month’s ‘Talking Point’ address the old conflict between the enforcement of public health measures and the inevitable infringements of individual rights and liberties that are the result. The task of the ‘neutral commentator’ is made difficult by the fact that the authors are not particularly at odds with each other. George Annas argues that compulsory en...

Loosing the chains: in-hospital civil liberties of mental patients.

Civil liberties and economic development

Skepticism prevails among a substantial number of economists over a possible connection between civil liberties and the level of economic activity. Until now, empirical research on economic growth has found mixed evidence on the influence of civil liberties. Disaggregation of the Freedom House Civil Liberties Index allows a fresh empirical look at the effect of human rights on long-term growth ...

Behavior therapy and civil liberties.

For the past two hundred to three hundred years, science has played a major role in the development of western culture. Societies have capitulated to the demands of "progress" and have disregarded the costs as expedients to the industrial revolution (Etzioni, 1968, p. 208). Unfortunately, the costs have mounted quietly, and perhaps because the awareness has been so long delayed, there is a stro...