14-May-2014 Mateen Hafeez & Sumitra Deb Roy MUMBAI: The 42-year-old patient, who attacked three others in Bombay Hospital on Monday, was kept sedated in the psychiatry ward of JJ Hospital. Hospital insiders also said he was restrained to the bed, but authorities denied this. Dean Dr TP Lahane said doctors have found clear symptoms of mental ailment. Whether or not that could have led him to attack cancer patient Lilabihari Thakur (65) is difficult to say, said JJ doctors. Thakur died in the attack. "In two days, we will carry out a CT Scan and MRI to see if he has brain lesions," said Lahane. He added that the patient has a history of mental illness. JJ staffers also said he had refused to eat and was being fed through a tube. Lahane said knowing his condition, it was perhaps erroneous to keep him in a general ward. The patient's family has told JJ doctors that he was admitted to Masina Hospital's psychiatry facility 5-6 years ago. Bombay Hospital doctors, however, said they were completely unaware of any mental ailment history the patient may have had. They had treated the patient twice for brain TB in a span of one year. Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty lashed out at the consultants. "Non-psychiatric doctors are condescending to mental health issues. Patients should always be evaluated for mental health problems," he said. Meanwhile, the Azad Maidan police said two ward boys had overpowered the accused but let go of him as he tried to bite them. "Fearing an infection, they left him on the bed," said the officer. Krishna Prakash, additional CP, said on Sunday, the accused was seen banging his head against the wall. "A nurse had informed his wife about this," he said. "On Monday, he had an argument with his brother-in-law and kicked him 3-4 times. Later, he also kicked a woman sweeper before attacking the patients," said a police officer. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Attacker-shows-clear-sign-of-mental-ailment-JJ-dean/articleshow/35078688.cms? 'Hosps should not shun psychiatric patients' 14-May-2014 MUMBAI: Even before the HIV-TB patient with a history of mental illness attacked fellow patients in Bombay Hospital, killing one on Monday, it has been a practice in most city hospitals to not admit patients with serious psychiatric illness. Psychiatrists now fear hospitals will be doubly wary of accepting psychiatric patients needing emergency care for ailments such as diabetes, heart care, etc. "Most hospitals only offer OPD service for psychiatric patients. They never apply for the licence needed to admit serious psychiatric patients," said psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswalla, who operates the biggest psychiatry facility in a hospital with 110 beds (the handful of other institutions in Mumbai with this licence operate as nursing homes). He said psychiatric patients manage to get entry into big hospitals only when there is a flare-up of other ailments not relating to their mental state. "More violent crimes are committed by normal people than psychiatric patients," said psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty. Dr Anjali Chabbria said the Bombay Hospital attacker could have suffered an electrolyte imbalance, triggering violence. "People shouldn't stigmatize those with mental illnesses," she added. Could Monday's attack have been averted? Dr Matcheswalla, acting head of JJ Hospital's psychiatry department, believes so. "The patient has a history of mental illness, which should have been spotted," he added. Jaslok Hospital for instance, has a psychological counsellor visiting patients prone to depression. "If the counsellor feels the patient needs help, s/he is referred to the psychiatrist," said hospital CEO Dr Taran Gianchandani. tnn http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Hosps-should-not-shun-psychiatric-patients/articleshow/35078710.cms? -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
