In response to the Jan. 11 article “Mentally ill wait in jails for treatment despite ruling,” it is inhumane to keep a mentally ill person incarcerate in solitaire just because there are no beds available in the hospital. Mental health care is not a big money maker for the hospitals so it is a very low priority. It has no costly procedures or tests to profit from. It is cruel and irresponsible to neglect the mentally ill. If it were cancer or diabetes the legal system was ignoring everyone would be up in arms.
Even though the mental health crisis is not bringing in millions of dollars to hospitals it is still costing our society millions. Mental illness does not mean the individual is stupid, incompetent, lacking morals or a criminal. It should not be stigmatized. The stigma is stopping people from getting the treatment they need.
There is also a lack of qualified physicians and many do not accept Medicare. I know the reimbursement to doctors is unjustly low but it should be a crime to refuse all Medicare patients. The system needs to be fixed. People are dying because of untreated illness. Enough discriminating, we deserve good health care. Provide us with the care we need and treat us with dignity.
Tammie Coelho
Vancouver
