January 20, 2008

Disability Rights Abuses

Disability Rights Abuses

Cover headline (Britney's Mental Illness) for "Britney in Crisis" (Michelle Tauber, Michelle Tan, People, January 21, 2008, page 62-68) is misguided. The story presents no evidence of any illness. Quoting psychiatrists who never treated Spears shows how arbitrary psychiatry is. This article is not unique quoting "sources" with no training making medical diagnosis. Irresponsible nonexistent standards reporting about psychiatry is pervasive.
Saying "she has been prescribed at least one antidepressant/antianxiety drug," shows that the drugs may be the cause of her eccentric behavior not the made-up illnesses.
Mark Goulston says "manic behavior is when you don't have any sense of rules. [. . .] 'I play by my own rules.'" That applies to psychiatrists who do not know state and US laws regarding psychiatry and disclosing medical records. Publishing the medical condition of this young lady is a violation of state and US privacy laws for many individuals. Putting allegations of mental illness on the cover of People, January 21, 2008 shows exploitation of persons with disabilities. Would a responsible publication report about politicians or journalists? Why a troubled young woman?

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