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The Tampa Tribune

March 25, 2003

Reprinted with permission of the author. All rights reserved.

Reform Baker Act

Regarding "Treatment Before Tragedy: Lessons From Kendra's Law" (Saturday Forum, March 15):

As the administrator of an assisted living facility, I see every day the results of a mental health "treatment" law that actually prevents timely treatment for those who need it most.

There is no way under the current Baker Act to require someone who needs it to stay on medication while living in an assisted living facility. And to make it worse, nothing can be done to get treatment for a resident who refuses it until he or she becomes dangerous. Violence in facilities like ours is not uncommon. In fact, law enforcement officers were called to a facility in Lauderhill 91 times in a 12-month period.

This delay in intervention between needing treatment and becoming violent raises treatment costs and reduces treatment efficacy - and can put staff and other residents who may be fragile because of their illnesses in unnecessary peril. I hope Florida legislators quickly pass this humane piece of legislation for their constituents who are too sick to flood them with e-mails and phone calls.

Doug Adkins
Hilliard