Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Support Group

Tom,

You know I respect your opinions and advise, and to a degree you know that I share your position in this case from my posts regarding specialists, wannabes, and my position that the Patient is the BOSS and the DOCTOR is the employee.

however in this case I need to offer a resounding "BUT!!!"

First, HealthGrades and the like report disciplinary actions from state and local medical boards. They do not have standing over medical personnel trained and "employed" by the military. Sad but true.

Next. the article in Psychology today makes several good points regarding Dr. Hasan, starting with "... treating PTSD is itself traumatic." We all know it has to be. Why else do you see the people in this very forum being asked to and complying with the wishes of everyone who participates here to add ".... CAUTION, MAY TRIGGER" in the subject of certain types of posts. We KNOW we can occasionally and inadvertently trigger each other, how can we not understand that the treatment of our disorder can cause our Therapists and PDocs to suffer trauma as well?

They go on to discuss the rush to conclusions that are held by many that this was purely the result of some mental breakdown, OR purely a result of his religious devotion... you and I both know the reality, as it often is, is somewhere in the middle of the two. The problem with that is the result of many peoples mental breakdown causes religious assertion and/or zeal (be it positive or negative, we've seen both and discussed both in this forum... I saw it from my own Mother as her psychoses developed, and I know you and I have specifically discussed this topic before). It *is* a rush to conclusions at this point, and as the link discussed it's amazing what we purport to know that we really don't, and won't until Major Hasan M.D. speaks for himself.

ON THE OTHER HAND....

You, as well as we all do, indeed have a right to be heard. You, again as we all do, have the right and I believe the responsibility to report bad, inept, or just plain uncaring doctors. I have and DO.... I reported one just a few months ago, and I am following up and insisting on disciplinary action of a doctor who I believe to be inept at best (not a PDoc or Therapist in my case, but I would report them in an instant).

The Army is at fault here. They have admitted that they had concerns about this doctor, his skills, and his mental stability. They cannot think that the information they released from their own records would absolve them of any responsibility. In fact I believe it proves the Army was just as if not *more* culpable for the actions of Maj. Hasan as he himself was. I believe that the Army has handed the survivors of this tragedy the judgement of many large lawsuits in the favor of the survivors (be they the troops who were injured, or the families of the ones killed).

I also believe that PDocs should be subject to the same requirements of licensed therapists and Medical Students who are pursuing the specialty of psychiatry. BOTH therapists (practicing and students) and PDoc students are REQUIRED in many states to receive regular therapy sessions themselves. This is required to make sure the healers are not doing harm to themselves. I know of no states where PDocs are required to receive regular review or therapy to monitor their mental health.

They should be, in my opinion, and maybe this is the time, both in the wake of this tragedy and with the efforts to push through a low-cost public healthcare plan, to advocate for ourselves. Maybe it's our time to write our Representatives and Senators, as well as our Executive branch demanding this to be a standard for *all* Mental Healthcare Professionals. In fact... I think I'll do that now, while the thought is fresh.

Thanks Tom... yet another thought and discussion provoking post.

D.

Sorry brassi, this is not about religion or anything else, hell some are even blaming President Obama.
It's all about LACK OF OVERSIGHT plain and simple.

brassi wrote: " The Army is at fault here. They have admitted that they had concerns about this doctor, his skills, and his mental stability "
With regard to their mental and emotional well being, even the base commander was accountable to lunatics like this psych.
Any E-1 could take one look at this guy and have chills, but who in the hell do you report one to............ another lunatic doing their best to keep the profession credible ??

And next, do you think ANY public reporting agency would print a disciplinary against one of these clowns ? Not even a remote chance. If an infraction cost life (or in this case dozens) or was so flagrant and blatant that the board actually has to get off their ass and a revocation does actually have to occur............. well, they simply fall off the radar of reporting agencies. Can't risk discredit of the profession.

Tell me where is the data base of mental health rape victims ?

There will be absolutely NO consequence to this killer from any professional board, ANYWHERE. He'll be tried and executed all within the judicial system, and the profession will never get involved at any level.

Let me ask you this brassi, Who sits on that disciplinary board you're filling all those complaints to ? (hint: it's not 'peers' outside the profession)

There are more UNLICENSED lunatics per capita within the mental health industry than any profession............ anywhere ! (postal inclusive)
And who are they accountable to ? Try filing a complaint with your states board of registry against some dog ass crisis counselor and see what jurisdiction they fall under.
And God forbid we actually examine those known who actually do have active license #'s.

There is an extreme break down within this facet of society, and innocent individuals are being killed and lives destroyed all because of LACK OF OVERSIGHT and ACCOUNTABILITY, and all you people can do is make any one who dare attempts to expose your illness look mentally ill them self. You people wrote the book on GASLIGHTING.

Psychs are all alike. They are worse that Wall St venture capitalist with regard to narcissism and conscience. The major reason they chose this field.

Please , anyone reading this, look also at my other posts warning of potential dangers lurking on these forums.
Tom S. in Tn.
Tom S. in Tn.

Again Tom... I think you and I are far closer in opinion than not. Really. I agree there needs to be better oversight... no solely for the Mental Heath professionals, but most especially so because of the real damage they can do.

I KNOW... *I* am very much a victim of a BAD mental health provider who is still "practicing". What that person did to my Mother was... well.. I don't have adequate words. Her mis-diagnosis and "treatment" inflicted traumas on me that I've been able to talk about in this forum, many that I have not been able to talk to ANYONE about, and I'm sure there is more that I have disassociated and may NEVER remember.

But then... that was my point. We... you and I my friend, MUST advocate for ourselves. The system will not change unless WE force the issue of PUBLIC accountability. WE will continue to suffer the stigma of our disorder unless and until WE take our power back and wield it agains both those who inflicted the traumas upon us AND the many caretakers who continue or inflict more upon us.

We need to praise and support the caretakers who do it right, and hold those who do not accountable... as well as those who should be providing oversight and do not. I believe that this is exactly what you're saying, maybe in different words, but still the same.

I did write those letters in the wee hours of this morning. I mailed them about an hour ago. I HAND write these types of letters when I choose to send them... it has far more impact than a typed or e-mailed version.

I have to believe that we can take control of our own healing. I do it every day both physically and mentally, and the Doctors I keep are very good and I believe I receive better care because of it.

Take care,
D.

Interesting anecdote... well, *I* found it interesting.

I'm watching the memorial ceremony at Ft. Hood as I type this..... Obama just ran down the list of those killed, what they did in the Army, and who their survivors are, as well as a note about their aspirations and/or their lives as told to him by their families.

What I found most interesting, is that the majority of those killed were directly involved in the care of PTSD patients. Nurses, Therapists, or Doctors. Maybe that was just "the luck of the draw" in that they were standing closest to Maj. Hasan as they were in the same "line of work" as he was. Maybe Hasan decided to take out those people who he knew best. Maybe he had something against those people specifically. I don't know....

But I did find in anecdotally interesting.

D.

In retrospect, I wish I had spent my time and money on attorneys instead of pipe dreams of mental health providers.

God knows what we'll see now that one of their own has exhibited his second amendment rights on his coworkers.

I'll not quit calling them pathetic bastards.

Tom S. in Tn.