As Chief Clinical Officer in a comprehensive mental health agency serving over 4,000 people per year, I agree completely that Emergency Room treatment is totally inappropriate for treatment of depression. In fact, depression typically requires at least 6 months for recovery, very often with medication and pyschotherapy. If Broun is in fact a physician, this statement borders on an ethical violation of the AMA ethics code, besides revealing both a naive understanding of mental illness as well as a callous disregard for human suffering.
October 2, 2009 at 9:27 PM
As Steve Benen points out, the Republican fallback position on getting sick is "Just go to the emergency room."Zaid Jilani reports on one of the more ridiculous recent comments I've heard about health care reform. One of the most radical opponents of health care reform is Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA). He has said that a public option would "kill people." Last Tuesday, Broun was confronted by a constituent at a health care town hall who explained that he has gone into debt because he can't afford insurance for his major depressive disorder. In response to his constituent's story, Broun said that "people who have depression, who have chronic diseases in this country ... can always get care in this country by going to the emergency room." Now, I was glad to see the crowd boo in response to Broun's answer. It represents a fairly twisted view of medical treatment, and the fact that Broun considers himself a leading GOP voice on health care makes his remarks all the more ridiculous. Indeed, does Broun, who claims to be a physician by trade, understand that those dealing with major depressive disorders can't just stop by the E.R.? But in the larger context, Republican officials' reliance on emergency rooms as a safety net is in desperate need of re-evaluation.And while Steve is certainly correct, my big issue is Broun's treatment of depression and other serious mental illnesses as something you just need to wait to go to the emergency room for when it gets bad.Now, maybe it's because my parents have both been in the mental health field for about five decades between them, but depression, mania, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses are serious issues that should not be taken lightly and relegated to "emergency room only" status.
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Close this window Jump to comment formThis GOP meme is not going to work because it's completely out of touch with reality. Indigent care at the ER is the single most expensive way to cover the uninsured.
October 2, 2009 at 5:02 PM
As Chief Clinical Officer in a comprehensive mental health agency serving over 4,000 people per year, I agree completely that Emergency Room treatment is totally inappropriate for treatment of depression. In fact, depression typically requires at least 6 months for recovery, very often with medication and pyschotherapy. If Broun is in fact a physician, this statement borders on an ethical violation of the AMA ethics code, besides revealing both a naive understanding of mental illness as well as a callous disregard for human suffering.
October 2, 2009 at 9:27 PM