Need some serious advice.

[littleboy6326]

I am not aware if this is in breach of this rule:

2. No controversial topics. No politics. These things belong in the Debate usergroup.

I personally beg to differ.

I, and a handful of others; have decided to start up a petition requesting the closure of a local physiatrist facility, or for it to be placed under different management, although I am having some trouble formatting and writing the petition.

There are several severe reasons why it should be shut down/ put under different management, some of which being:

Easily escapable, patients have only to merely climb over the wall, to get to the local train station, and flee to wherever they so desire, or worse.

Ignorant workers, the apparent professionals have, on numerous occasions, called patients liars and/or “drama queens”.

Incoming goods are not monitored well enough; several patients had taken in sharp objects, including knives and scalpels, and proceeded to self-harm with them. Once reported, nothing seemed to have been done.

Poor security, the window can be unlocked easily with a screwdriver, and assaults take place; to which the hospital has no serious attitude towards.

Not open minded enough, several patients have been asked to be put on medication that they require, but have been declined for they do not fit the appropriate symptoms.

There are many other reasons, but I shall focus on these for now. What would be the best way to go about laying this out in the format of a petition?

[Nessa]

Your post is a little confusing, I'd be more then willing to help but I'll need some clarification first

[littleboy6326]

Your post is a little confusing, I'd be more then willing to help but I'll need some clarification first

Please explain what you do not understand.

I am trying to write a petition, due to my unhappiness with the local psychiatric unit, and their inability to keep their patients safe.

[Paul]

You get some evidence of your findings, proper evidence, not just speculation (not that I'm saying it is, but any authority will probably see it as that). Send it one of your local newspapers, or even see if a state-wide news establishment will pick up your story. Better than a petition. It's easy to ignore a few hundred signatures on a piece of paper, 'cause you know, people win local elections by a few hundred anyway, but everyone reads/watches the news.

If there have been previous articles on the state of the institute, for instance, the escapees, or the knives snuck in, abusive staff. Collect them all together, and use that along your story for references/evidence. Taht's better than saying "patients have escaped easily via the wall." Prove it.

Last edited by Paul on Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[littleboy6326]

You find get some evidence of your findings, proper evidence, not just speculation. Send it one of your local newspapers, or even see if a state-wide news establishment will pick up your story. Better than a petition. It's easy to ignore a few hundred signatures on a piece of paper, 'cause you know, people win local elections by a few hundred anyway, but everyone reads/watches the news.

I doubt the news would be interested in a group of teenage psychiatric patients views on their hospital.

Well, the thing is, I no longer have access to any of this 'evidence' of poor management. They keep all those documents confidental.

Another more personal note I would like to add; they had forged fake legal documents to get off of assault charges to a patient.
Now, forgive me if I am mistaken, but isn't that against the law?

[Paul]

You find get some evidence of your findings, proper evidence, not just speculation. Send it one of your local newspapers, or even see if a state-wide news establishment will pick up your story. Better than a petition. It's easy to ignore a few hundred signatures on a piece of paper, 'cause you know, people win local elections by a few hundred anyway, but everyone reads/watches the news.

I doubt the news would be interested in a group of teenage psychiatric patients views on their hospital.

Well, the thing is, I no longer have access to any of this 'evidence' of poor management. They keep all those documents confidental.

Another more personal note I would like to add; they had forged fake legal documents to get off of assault charges to a patient.
Now, forgive me if I am mistaken, but isn't that against the law?

Well, see, refer to my newly-edited post about proving it. Or get adults involved/to fund for a PI. If you're that sure about it.

[littleboy6326]

You find get some evidence of your findings, proper evidence, not just speculation. Send it one of your local newspapers, or even see if a state-wide news establishment will pick up your story. Better than a petition. It's easy to ignore a few hundred signatures on a piece of paper, 'cause you know, people win local elections by a few hundred anyway, but everyone reads/watches the news.

I doubt the news would be interested in a group of teenage psychiatric patients views on their hospital.

Well, the thing is, I no longer have access to any of this 'evidence' of poor management. They keep all those documents confidental.

Another more personal note I would like to add; they had forged fake legal documents to get off of assault charges to a patient.
Now, forgive me if I am mistaken, but isn't that against the law?

Well, see, refer to my newly-edited post about proving it. Or get adults involved/to fund for a PI. If you're that sure about it.

All I really want to do is write the petition, along with parent and (some) staff signatures, so I forward it to the board. They're the ones in control of the looneybin, and they're also the ones that want any feedback.

[Trick]

Surely it would be better to campaign to improve the facility than to try and petition to have it shut down?

[littleboy6326]

Surely it would be better to campaign to improve the facility than to try and petition to have it shut down?

That's what I meant by 'be placed under different management'.