PATIENT FREEDOM: A VIEW FROM MICHIGAN

A statement of policy regarding patient freedom is given by a Michigan hospital. It is the result of long and considered planing. We have considered both the open and the closed door concepts. In our opinion both present major defects. The basic defect of the open door is "open to what ?" or "for what purpose?" The defect of the closed door is that it is not only inhumane but also is not so useful in getting a patient well. We are now attempting to institute a policy that will hopefully combine elements of social living into therapy and rehabilitation. To date, in our setting, the policy appears reasonably successful.