More than 100 patients escape from secure hospitals
By Ben Padley, PA
Tuesday, 9 September 2008, Accessed 16th October 2011
Summary: There were more than 100 escapes from psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales last year. According to figures presented to the BBC at least 116 patients in medium and low security psychiatric hospitals, escaped from the institutions. This statistic came aid in the wake of the investigation of Darren Harkin who raped a fourteen year old school girl after absconding form a physiatrist unit. Former chief inspector of prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham was quoted as saying "today's figures are horrifying." He also went on to say that the government should build more facilities inside prisons so that the public will know that prisoners sentenced for crime, and have mental health problems are properly looked after. Then Professor Louis Appleby, national director for mental health in England went on to say “"A prison removes people from society, a secure unit prepares people to return to society - its purpose is treatment and rehabilitation. "A prison removes people from society, a secure unit prepares people to return to society - its purpose is treatment and rehabilitation.” He further added "If it's a humane society, we want people to return to a normal life.”
Response: This article in many ways relates to certain themes and events discussed in Ken Kesey’s novel One flew over the Cukoo’s nest. The most obvious relation is that this article talks about people escaping from mental hospital and in the novel, the narrator chief Bromden too escapes from a mental asylum. Concerning a more in depth topic, that of conformity in society Louis Appleby said “a secure unit (mental hospital) prepares people to return to society. This topic is repeatedly emphasized throughout the novel as society or the combine wants to fix anyone who is different, it is not willing to accept them but wants to fix them instead. The book proves that a repetitive cycle is followed over and over again in reality as no one really wants to accept the difference they want to change it.
Vocabulary: absconding
A) The investigation comes in the wake of the case of Darren Harkin who raped a schoolgirl after absconding from a psychiatric unit.
B) To depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and prosecution;
ORIGIN- 1605 15; < Latin abscondere to hide or stow away, equivalentto abs- abs- + condere to stow ( con- con- + -dere to put;see do1 )
C) The boys absconded from the dorm to bazaar to eat in Rice Bowl.
Vocabulary: indefinitely
A) detained indefinitely at maximum security Broadmoor Hospital
B) not clearly defined or determined; not precise or exact: an indefinite boundary;
a. 1520–30; < Latin indēfīnītus. , definite
C) When boys are out of bounds in bazaar, the common excuse is that the boundaries are indefinite.
Vocabulary: appalling
A) Obviously the incident which was in the news yesterday was an appalling incident
B) causing dismay or horror
a. 1275-1325; Middle English < Middle French ap ( p )allir to growor make pale,
C) The drinking incident that took place recently was appalling to some teachers and humours to others.
All word roots taken from: www.dictionary.reference.com
