Perceptions of Involuntary Hospitalization

In the debate of involuntary hospitalization, Thomas Szasz and Paul Chodoff hold rather opposing views. This is not a debate of facts, reason, or logic, though both these men, I fear, would violently protest otherwise, for they both present opinion and interpretation as such. The bottom line, as it were, is simply, how these two men perceive human rights, not as they are regarded by society, but how each believes they should be. Szasz contends that, “there are no mental illnesses” and that “no one should be cast into the role of mental patient against his will”. While Chodoff proclaims that, “mental illness does exist” and it is the duty of physicians to treat the ill, even if it is against their will. They argue over right and wrong, moral and immoral, just and unjust, but, the utmost difference in their perceptions of human rights, forces each on opposite sides of the question: should one be free of safe?
Thomas Szasz exclaims his horror at “coercive psychiatry”...