[Balder_LPN]

Originally Posted by big-chicken

I'm not a nurse and I don't have much sympathy for illegal aliens, however I believe medicating someone without their consent is assault. I don't care what the gov says. They may not have a right to stay in the country, but they should have the right to refuse sedation. After all, aren't there risks with sedation?

big chicken

Assault is defined as:

1. An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another.
2. The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another.

Battery is defined as:
The unlawful and unwanted touching or striking of one person by another, with the intention of bringing about a harmful or offensive contact.

So here is a question. Is there a LAW on any books about a prisoners right to refuse medical treatment or sedation? I dont think so. Therefore forced medication, medical treatment, or sedation does not seem to be illegal, regardless of ones moral/ethical objections to it. The law (in general), while based on morals and ethics, is not by itself moral or ethical, it is just the law.

Face it, people who have not lost thier freedom have more rights than those who have lost their freedom.

[SharonH, RN]

Originally Posted by Balder_LPN

So here is a question. Is there a LAW on any books about a prisoners right to refuse medical treatment or sedation?

Yes there is. Prisoners do have the right to refuse medical treatment or sedation except in limited circumstances-which do not include convenience- therefore the rest of your argument is null.

[aeauooo]

Originally Posted by Balder_LPN

Therefore forced medication, medical treatment, or sedation does not seem to be illegal, regardless of ones moral/ethical objections to it.

In other words, because there is not law against it, because people who have come into this country in an attempt to provide for themselves and their families have broken a law, they have lost their rights, which gives the authorities license to treat them without moral or ethical concerns.

I'd be ashamed to be on that side of the argument.

[Hausfrau]

Originally Posted by Elvish

For people from a lot of other places, the process is not nearly as long and painful as it is for people from Mexico. That is unfair. When my friends from Europe can fill out a form and bam! they're here, and I can't bring my dh's family here from Mexico on a tourist visa because there are none, that is not fair.

10+ years? Closer to twenty. From Mexico, anyway.

My husband cannot 'get legal.' If he can't and he's married to a US citizen and owns property, pays taxes, and speaks English, there is NOT a process for him to go through, and yes, I am going to have a bone to pick with the lack of a process.

I'm not saying there should be a free-for-all at any port of entry into the US. But it were equally easy or equally hard for EVERYONE to get here no matter where they are from, I think we would see far fewer problems. And far fewer headlines like the one in the OP.

You are right, it should be equal. Let's calculate how many legal mexicans and illegal mexicans we have, and I'd venture to guess it's time to let some people from other countries in first.

And yes, my family are legal immigrants from Europe.

[caringnursenj]

Whatever happened to human rights? It’s 2008 and we are not barbarians. There is no justification for sedating a human being that is not combative, add the fact that there are no medical reasons for doing such.

[Elvish]

Originally Posted by Hausfrau

You are right, it should be equal. Let's calculate how many legal mexicans and illegal mexicans we have, and I'd venture to guess it's time to let some people from other countries in first.

The point is that it's easier to for people from Europe to get here in the first place. If it were as easy for Latin Americans (since they are not all Mexicans) to get here as it is for Europeans, I doubt we'd have the problems with illegal immigration that we do. I've been saying that for years.

[pink74]

thank you.

[pink74]

Originally Posted by pink74

thank you.

I just wanted to thank all of you who considers this heartless act. as a nurse i will always respect the old , young, white , black, brown, legal or illegal . rule # 1 be compassionate and don't judge. i guess it will take a good lawyer to stop this practice .

[bigjim]

Originally Posted by pink74

I just wanted to thank all of you who considers this heartless act. as a nurse i will always respect the old , young, white , black, brown, legal or illegal . rule # 1 be compassionate and don't judge. i guess it will take a good lawyer to stop this practice .

Or even better, they could quit breaking the law by sneaking in to the country, then causing a disturbance when it's time to be deported. That would cause a 100% reduction in sedations. Novel concept, no?

[herring_RN]

Originally Posted by SharonH, RN

A young American male of Mexican descent who was born in this country was deported when he was stopped by immigration because he was somewhat mentally challenged and he was unable to answer their questions satisfactorily. ICE basically shrugged their shoulders when his mom went to them looking for help. I wonder if she ever found her boy.

Pedro Guzman's Return
Wrongly deported to Mexico, a developmentally disabled man is found safe...

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/pe...-return/16956/