[https://www.reddit.com/r/bipolar/comments/d3eabj/nightmare\_experience\_in\_kaiser\_psych\_ward/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bipolar/comments/d3eabj/nightmare_experience_in_kaiser_psych_ward/)

During my stint in the Kaiser Chinatown facility, I asked the orderlies if they were familiar with the parable of Archimedes. I suppose that may have seemed an off the wall though analogy seemed the only way to convey the profound injustice at hand. They ignored the wishes of my wife and lied. It is not right to ignore the wishes of the loved ones of those in that situation. 

The great mathematician Archimedes was murdered by accident by Roman soldiers who took umbrage at how he ignored their commands, preferring to focus instead on solving geometric problems by drawing circles in the sand. Upon hearing of this tragedy, the Roman general ordered decimation, the systematic elimination of ten percent of the soldier’s legion. 

Perhaps a similar principle could be applied to the psychiatric profession. No, not literal decimation :P But given the number of stories of harm inflicted by ostensible medical caregivers and my personal lived experience, I can’t help but ask: does the modern psychiatric establishment truly adhere to the basic principle of “firm do no harm?” It’s at the very least an open question. 

Perhaps if ten percent of the profession were to undergo inpatient “treatment” we might all benefit.