Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 21:39:49 -0400
Message-Id: <199905250139.VAA26893@steve-dallas.mit.edu>
From: belmonte@MIT.EDU (Matthew Belmonte)
To: CapuanoHR8@aol.com (Mike Capuano)
Subject: support HR 1313

Dear Representative Capuano:

I write as your constituent to express my support for HR 1313, the Patient
Freedom from Restraint Act.  This bill would ensure that physical restraint is 
used in the treatment of psychiatric patients only as a last resort, and would
require instances of restraint to be reported.  Having grown up with an
autistic brother, I am well aware that in the absence of such requirements,
physical restraint may be used by untrained or uncaring staff as a substitute
for more labour-intensive interventions.  HR 1313 would curb such abuses and
would help to protect the fundamental human rights of residents of psychiatric
facilities.  I hope you'll support it.