Selected Letter
Dear Sir & Madam,
I work at the Montrose N.Y. VA psychiatric hospital as a nurses assistant assistant for 30 years retiring in 1987. During that time I constantly drew and painted the existence of the patients and staff I observed. I thought it was good subject matter. Recently a while (back) looking over my pictures which I never did anything with, I had the idea they might make a book. A documentary kind of book story to tell. For the last year I worked on it.
I have a few questions that I hope you can answer.
Are lobotomies still done
Is suicide against the law in all states.
What does incompetence and commitment mean in the VA
(Patients rights to privacy) right of privacy for pt after 18 or 19 yrs (and on forever?)
" " " " " for staff after " " "
Would 18 or 19 years a long time (18 or 19 yrs)
Though nothing criminal criminal is taking place can ridiculous an person employee or patient claim it is them (in a painting) and they are being made fun of insulted about and are going to court. Does one have to wait till after death to be safe about showing a real persons, likeness and even their may be not?
—page 2—
And they are not offensive but likeness? Supervising nurse holding a patient’s hand in dining room to keep patient from running away which he had a record of doing or a patient holding a piece of string to give or express his sad condition. But their faces are real faces (in the pictures) and I would want to keep them. I am not falsifying the nurse (actions) and so I should think I have the right to picture her accurately but the patient’s face is interesting and better than I can invent and I don’t think he would care anyhow but am I violating some privacy libel law here? Some privacy rights by being specific (about incident) 17 or more or more years ago? There is a shame and (specific) embarrassment harm possible mostly for younger psychiatric patients but for older, forgotten ones some attention, any attention would do might do. I think there are only two recognizable patients from years ago and maybe one nurse.
Ask – Are lobotomies discontinued (still done)?
About old dated (66 & 77) hospital forms
What is committed
Is suicide against the law
—page 3—
The job was OK for me. The pay got a little bit better with something more for night work. I always had some phobia I had high blood pressure and rapid pulse for awhile (before and during work) due to smoking mostly and after being deranged several times trying to stop I succeeded. Finally got some rest from that constant (over) stimulation and tension tension. The work allowed one some liberty but the limits always were known. Same patients, same coworkers, same routine. So I looked and looked for a picture material, some escape. And it was interesting I thought subject matter that was in front of me. And mysterious. Nobody would normally thank you for locking them up and restraining them but sometimes it was just a job, a place of business (keeping danger down). The other level was psychy psychological and esthetic, making art. Making some sense out of anything I saw.
Not only the workplace but getting there was usually (unusually) good.
—page 4—
Is locking up a person therapy? it can’t
Dear Mrs be punishment though restraining. It seems to be a necessity under those conditions and resources. And isolating is needed in a locked room for everybodies safety and control at times.
I a stranger and afraid in a world I never made. (Houseman) people looks change, some profoundly (escecially if 40 to begin) even die in 20, 25, 30 yrs would the risk of identity be forgotten or lifted mostly. So one leaves gladly having some future then left and a lot of past more of past. Would passage of 20, 25,30 years make it safe to say a person pictured is fictional not real nobody real? I would prefer the book to be strictly pictures but am told I have to have a text. Thus the questions.
equivocate
equivoque
desperate for a job
pieces peices