Free Republic

After years of watching my beautiful daughter slowly commit suicide by drinking herself to death – frustrated over and over by Massachusetts laws that protect the “rights” of those with minor mental health problems to kill themselves – and prevent family members from ever being able to do anything effectively to stop them, it was with the greatest sadness and outrage that I watched the tragic events at Virginia Tech unfold.

<p>February 18, 2004 -- ALBANY - In a case that stemmed from a woman being pushed to her death in front of a subway train, the state's highest court yesterday upheld a law that allows families to seek court orders to force mentally ill patients to stick to their treatment. A unanimous Court of Appeals found that "Kendra's Law" enables the mentally ill "to lead more productive and satisfying lives, while at the same time reducing the risk of violence posed by mentally ill patients who refuse to comply with necessary treatment."</p>