On Oct. 18, you printed a story (“A Maine law could have forced the Lewiston mass shooter into psychiatric treatment. Why wasn’t it used?“) on the report of the committee tasked by the governor to review the shootings of last year. The report has become contentious because of its silence on the subject of the progressive treatment program (PTP). Your reporter asked why PTP wasn’t used, followed by a good description of treatment of the mentally ill in Maine.

However, when he got into the details, logic was lost. Quoting a lawyer on his beliefs or opinion on a proven medical illness is illogical. Quoting a “peer specialist” on her opinion of whether medication could be effective is likewise misleading and her position untrue. Assisted outpatient treatment is proven to be humane, successful and cost-effective across many states. It sometimes requires a court order for a patient to comply.

Maine’s DHHS has been infected with the false disability rights argument that someone sick has a right to be sick. It would be a simple thing for DHHS to instead support and promote PTP. They could add it to NAMI’s crisis intervention training of police officers, for instance. It is a disgrace that, in Maine, tragedy, loss and heartbreak has been the result of these false arguments not only in Lewiston but all across the state for too many years. It’s time to do something more.

Emmett Angell
Califon, N.J.