Source: Fortune.com
Summary
Families are pushing for law changes to access mental health records of long-dead ancestors who were institutionalized in state psychiatric hospitals. Many states, including New York, have restrictive policies, citing patient privacy protections that can last decades. Some states, like Massachusetts, have reformed their laws to make records more accessible. Advocates argue that releasing these records could help families understand their own mental health histories and provide closure.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. New York state’s restrictive policies on releasing mental health records of deceased ancestors have sparked controversy. Families, like Debby Hannigan’s, have been denied access to records that could help them understand their own mental health struggles. The state’s history of brutal and overcrowded asylums has led to a “cover-up” of decades of abuse, according to some advocates. The push for reform, led by state Sen. Pat Fahy, aims to make records more accessible, citing the importance of learning from history.
Author: Evan Null
