A multi-kiloton explosion in Halifax Harbour was the largest blast in pre-atomic history. A flaming armory drifted towards shore as fascinated spectators gathered, Christmas Day, 1916.
with anything such as this, there is going to be a lot of monday morning quarterbacking and secondary diagnosis.
I can't speak for others, (in fact, considering some of the others who have spoken, I think letting them say what they say is clear enough.)
Looking at this clinically, I see two things that really raise a concern.
-This was a person who was on medical treatment and had had incidents before (incident meaning: behavioral difficulties and obvious anger/depression problems.)
-One of the meds listed (Geodon,) having checked it in some of the online discussion forums among Geodon users,
---has a reputed history of bringing up worse behaviors, (as well as quelling others.)
--considering that one of the people who did not like the side effects of the med, wanted off of it, was not allowed off of it, and then went on to kill others, then himself?
THAT bares looking into.
I'll be honest in saying that it's a hard line to find in terms of 'personal responsibility' when an individual who is on medication for emotional distress or illness does outlandish things (especially with a med that has had side effects that can cause a set up for the situation that just unfortunately unfolded at Roosevelt.)
Going forward?
I'd hope that if anyone is on this med, or is taking it with any other meds, or is on ANY med --and is noticing their behaviors growing worse (instead of better,) that they'd be able to speak to somebody who could find a solution.
--I have no doubt that the doctor(s) handling the med regimine for this young man is/are capable.
There are a lot of variables (diet, lack of sleep, involvement of other substances, personal life issues, (etc.) that could have all played into what happened.
IF this is a situation where there is a tracable and pattered behavioral spike by those who are on this med? I hope that those prescribing it will make other choices.
-that the med is being used (apparently,) as an alternate to zyprexa (which is very heavily used by a lot of folks,) the potential for further problems and situations not unlike this is most definitely there, and could grow.
That needs to be looked into.
The tragedy of it is, somebody lost a brother, a son, a friend,a nephew, a grandson, (etc.) --and they aren't coming back, AND they went out obviously in a lot of mental pain ---all the while being under care for help.
That means others are in pain too.
The doctor and casworkers who were trying to help the kid
AND
The officer who had to make that choice.
Nobody in uniform wants to have to hurt somebody, nobody wakes up saying '...yeah, feel like shooting somebody today.'
--especially when it comes to dropping a kid.
It's hard enough having to live down decisions and actions that have hurt others, (or NOT taking the right measures in a timely sense that could have averted tragedy.)
I can't imagine the weight of having to know that I had to terminate another person's life. (kid or no.)
I hope that the investigations in this yeild results and insight that may help others who are (potentially) at risk due to the same methods being used (I'm speaking of possible medical issues here exascerbated by this med in these situations, NOT, '...did the cop do the right thing, was this a good cop or not, was this kid a saint or a devil.'
The kid is dead, why he wanted to do what he did, and what lead up to that behaviors needs to be understood and shared.
Thankfully more kids aren't dead, and thankfully the officer survived the attack.
This is an opportunity for Fresno (as a medical and social services community,) to take the ball here, do some research, and maybe save a lot more lives, --and relieve a lot of people their agony, IF there is a documentable medical concern here.
-Hopefully it can see past some of the more prurient and petty arguments and assertions and seek to bring on a better understanding of this unfortunate event.
One final thought on this, though it's not at all the last one, (and it is in fact the first one,)
My heart does break for these people, and, as the situation has rolled out (facts revealed, Andy, especially thanks for the heads up on two of the meds allegedly involved,)
I want to make it clear that myself and a lot of family and friends are praying for this officer, the young man's family, and the situation in general.
This is not going to be an easy time for them, and it probably never will be.
whoah, that's a lot of descriptives
with anything such as this, there is going to be a lot of monday morning quarterbacking and secondary diagnosis.
I can't speak for others, (in fact, considering some of the others who have spoken, I think letting them say what they say is clear enough.)
Looking at this clinically, I see two things that really raise a concern.
-This was a person who was on medical treatment and had had incidents before (incident meaning: behavioral difficulties and obvious anger/depression problems.)
-One of the meds listed (Geodon,) having checked it in some of the online discussion forums among Geodon users,
---has a reputed history of bringing up worse behaviors, (as well as quelling others.)
--considering that one of the people who did not like the side effects of the med, wanted off of it, was not allowed off of it, and then went on to kill others, then himself?
THAT bares looking into.
I'll be honest in saying that it's a hard line to find in terms of 'personal responsibility' when an individual who is on medication for emotional distress or illness does outlandish things (especially with a med that has had side effects that can cause a set up for the situation that just unfortunately unfolded at Roosevelt.)
Going forward?
I'd hope that if anyone is on this med, or is taking it with any other meds, or is on ANY med --and is noticing their behaviors growing worse (instead of better,) that they'd be able to speak to somebody who could find a solution.
--I have no doubt that the doctor(s) handling the med regimine for this young man is/are capable.
There are a lot of variables (diet, lack of sleep, involvement of other substances, personal life issues, (etc.) that could have all played into what happened.
IF this is a situation where there is a tracable and pattered behavioral spike by those who are on this med? I hope that those prescribing it will make other choices.
-that the med is being used (apparently,) as an alternate to zyprexa (which is very heavily used by a lot of folks,) the potential for further problems and situations not unlike this is most definitely there, and could grow.
That needs to be looked into.
The tragedy of it is, somebody lost a brother, a son, a friend,a nephew, a grandson, (etc.) --and they aren't coming back, AND they went out obviously in a lot of mental pain ---all the while being under care for help.
That means others are in pain too.
The doctor and casworkers who were trying to help the kid
AND
The officer who had to make that choice.
Nobody in uniform wants to have to hurt somebody, nobody wakes up saying '...yeah, feel like shooting somebody today.'
--especially when it comes to dropping a kid.
It's hard enough having to live down decisions and actions that have hurt others, (or NOT taking the right measures in a timely sense that could have averted tragedy.)
I can't imagine the weight of having to know that I had to terminate another person's life. (kid or no.)
I hope that the investigations in this yeild results and insight that may help others who are (potentially) at risk due to the same methods being used (I'm speaking of possible medical issues here exascerbated by this med in these situations, NOT, '...did the cop do the right thing, was this a good cop or not, was this kid a saint or a devil.'
The kid is dead, why he wanted to do what he did, and what lead up to that behaviors needs to be understood and shared.
Thankfully more kids aren't dead, and thankfully the officer survived the attack.
This is an opportunity for Fresno (as a medical and social services community,) to take the ball here, do some research, and maybe save a lot more lives, --and relieve a lot of people their agony, IF there is a documentable medical concern here.
-Hopefully it can see past some of the more prurient and petty arguments and assertions and seek to bring on a better understanding of this unfortunate event.
One final thought on this, though it's not at all the last one, (and it is in fact the first one,)
My heart does break for these people, and, as the situation has rolled out (facts revealed, Andy, especially thanks for the heads up on two of the meds allegedly involved,)
I want to make it clear that myself and a lot of family and friends are praying for this officer, the young man's family, and the situation in general.
This is not going to be an easy time for them, and it probably never will be.
-Eric