DEBBIE VISITS A SPANISH MENTAL HOSPITAL
by Rod
Chapter One
It was a beautiful Spring day, a Sunday, and neither Dr. Todd Martin, my current
"significant other" or I, a student nurse, were on duty at the hospital. We were
out for a walk enjoying the budding trees and unseasonably warm weather.
"Debbie, I have something to ask you. You know that I had put in for a brief
leave of absence so that I could go out to Los Angeles to teach and do a little
research at one of the trauma centers. Well, my request has been granted and
they have given me three months. So I am going on June 1st. I want you to come
with me."
This news came somewhat as a surprise although I thought he deserved the leave.
Also, the period of time would correspond to my summer vacation, but this was
only for two months.
Todd sensed my hesitation and said, "We could have lots of fun. Remember that
Los Angeles is quite a city with some of the bizarre and exotic activities that
we have enjoyed in a small way."
"Todd, I am thrilled that you would ask me, but you will be very busy with your
work there and I would just be in the way. Besides, I have been thinking about
going to Europe to do a little research of my own."
Looking disappointed but interested, Todd asked, "What kind of research?"
"Well you know that I have been rotating thru psychiatry. The first two weeks
were on the out-patient service which was dull. Everyone was either depressed,
had sexual problems or other interpersonal difficulties. Then I went on the
in-patient, "locked ward" service. I am really enjoying the challenges there but
am a little disappointed. Although some of the patients are admitted in an
agitated or violent state, they are quickly given drugs and become zombies."
Todd laughed and said, "What's wrong with that."
"Nothing except they don't seem to make much progress towards recovery.
Anyway, I got to wondering whether the results of modern therapy for these
patients was any better than treatment before we had all these wonderful drugs.
So I started reading and looking up articles in the hospital library. You know,
most of the therapy in the past consisted of physical means to control hysteria,
agitation, violence and the manic states. These means included restraint,
hydrotherapy and others."
"So what were results of that approach?" Todd asked.
"The articles don't really say, but the implication was that the patients
responded some of the time. It's hard to tell. Anyway, I discussed this topic
with the chief of the psychiatry department. He told me that in certain European
countries, the cost of modern drugs prohibits a medical approach and therefore
the old physical approach is still used. I told him that I had recently earned
$2000 doing some extracurricular work - I didn't tell him what type - and maybe
I would just take a trip abroad to look into this further."
"The chief had seemed amused by this but had told me that it would make a
wonderful thesis for my nursing degree. Also, he said that he knew psychiatrists
in both France and Spain and would be happy to contact them if I wished."
Todd interrupted me, "You aren't really serious about this, are you?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. And I told the chief that I was fluent in
Spanish having grown up in a Spanish neighborhood. I didn't tell him that most
of my vocabulary consisted of dirty words and slang expressions. He is going to
let me know. Anyway, I could go over there and return in time for a week with
you."
I guess Todd didn't really know what to say. He obviously didn't want to stifle
my enthusiasm but was concerned about my traipsing around Spain by myself. So I
said, "Probably nothing will come of this. And if it works out, just think of
all the fun you will have by yourself in California."
A week or so later, I excitedly called Todd to say, "Guess what? I am going to
Spain. The chief asked me to come to his office today and informed me that he
had received a call from Dr. Pedro Morales who it turns out is the head of the
government mental hospital system in Spain. He lives in Madrid and apparently
would enjoy having me come over and be his guest. So, I called a travel agency
and have my tickets!"
Todd could hear my enthusiasm but did say he wanted to discuss things with me.
We met that evening and had some arguments. Finally he said, "Well I support
your decisions. Just don't do anything foolish, come back as quickly as possible
and I'll see you in L.A."
