· 1970 ·
My grandparents are sitting in their doctor's office. Their son left for a foreign country a few months ago and joined a religious group there. He has been struggling with psychological problems since his youth, and his acceptance into the group seems like a refuge in the wrong arms. My grandparents are very worried. The doctor proposes a solution to them: they could revoke their own son's legal capacity and could bring him back home. It would be a drastic step; their son is, after all, a grown man. My grandfather immediately consults with the doctor: what might incapacitation look like, what would the family face? It seems to be the best solution, papers are drawn up, pens are passed around. Everyone is waiting for my grandmother to sign. But she refuses, can't reconcile it with her conscience. A decision against the welfare of her child? The pressure from all sides is great.
Saying no is never easy. For my grandmother, it took a lot of courage to go against the professional opinion of doctors and her own husband. For her, she tells me today, it was a step out of love and respect for her son.
· 1970 ·
My grandparents are sitting in their doctor's office. Their son left for a foreign country a few months ago and joined a religious group there. He has been struggling with psychological problems since his youth, and his acceptance into the group seems like a refuge in the wrong arms. My grandparents are very worried. The doctor proposes a solution to them: they could revoke their own son's legal capacity and could bring him back home. It would be a drastic step; their son is, after all, a grown man. My grandfather immediately consults with the doctor: what might incapacitation look like, what would the family face? It seems to be the best solution, papers are drawn up, pens are passed around. Everyone is waiting for my grandmother to sign. But she refuses, can't reconcile it with her conscience. A decision against the welfare of her child? The pressure from all sides is great.
Saying no is never easy. For my grandmother, it took a lot of courage to go against the professional opinion of doctors and her own husband. For her, she tells me today, it was a step out of love and respect for her son.