While I certainly sympathize with Harry's situation - it was a tough decision to make - wouldn't have taking the kids, and leaving her homeless have accomplished the same thing? On the streets without meds or proper care, she would have eventually become a danger to herself, leading to institutionalization without needing to lie to the cops and the doctors?
No. For one thing, it would have been traumatic for the children, plus the logistics would be a nightmare, with 3 school age children and I am assuming, not infinite resources.
In fact, she is NOT making a choice to behave like a psychotic person. She is in a state of psychosis which she is unable to control. It is not different than if someone is going into a diabetic coma and saying, well she should just give herself an insulin shot! As if either the person who is in such bad shape physically or mentally is able to simply make better decisions and act right. They can't. They flat out cannot.
Why not make the best effort to avoid the potential damage to all concerned: Harry, children, wife--and get the wife the treatment she needs and deserves. This is not the same thing as someone going on repeated alcoholic or drug fueled benders but even if it were, I would applaud the attempt at treatment/hospitalization first.
Leaving a person who is so mentally ill that they are not able to function in a home would also put the home itself at risk for serious damage, potentially. This would make a serious financial decision much, much worse. In addition, there is a very real possibility of self harm to the wife. Or just harm. Mentally ill people too often fall prey to those who are able to take advantage of them. Why risk the possible physical harm, the increased time in a psychotic state and potentially many legal repercussions by simply abandoning her? If there are other choices, those would be the best, most ethical choices to make. Sadly, we are all aware of too many cases when well meaning friends/family/neighbors call the police when someone who is mentally ill is behaving abnormally--not necessarily harming themselves or anyone else but obviously, someone in serious need of help. And the police are too often ill equipped to do the job of getting the person to the hospital and instead feel threatened by..what? a paper bag blowing across the street? A shadow? Police officers have shot and killed too many unarmed people who simply needed to be taken to the hospital. And we all know it. We've read the stories. We've talked about them here.
What Harry did is the best possible solution to a horrible problem. I hope very much that whatever it takes for his wife to become healthier and to completely accept the treatment necessary to maintain her mental health happens.
