Im aware that some patients feel this way, however tgere are many more who are thankful for the medical treatment that improved the quality of their life, and in cases even saved.their life. Unforyunately, for a significant number of those with a setious type mental illness, one of the hindrances to them is a lack of insight into their illness, anosgnosia. Anosognosia renders many incapable of even knowing they are sick. There is nothing wrong with Bob, for example, because.Bobs only problem (in his mind) is that others are conspiring against him. The issue of involuntary treatment only refers to those patients wiyh a severe mental illness who are lacking insight and often judgement, much the same way an alzheimer patient is. Both involve illness affecting the brain, except one is labeled psychiatric and one neurological. Is it persecution when alzheimers patient is placed into a locked dementia unit of a nursing home? I dont think so. No diference. Another consideration is most people dont live in a vacuum. Most have family, friends, some coworkers. When a person refuses to treat their illness,its just a reality that this often has an impact on their loved ones. But again, in many patients with a serious mental illness, lack of insight among other things can make them unwilling or resistant to comply with their treatment. There are many layers to it, but the best outcome is when the person is willing to comply with care. Untreated serious mental illness doesnt just affect the person, it can have a profound effect on their circle of family friends and coworkers, heck, even just society in general.