American Association for the Abolition of Involuntary Mental Hospitalization

The American Association for the Abolition of Involuntary Mental Hospitalization (AAAIMH) was an organization founded in 1970 by Thomas Szasz, George Alexander, and Erving Goffman for the purpose of abolishing involuntary psychiatric intervention, particularly involuntary commitment.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The founding of the AAAIMH was announced by Szasz in 1971 on the American Journal of Public Health<ref name=AJPH>Template:Cite journal</ref> and American Journal of Psychiatry.<ref name=AJP>Template:Cite journal</ref> In the Platform Statement of the association, one can read:<ref name=AJPH/><ref name=AJP/>

Throughout the entire history of psychiatry, involuntary psychiatric interventions, and especially involuntary mental hospitalization, have been regarded as morally and professionally legitimate procedures. No group of physicians, lawyers, or social scientists has ever rejected such interventions as contrary to elementary principles of dignity and liberty and hence as morally and professionally illegitimate. The AAAIMH does.{{#if:|

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Board chairman of the association was Thomas Szasz.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The association provided legal help to psychiatric patients and published a journal, The Abolitionist.<ref name=Schaler>Template:Cite book</ref> The organisation was dissolved in 1980.<ref name=Schaler/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• Thomas Szasz
• Wrongful involuntary commitment