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→Mental illness and the law
[[Liberal]] Senator [[Paul Wellstone]] was long in favor of spending money on mental illness coverage. A bill passed by the [[House of Representatives]] in March 2008, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, would force insurers to cover mental illness at the same coverage level as physical ailments. The bill was sponsored in the House by Republican [[Jim Ramstad]], a recovering [[alcoholism|alcoholic]], and Ted Kennedy's son [[Patrick Kennedy]] of [[Rhode Island]]. A similar bill in the [[United States Senate]] was sponsored [[liberal]] Democrat [[Ted Kennedy]], who has been addicted to painkillers; Pete Domenici of New Mexico; and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. <ref>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/16318346.html House approval is historic moment for Wellstone's addiction and treatment crusade]</ref> The [[Family Research Council]] has expressed its concern that this bill would force businesses to provide health care for mental "conditions" like necrophilia, pedophilia, cross-dressing, and gender identity confusion.<ref>[http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU08C03 Family Research Council: March 6, 2008 Update]</ref>
[[Liberal]] Senator [[Paul Wellstone]] was long in favor of spending money on mental illness coverage. A bill passed by the [[House of Representatives]] in March 2008, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, would force insurers to cover mental illness at the same coverage level as physical ailments. The bill was sponsored in the House by Republican [[Jim Ramstad]], a recovering [[alcoholism|alcoholic]], and Ted Kennedy's son [[Patrick Kennedy]] of [[Rhode Island]]. A similar bill in the [[United States Senate]] was sponsored [[liberal]] Democrat [[Ted Kennedy]], who has been addicted to painkillers; Pete Domenici of New Mexico; and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. <ref>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/16318346.html House approval is historic moment for Wellstone's addiction and treatment crusade]</ref> The [[Family Research Council]] has expressed its concern that this bill would force businesses to provide health care for mental "conditions" like necrophilia, pedophilia, cross-dressing, and gender identity confusion.<ref>[http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU08C03 Family Research Council: March 6, 2008 Update]</ref>
Even when a defendant is deemed sane, mental illness is sometimes used to justify a lesser sentence due to the defendant's [[diminished capacity]] which is said to render him less responsible for his crime. However, mental illness is also sometimes used to justify a harsher sentence if, for instance, a longer term of imprisonment is deemed necessary to protect the public from a defendant whose mental illness makes him more likely to commit crimes. A defendant found incompetent to stand trial can sometimes be confined to a mental hospital until such time as his competency is restored.
==Mental illness and the brain==
==Mental illness and the brain==