Beyond the personal difficulties that the pseudopatient is likely to experience
in tbe hospital, there are legal and social ones that, combined, require
considerable attention before entry. For example, once admitted to a psychiatric
institution, it is difficult, if not impossible, to be discharged on short
notice, state law to the contrary notwithstanding. I was not sensitive to
these difficulties at the outset of the project, nor to the personal and
situational emergencies that can arise, but later a writ of habeas corps
was prepared for each of the entering pseudopatients and an attorney was
kept "on call" during every hospitalization. I am grateful to
John Kaplan and Robert Bartells for legal advice and assistance in these
matters.