In Hawaii, the new teachers contract requirers drug testing(to be paid by the D.O.E.--make a law, tax the department.) Under the Kingdom of Hawaii, before the illegal invasion and consequent overthrow of the Kingdom by the U.S.A. in 1893, we had a law; No law enacted for the people that doesn't apply to the leaders(1839 bill or rights). It's time our leaders lead by example, and unfortunatly, unless the people demand it, it won't happen. (ref. also hawaiikingdom.org) we are still struggleing for justice and against corvert Hawaiian Apartheid.

Eric Kane, Waimanalo, Hawaii

If all of them were on pot the world would be a much less aggressive place, that's for sure.

J. Wilkes, Gloucester,

How long will it be before we find out what Bush is on?

Richard, Manchester,

"There are many privacy laws in this country (and the EU) which conceal these matters in order to avoid discrimination on health grounds. Can these be overturned in the sole case of persons elected by the populus? "

I don't see why not. After all, these people willingly put themselves forward for their positions, and if/when elected they cease to be "private" people, and gain powers and privilages beyond those of the rest of us.

I see no reason why people with powers and responsibilities that allow them to cause far more harm than any private citizen should not be subject to proportionately stricter rules on conduct and competance.

Andrew, Taunton,

It would be nice for a change to get the politicians our votes deserve, than again, maybe that's exactly what is happening here.

David Amerland, Cheadle, UK, Cheshire

Anyone going into politics thinking they can actually make a difference to ordninary lives are `de facto` delusional

Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK

Well, that is a thought, for certain something takes them 'off the planet', at least this one where pensioners get less than 10% of the income of politicians. And that is before they clain nearly as much again in expenses, with even more for their party machines! "...drugged to the eyes..." would quite explain things.

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

A well balanced article as usual but there is nothing here that is new. The documentary 'Altered Statesmen' which aired on TV a couple of years ago covered much the same ground and in my view came to exactly the same conclusion

Jay, London,

Testing politicians for mental health is likely to leave us short of personnel in governments and parliaments. Actually, I had always assumed that a poor grip on reality (along with constructed "morality") was a prerequisite for aspirant politicians.

Martin Baldwin-Edwards, Athens, Greece

This is more of a problem in a presidential system, but in a cabinet democracy that kind of power 'should' be more distributed - so Cabinet takes over when the PM is incapacitated or has clouded judgement. That's how our democracy should work...

However, where our leaders are treated more and more like Emperors, more autocratic in style, we become more susceptible to their moods, illness and neuroses.

By the way, Dessertspoongate is the greatest portmanteau in history.

Ed Freshwater, Aberdeen, Scotland

As a GP, it is my responsibility to break confidentiality if there is a risk to others, as in the case of some sufferers of psychotic illnesses at times, or reporting drivers unsafe due to dementia to the DVLA.
Leading a country carries a lot more risk of harming others than driving a car. A competent physician ought to break rank if such circumstances arise. The problem is how to ensure this principle is followed.
One of the strange anomalies enshrined in law is that if delusional beliefs accord with certain culturally sanctioned religious beliefs, the Mental Health Act does not apply. Presumably this is why Tony Blair's physician did not act when Blair asked God's advice rather than the electorate's before deciding to join fellow zealot George Bush's invasion of Iraq.

Dr M, Lerwick, Scotland

We check our athletes for an extensive list of drugs but let our politicans go untested. Just doesn't seem quite right...

Juan, London,

A very interesting and timely piece. At a time in history when we are gaining an understanding and compassion for mental illness especially, it is important that politicans are treated with the respect and care we would all desire from our employer. .. power of course is a very seductive feeling not just for the politican but also those around him/her who have much to gain by maintaining the status quo.

This situation exists in all levells of society, where the local boss, CEO of a mulitnational company , teacher, parent , policeman......... are in positions to influence the lives of people and their family on a day by day basis- often with devasting results......... while this 'leader ' may have imparied cognitive ability.



Will evolution of the democratic principles we like to feel govern the mores of our society , facititate an empathetic and honest response to the very human experience of fraility and disease?

mary foley, Carlow, R.O.I.

So, what's Gordon Brown on then ? He must be taking some medication or have some deep mental illness - he just seems to want to take money off people all the time.

Mark B, York,

Maybe the real problem here is that we give our leaders too much power. In a democracy, there should never be just one man making important decisions- that's what dictators are for.

Miss Dee, Tayside, Scotland

But the point is - do they do any better or any worse for being drunk or sober, stoned or not?

kevin atkinson, London, london

Interesting to hear about "the story of the mental decline of Deschanel and his fall from a train when reading a riveting new book on the health of statesmen." That was careless of him, wasn't it?

Sam, Oxford,

You need regular medicals to fly a few hundred people around but not to start wars resulting in millions of deaths.

merv thompson, Scarborough, Yorkshire

Well argued, as usual, Daniel. We choose our leaders according to their fitness to govern, and illnesses, no matter how trivial, affect the decisions that we make. Who, for instance, is at their best at work when suffering from a cold? And that is as trivial as an illness can get.

That said, though, forcing people to reveal their state of health is not practical. There are many privacy laws in this country (and the EU) which conceal these matters in order to avoid discrimination on health grounds. Can these be overturned in the sole case of persons elected by the populus?

Martin, Bristol,

I wonder what would have been the outcome of the Yalta
Conference if President Roosevelt had been a well man
with Churchill at his side?

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA

Hi,
I’m sitting in my place of residence at three o clock before a new born day. Deschanel as you mentioned was human. Some of my best computer programs and my paintings on canvas and my deepest thoughts in words have been achieved with a bottle of red wine.
Regards Dr. Terence

Terence Hale, zandvoort, Holland

Dont forget the modern leaders of the US of A who all seem to suffer from delusion, pyschosis and wide array of mental illness!

Kyle, Prescott, Arizona, USA

It's been a while since I read it, but there's a chapter in Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail where Thompson ponders whether Nixon is using some amphetamine or similar drug. If anyine would know, it'd be Hunter S Thompson.

Paul Rowe, Auckland, New Zealand