17 Yo Son Severely Beat His Mother

[Baloo22]

You said “The boy is physically disabled, and IMO has psychiatric problems as well” and that he's had behavioral issues in school. Has he actually been evaluated by a psychiatric specialist? If not, it could be a good idea to do so.

While it does occur that some kids back in the states are “drugged up to the gills by "well-intentioned" authorities”, there are also many that are receiving the medication that they need for their psychiatric condition and lead better lives for it. Like many other types of drugs, they can be used effectively and they can be abused.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Hard to know without spending time with the Family ... but who do you have the most empathy for?

The son appears to have a mental disorder and if discharged / disowned by the family unit most likely destined for a life on the street ... and a short life at that.

Or the Mother, who despite living in fear everyday has shown the compassion to keep her son under her roof and take care of him as best she can. As the son grows in confidence and strength the mother may go from being fearful of her health (from a bashing) to fearful of her life.

Some assumptions above I know because of the narrative supplied but ...

... but who do you have the most empathy for, the Mother or the Son?

For me it's my friend, the mother's a bit of a bunny boiler herself but that doesn't lead to a happy solution does it.

He'd probably get out if he could take his daughters, but he's created a situation where she's holding all the cards, she's got a whole village's worth of rellies camping out in the home he built on the family land, usual story.

I guess I'll try to sell him on giving the boy a choice between jail and signing up for the army, but as I said they may well not accept him, he presents as damaged goods right from the get go.

As you can tell I'm not much on empathy these days, looking for practical solutions, we all have enough of our own problems at the moment without taking on the bottomless pit of need that is attached to those we've chosen to include in our family unit.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

You said “The boy is physically disabled, and IMO has psychiatric problems as well” and that he's had behavioral issues in school. Has he actually been evaluated by a psychiatric specialist? If not, it could be a good idea to do so.

While it does occur that some kids back in the states are “drugged up to the gills by "well-intentioned" authorities”, there are also many that are receiving the medication that they need for their psychiatric condition and lead better lives for it. Like many other types of drugs, they can be used effectively and they can be abused.

He's got to go begging his own rellies to cover the wife's injuries, her bones need to be re-broken and re-set since the upcountry hospital screwed it up.

And he just found out one of his own daughters has a hole in her heart and will need heart surgery within the coming weeks.

I don't think he'll put too much time/energy/money into trying to find qualified psychiatric treatment for his SO's evil spawn ATM.

At this rate even a multi-millionaire would be wiped out being a nice fellow. . .

[Baloo22]

You said “The boy is physically disabled, and IMO has psychiatric problems as well” and that he's had behavioral issues in school. Has he actually been evaluated by a psychiatric specialist? If not, it could be a good idea to do so.

While it does occur that some kids back in the states are “drugged up to the gills by "well-intentioned" authorities”, there are also many that are receiving the medication that they need for their psychiatric condition and lead better lives for it. Like many other types of drugs, they can be used effectively and they can be abused.

He's got to go begging his own rellies to cover the wife's injuries, her bones need to be re-broken and re-set since the upcountry hospital screwed it up. And he just found out one of his own daughters has a hole in her heart and will need heart surgery within the coming weeks. I don't think he'll put too much time/energy/money into trying to find qualified psychiatric treatment for his SO's evil spawn ATM. At this rate even a multi-millionaire would be wiped out being a nice fellow. . .

In that case, your friend my not have other options than what has become known in the states as the "tough love" approach. I was once told by a professional counselor (she had the degrees and experience. Not a quack) experienced in counseling "troubled teens";

"Some times the only way they are able to move their lives up is to hit bottom and bounce up."

It may be necessary to let him experience Thai jail for a while. It may, in the end, do him some good. It may, in the end, also be the only way your friend can protect the rest of his family.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Thanks to all, but I'm a bit puzzled that all those who usually seem to have decent knowledge of the law from a practical POV haven't answer the main question.

Short of sending him to jail (or possibly the army), are there possible consequences legally - as in punishment of the parents - for refusing to support a 17 year old, tossing him out of the family home and forcing him to fend for himself?

And if so, is it true that obligation doesn't go away until 20 here - as opposed to 18 AFAIK in farangland?

[Mario2008]

The law states that parents are bound to take care of their children and children are bound to take care of their parents.

There are two laws at issue:

section 1561 and follwoing of book V of the Thai civil code: http://www.thailawon...rcial code .pdf

and there is the child protection act, that might be of interest.

Child abuse is of course punishable, but sending a child out of the house doesns't have to be so. It is more a case for child welfare in that kind of instances.

Jail in his case will mean juvenile hall, not a regular jail. It is supposed to be a little better. If he needs to be cooled off, he can be taken to a police station and from there be send to juvenile hall. The parents can than pick him up (or after a few days) and make arrangement with juvenile hall about his conduct. Basically he will be released like on bail, with conditions set. Not keeping them can resut in returning to juvenile hall.

It is also possible that they will send him to a drug rehabilitation program.

No expereince with either, so can't tell how effective/good the programs are. Did have two students who were send to a rehabilitation program for about a year. They didn't seem to have been worse off.

[mike123ca]

Parents have remarkable rights over children in Thailand i believe

If they object to a relationship ,they can even have a lover arrested if the girl is under age 20

and they police DO take it seriously

I think if the parents signed him up and dropped him off at the army base in the middle of nowwhere ,there might be

very little he could do about it

he wont be able to beat up a couple of army drill sergeants and smash their computers and they for sure wont take any shit off a 17 year old punk so he will learn .....one way or the other as they say

Why would the army want something like this.

When I was a younger man, I was in the Canadian army and we were required to take training and academic courses.

Fail them and you were looking towards future unemployment.

[harryfrompattaya]

You friend should leave at once only a mater of the son will kill him.

How sad for your friend.