I agree I think a lot of people posting don't have experience of someone with serious mental illness. Clearly what is happening with Britney's care isn't working, and needs to be revisited, but it doesn't mean everyone involved is out to get her.
- For one thing, her dad is ONLY involved in her finances. People talk about how much he's paid for that, but I imagine it you appointed a private firm fees would be similar if not more. He has had absolutely no say in any of her personal issues, i.e whether she can get massages, remove contraception, get married, go on holiday, the things she was most unhappy about, for years now. He was in charge of bringing her financial estate back from the brink of bankruptcy to being worth 60 million, while he may be financially profiteering he has made sure her sons are supported with that money and has seemed to do a good job. due to relationship breakdown, and independent firm is probably the best objective choice now, but may not the best choice in terms of protecting her financial wealth.
- The 'personal' conservator, who is responsible for this, is someone Britney initially wanted appointed instead of her father but has now turned against. Her father seems to want someone independent to assess this person and what she's doing, suggesting she certainly isn't a plant by the family (though maybe someone who is also out to profit off the situation)
- Her lawyer is independently appointed by the court, and she has the power to instruct a new one.
- Her ex, who has custody of her boys, was pretty much the only dissenting public voice after her testimony and basically said "The boys love her and want her happy and healthy, but I'm worried about the idea the conservatorship would end without any independent assessment of her, I have never been told the nature of her struggles but I know lithium isn't prescribed lightly and she shouldn't be taken off these drugs without some kind of structured supervision in place" Which seems perfectly sensible to be honest, but isn't something she wants. If this is all a plot from people out to control her money, an independent psychiatric assessment would be the easiest way to demonstrate that: even with fairly significant mental health systems most people still wouldn't reach the bar for the kind of intervention this conservatorship is.
- It is entirely possible to be able to work, especially when that work doesn't involve decision-making, and not be able to make other decisions about your life. From a therapeutic point of view, work can be helpful.
My own view is coloured by watching up close a different heath system try to deal with the mental health of someone who was, for about a year, a serious threat to others because he chose to come off his meds. Neighbours calling police regularly, the family member he was threatening calling police regularly, a real fear in the family he might harm himself or others. Genuine, genuine fear he could kill. Eventually he was sectioned, but the bar was very high. A court order required drugs for six months which were injected - he was released very quickly, after I think a couple of weeks of being an in-patient, and basically as soon as he was 'stable' from the drugs he was deemed to have capacity to stop taking the drugs. Things he has done while 'stable' include basically ordering a mail order bride, stealing extensively, and being completely unable to manage his finances. He can, as it happens, work: obviously not a job that requires handling money but it helps. Family are at the moment managing his finances and supplementing his income with his consent, but ultimately I don't see how he could ever successfully live alone. If he had access to 60 million dollars I have absolutely no doubt he would be dead in five years. He is a smart, articulate man, but he is very very ill. Something like the conservatorship seems to be on paper would probably be perfect for him to be honest. But: he had SO many times when he was released (from policy or psychiatric care) when he was a danger, there were SO many opportunities for him to challenge when restrictions were put in place. And I think thats right. And I think Britney clearly needs to be in a better situation.
But equally, the boyfriend looks sketchy as hell. Once they're married/have kids, he will be in control of all that money. It is entirely possible she is reliant on meds not compatible with pregnancy. This ruling seems temporary: her team needs to petition to have the conservatorship removed, and hopefully independent psychiatric assessment can take place and they can find a safe supported way for her to exit that.
But my experience of a couple of people I know with chronic long term mental health issues is its nowhere near as straightforward as 'She appears coherent, and can work, so must be capable of running her own affairs.' Its sad this is playing out in public but maybe more sunlight is what she needs so all avenues are explored. I really hope she gets through this, and that she is in fact able to run her own affairs. But I think people are jumping to 'conspiracy' too quickly.