Tommy Re:Insanity Plea

[Guest guest]

I read the interview and found it very interesting, and I do agree

with a lot of the views expressed. But I always have trouble with

black and white thinking, and this is what I find Szasz' thinking to

be.

Let me correct one misconception he has, and that is that

psychiatrists are the only professionals who have a duty to report

people who are homicidal. Attorneys have a duty to report to the

authorities any crime that a client plans to commit. I believe that's

true in all 50 states. However, suicide is not a crime. I've never

heard that a lawyer anywhere had to report someone with suicidal

intentions, nor a child abuser, for that matter.

But in requiring those reports, from whatever kind of professional

they may, society has weighed certain priorities in the balance.

Lawyers are charged, in part, with defending those who are accused of

crime -- but they are also officers of the court who are bound to

prevent it when they can. Hence the requirement to report uncommitted

crimes and nevertheless not have to reveal ones that have already been

committed. Teachers and mental health professionals are charged with

protecting children and people who are troubled. Honestly, Tommy, if

you knew a close friend would commit suicide, would you do nothing to

prevent it? And if you were a professional whose primary

consideration was " First, do no harm, " would you not want to not only

prevent a suicide, but also put the person in a safe environment so

they could reconsider? I know that Chandler tried to commit

suicide after his wife died, and it was a crime in California at that

time, so they put him in jail. Afterwards, he wrote, " I tried to

commit suicide, so they put me in jail to show me how wonderful life

is. " But the upshot is, he did not attempt suicide again. People can

do things when they're feeling bad that they would not do if removed

some distance in time from the triggering event. I once had a friend

who threatened suicide in my presence, and I said to her, " You can't

do that, it's raining. " She said, " Oh, you're right. " Completely

irrational, right? But the point is, she was irrational, and no

responsible adult would have let her act on her intentions if they

could prevent it.

This has gotten long, more later.

BTW, if you uncheck " wrap words " it might help with long URLS, though

I've never tried it.

> Click on the portrait in the upper left. The interesting thing

about

> this new interview, Pete, is that he specifically addresses those

who

> question him in the fashion which you do. Note the part about

> strenthening rather than weakening his argument. This is only a

primer

> for those who are interested. I will personally address your

comments

> later.

>

> http://www.psychotherapistresources.com/current/