Posted by med_empowered on November 10, 2006, at 13:34:58
In reply to Re: Has psychosurgery helped anyone? or know someo, posted by notfred on November 9, 2006, at 0:49:07
The article was interesting, but also somewhat inaccurate. In the US, the range of disorders considered "treatable" by lobotomy actually grew over time; the lobotomy was first performed in the 30s, but hit it big in the 40s-50s, during which time some 40,000 Americans were lobotomized. Freeman even had a van, the "lobotomobile" (his term, not mine) that he used to criss-cross the country on "head hunting" trips (again: his terms, not mine).
Psychosurgery "helps" only by damaging the brain, by destroying the very organ that makes us all human. Yes, it is an option, but I think it is one we would all do well to shun. Patients should not be given brain damage as "treatment," and no ethical physician should mutilate his patients' brains in search of a "cure".
Just my 2 cents.
poster:med_empowered
thread:701741
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061110/msgs/702298.html