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The examples given in the Kidnapped series of posts are dramatic. They point to growing abuses in healthcare systems. The idea that in every way we are making more and more progress leads people to cut corners to bring the benefits of treatments they know will work to others. Those whose lives have been affected will figure this is a pretty common occurrence. The rest of us … [Read more...] about Medical Kidnap: Get Out of Jail Free Report

Declaration In the last decade, a new problem has come into focus, illustrated by the posts over the last 4 weeks. Families and communities have traditionally provided the overwhelming bulk of care for relatives whether they were mentally infirm, elderly and dementing, younger with learning disabilities or suffering from physical illness. The impetus to care for a relative … [Read more...] about The Right Not to be Kidnapped

Editorial Note: This is the fifth post in a medical kidnapping series. There will be at least one more, perhaps two. Lost rights The county asylum system that came into being in 1845 initiated a period of therapeutic optimism, that was extinguished by 1900. Therapeutic optimism re-emerged in the 1950s with the advent of the first effective psychotropic drugs. Current … [Read more...] about Medical Kidnapping: The Dilemmas of Therapeutic Optimism

Editorial Note: The last three posts give examples of medical kidnapping happening now. The Doctor Munchausen series of posts on David Healy in July and August 2014 give some more examples. This post and two to follow outline how we ended up in a position where people can be kidnapped. Medical Kidnapping goes back a bit. In 1706, Daniel Defoe, perhaps the first journalist and, … [Read more...] about The History of Medical Kidnapping

Editorial Note: The post below is by Simon Hattenstone and appeared in the Guardian on April 2nd. It fits into the Kidnapped sequence and allows us to draw attention to the #JusticeforLB campaign (Laughing Boy). Once again the point is this could be you or me, could be cardiac or orthopedic or any branch of medicine. We need an up to date version of Buffy Sainte Marie's … [Read more...] about Kidnapped: In England

Editorial Note: This post is by Franke James, Teresa's sister. The reaction in the US or UK is that things like this couldn't happen here. Part of the reason no one can believe that treatment is being forced on people who don't need it is that many of us have the experience of not being able to access treatment when we need it. This paradox is central to what is happening. … [Read more...] about Human Rights Should Be For Everyone