Citation

Mollhoff G. Z. Rechtsmed. 1982; 88(3): 213-219.

Vernacular Title

Die "Baxstromaffare." Beispiel einer Psychiatriekritik aus den USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7102115

Abstract

Until the year 1966 the prison administration of New York, supported by relevant laws, transferred prisoners who showed symptoms of psychic disorder during execution of a sentence to the Dannemora Clinic which belonged to the prison. The treatment was carried out by house physicians (general practitioners) who were subject to special directions. J. K. Baxström initiated a lawsuit against this procedure and was finally proven right by the Supreme Court of the USA; the necessity of a thorough medical examination of facts, a hearing in front of a judge, and the approval of the transfer were confirmed to apply also to mentally ill prisoners. The sociologists Streatman and Cocozza carried out an investigation of 967 ex-convicts of the Dannemora Clinic (1966-1974). Result: Psychiatrists had shown an arbitrary and comtemptuous behavior in these cases. Diagnostic, therapy, and prognosis had been insufficient or mistaken in this marginal group. Further examination showed, however, that no psychiatrist had been involved in the transfer to the Dannemora Clinic either in planning, consultation, or execution of the transfer. Is so far the reproaches lack any factual grounds. The "Baxström affair", which is frequently taken up by the media, turned out to be an example of ideologically determined "criticism on psychiatry" with doubtful methods.

Language: de