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Post by Anjali AA on Feb 8, 2018 5:29:02 GMT -4
"Should A Criminal With Brain Damage Get A Lighter Sentence?"
I always believed that when one commits a crime, the law is required to provide justice to the victims. And while we try to serve justice, we must not forget to make sure that the punishment fits the crime. But the exception to this rule is when someone with a brain damage commits a crime. In this case, the criminal did not instigate the crime. Therefore, to separate this exception from the rule one must do brain imaging like MRI/CT to detect masses or lesions in the brain that contributed to the criminal/abnormal behaviour. Of course one must not forget that not every damage can be detected by scans. And we could be giving the criminal with undetectable lesions a harsher punishment than he deserves. And on the other end of the spectrum we could have criminals who have lesions but their criminal behaviour has nothing to do with it. How do we find a balance between the crime and punishment if we can't figure out the criminal's brain function? We could find the answer by including extensive psychological assessments like mental health exams to provide us a better picture of the criminal mind. Nothing is full-proof but we could try to rule out the fakers using brain scans and psychiatric evaluations. Once we have irrefutable evidence that brain damage provoked the criminal to commit a heinous act, I believe that the criminal deserves a lighter punishment. By lighter I don't mean letting them out back into the society where they could go back to square one. I think that our law take responsibility and should work towards giving such criminals psychological support at an institution until their recovery has been confirmed.
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Post by Chloe Balanda on Feb 8, 2018 21:25:12 GMT -4
With regards to "Should a Criminal with Brain Damage get a Lighter Sentence," I believe it should be looked at as a case-by-case basis. Each defendant has their own story, such as what type of brain damage they have, how long they have had it, what their previous criminal record shows, what exact crime they did, how long ago this crime occurred, etc. Unfortunately we still have so much to learn about neuroscience and the extent to which disturbances in the brain can alter our behavior and lead us astray from the social norms we have set in place. Another factor to consider is the subjectivity of psychiatry. Calling a psychiatrist to the stand to give their professional opinion regarding a psych case isn't exactly the same as calling in a physician to give their professional opinion regarding "black and white" evidence/labs/etc. Whereas most medicine is quite objective, psychiatry is almost completely subjective, and each psychiatrist will have their own individual opinions and thought processes. Until we can devise a clear-cut way to rule in/rule out brain damage causing criminal behaviors, we cannot fully rely on neuroscience to wholly determine whether someone's criminal activity was caused solely by a brain lesion.
With regards to "Sleep Deprivation and Depression," my opinion is that although this method seems to have a high success rate, that doesn't necessarily make it a plausible and feasible treatment plan in the long run. There are so many factors to consider here, such as the costs involved (for example, finding people to stay up with these patients each night to accurately monitor their progress and finding enough funds to keep facilities like these running), the ongoing deprivation that these patients have to endure and it's possible toll on their bodies, and the difficulty of finding people who are completely dedicated to helping each individual patient. This treatment plan has to be individualized, and multiple resources must be involved. Unfortunately, it is much easier to prescribe medications that are easy to take and are shown to work, even if those meds aren't as effective as this sleep deprivation may be. Ideally, this seems like a groundbreaking treatment plan that could help a lot of people down the road. Realistically, there seems to be a lot of problems that would be encountered throughout the treatment process, not to mention possible harmful side effects of long-term sleep deprivation. I do hope that more research is done on this topic, as it has the potential to be an awesome treatment for those suffering from long-term depression.
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Post by Luz Goyco on Feb 9, 2018 0:07:44 GMT -4
"Should a Criminal with Brain Damage Get a Lighter Sentence"
For me this is a hard question to answer, first of all I believe that there will always be the doubt to till what extent we believe the evidence that might be presented. It is true that for some cases, neuroscience and it's investigations had lead to a new perspective but how are we sure that it was all due to a brain lesion or a brain illness. I have seen cases reported on the news back home, that people accused of murder have been trying to get lighter sentences by saying that they are medically incapable of going to trial or that they were not in their right minds. For me, bringing a psychiatrist, doing an evaluation and stating that the person is not capable of handling a trial is not fair and I don't believe that they should get a lighter sentence, is not fair in the sense that if for example they kill someone and they are given a lighter sentence is like they get a second chance, but the victim and the family victim wont get that chance. I know that in the articles it says that in some cases after people presenting with some behaviors were taken to get some images and brain lesions were spotted and after been treated their behavior resolved, but there are some case that the behavior might be present and it wont show on images, and for the disorder to be diagnosed we have to wait for a post-mortem biopsy to confirm it, in those caseshow will be the sentences be done. I believe this might be a promising field, that needs more investigation, but still the question remains, "should that be enough to give a lighter sentence"?
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Post by Nnam on Feb 9, 2018 4:24:39 GMT -4
"Should a Criminal with Brain Damage Get a Lighter Sentence"
The decision of whether or not a criminal with brain damage gets a lighter sentence, should be determined after it has been confirmed that the frontal lobe of the brain, which is the part that play a role in an individuals decision making capacity and personality in general is the area with damage. Also the individuals mental status should be confirmed. if there is no alteration in decision making capacity, I don't think the option of a lighter sentence should be considered. However, regardless of condition every crime deserves a punishment. Therefore, in my opinion rather than a lighter sentence, such individual should get the same sentence as a person without any damage but with special privileges, proper care and supervision (mental institution).
"Sleep Deprivation and Depression"
Although studies seems to show that sleep deprivation could be helpful in the treatment of depression, I do not think it is an effective long term treatment plan. Therefore, sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression could be tried after regular medications for depression do not work and should be discontinued if there is little or no improvement. Sleep is very important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is vital for proper body function. In the long run sleep deprivation will do more harm than good.
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Post by vpetrovic on Feb 11, 2018 13:17:38 GMT -4
"Should a criminal with brain damage get a lighter sentence"
While reading this article I quickly realized that they were arguing for tangible brain damage. Brain damage as evidenced by either a CT or an MRI. Brain damage did not include psychological diagnosis such as schizophrenia/bipolar/dissociative personality etc. As new technology evolves and we learn more about how different brain lesions affect a persons higher functioning, the idea that we can use this to shorten criminal sentencing is becoming more of a prevalent topic. Currently, there is no principle set for using imaging modalities in criminal cases. Its uncharted territory with no rules set in place.Showing a jury fancy imaging that they have no way of interpreting would likely sway their judgment when coming to conviction and then later to sentencing. While it would be nice to say hey there is a reason this person acted so bizarre, I feel that decreased sentencing would open the door for numerous people to commit crimes but then later say well I had no control over my actions I can prove it. Instead of decreasing the actual sentencing, I feel it would be appropriate to require these people to be admitted into inpatient psychiatric facilities against their will. Instead of just claiming someone is mentally incapacitated and therefore not responsible for his/her actions, lets admit them and hopefully help to establish them back into society. Rather than waste the money on just throwing them in jail, lets work to rehabilitate these people.
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Post by vpetrovic on Feb 11, 2018 13:32:22 GMT -4
Sleep Deprivation for the treatment of depression seems to have high success rate now, however without any longterm studies done I just don't see how this could be feasible in long term treatment of depression. First, finding candidates willing to forgo sleep to treat their symptoms doesn't seem appropriate, or the long term effects we've seen from sleep deprivation, i.e. increased cortisol levels, increased blood pressure and risk of coronary artery disease, as well as increased risk of suicide and depressive thoughts. So to me, it seems counterintuitive. Also, it doesn't seem sustainable from a financial perspective. There would have to be clinics run 24 hours, with employees and medical personnel to monitor these people. Each patient would need an individual treatment plan and a crew to monitor them specifically. It does not seem physiologically sustainable, nor economically sustainable. The only time I would even contemplate this treatment plan would be if the patient was refractory to every other type of treatment or medication, and if the patient was deteriorating quickly, kind of using the same guidelines for Electroconvulsive therapy.
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Post by samthanms4 on Feb 12, 2018 12:03:08 GMT -4
Let me dream a little and propose the cost of MRI should be brought down and routine screening of persons with paraphilic or deranged impulses. If we have evidence that these impulses and desires diminish when a tumor is removed, should a screening be good for the person of interest and the society at large? If the cost of a “screening” MRI (which there is no concept in practice) were to be brought down, we would have a high fidelity tool that imparts no danger to radiation. An added benefit would be to catch any other abnormality earlier saving employers and insurance companies money. However, we run the risk of added harm to the patient if we end up spotting pathology and decreasing quality of life to go after it. This also begs the question that if a tumor or pathology was to be found, would it be mandatory for the person to undergo surgery, even if it is against their will? Speaking as a father, I’d rather a tumor be found in my child early than to have them injury another for something that really isn’t their fault and wouldn’t have acted on if given a chance to be healthy. Until a screening can be instituted, I believe the discovery of an implicating pathology after the incident should result in a lighter sentence. Justice is a balancing act that should not be confused with vengeance.
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Post by JamarArcher on Feb 19, 2018 16:48:28 GMT -4
Sleep Deprivation and Depression.
The information in the article is enlightening as I have never heard or read anything along this line for treatment of Depression. However, having said that, the proposed treatment seems more realistic for a short term “quick fix” than long term treatment as long term sleep deprivation would in of itself, have unwanted results/side effects. Even the article states that there is a 95% chance of relapse when the patients do eventually catch up on the sleep which poses a problem in itself. Do you allow the patient to catch up in one instant or do you set limits, where each “sleep recovery” session is gradually increased until the patient is fully caught up on their sleep and sleep pattern returns to normal? Do you add Lithium as a drug therapy while allowing some sleep, as Lithium has been shown to sustain the effects of the sleep deprivation. Though the benefits of the sleep deprivation seem to be beneficial for persons who find little to no relief with drug therapy, I am concerned about the long term effects of sustaining such a treatment. Some further investigation and research is needed before I fully buy into the concept but it is indeed interesting.
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Post by JamarArcher on Feb 20, 2018 5:49:58 GMT -4
Should a Criminal with Brain Damage Get a Lighter Sentence:
The article is very interesting as not often do we associate criminal behaviour with medical abnormalities but rather with social shortcomings etc. I do agree that a person with brain damage should get a lighter sentence but only if it can be proven without a doubt, that said damage was the direct precipitating cause of the individuals actions. Here in lies the difficulty with effectively using it as a defense in Court as Darby states “it’s certainly not a one-to-one link”. Therefore, currently at best, one could only argue that the criminals brain damage may have been a contributing factor in committing a crime, which in law is not enough to warrant lesser sentencing. However, such findings could be used to help treat said criminals, with the end result hopefully being an eradication of criminal thoughts or tendencies when the individual eventually returns to society.
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Post by JanelleDepradine on Feb 22, 2018 23:05:04 GMT -4
"Should a criminal with brain damage get a lighter sentence?"
Whether it be caused by a tumor, dementia or traumatic brain injury, it is widely understood that there is a very close and intricate correlation between neuropathology and a patient’s psychosocial history. The resultant alterations in neurochemistry can lead to mood dysregulation, personality disorders and extreme behavioral changes. Provided that neuroscience can progress to a stage even more astounding than it is currently at and neurological evidence can be extremely accurate and precise then it is safe to say a criminal with genuine brain damage should get a lighter sentence. When a patient is suffering from negative psychiatric symptoms like emotional lability, apathy, irritability and impulsivity they tend to act in ways that reflect their lack of fear for consequences and involve themselves in risky behaviors like criminal activity. I firmly believe, that despite these persons being guilty of criminal activity they aren’t solely responsible and the sickness is in part to blame. Once the neurological evidence is sound and leaves no room for error, giving a lighter sentence is the only humane thing to do and I believe neuroscience should be relevant in courtrooms for a long time to come.
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Post by JanelleDepradine on Feb 22, 2018 23:59:51 GMT -4
"Sleep Deprivation To Treat Depression"
As a very open minded individual, the concept of wake therapy is very interesting. It is easy for the notion to be frowned upon because I hardly know anyone who would pass up on sleep willingly. It costs absolutely nothing to just stay awake and I’m sure it’s a blessing to those who have tried everything for their depression to no avail. As interesting as it is, to be quite honest it might not be very practical since once you catch up on those missed hours of sleep, “you’ll have a 95 per cent chance of relapse”. It is a very temporary and short-lived solution that doesn’t have much to offer in the long run and puts people with chronic depression at a disadvantage. The relationship between depression and the circadian rhythm is thought-provoking but I’m assuming that the cycles of said rhythm are best left alone. In reality patients would be disrupting their circadian rhythms in an attempt to treat depression but little do they know, this disruption is a risk factor for what they’re initially trying to treat. In addition, the risk of increased cortisol levels and consequently increased stress just might not be worth it all.
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Post by zH on Feb 23, 2018 8:47:53 GMT -4
"Sleep Deprivation to Treat Depression"
From what I have read, wake therapy has been shown to be an effective method for treating depression temporarily, the downside being that most patients have a return of symptoms in a few days. This might be something worth attempting in those who aren't keen on medication. However sleep deprivation can cause impairment in attention, concentration and learning which would make this form of therapy interfere with day to day tasks (If you're a medical student and you're depressed, do not do this, you have been warned). Sleep deprivation has also been linked to other health conditions such as heart failure, elevated blood pressure and diabetes. So when thinking about treatment for depression in this case, weigh the pro's and con's, would a short lived therapy with a high rate of relapse be your best bet? I would say no.
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Post by zH on Feb 23, 2018 9:00:04 GMT -4
"Should a criminal with brain damage get a lighter sentence?"
In my opinion I believe that a person with brain damage should get a lighter sentence. These people cannot be held at the same level as normal patients since they may not be able to account for their actions due to some kind of underlying pathology which impairs decision making capabilities, empathy, or their base personality. The priority should not be focused on getting the maximum amount of jail time for these people, but finding out exactly what caused this. Whether it be a social problem (financial burdens), pathological in nature (tumors, dementia), or behavioral (personality disorder), I believe that finding causation can result in a decrease in these kinds of incidents.
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Post by Bianca Ram (MS3) on Mar 2, 2018 4:21:06 GMT -4
"Should a criminal with brain damage get a lighter sentence?"
I honestly believe a criminal with brain damage should get a lighter sentence but only if the damage is so severe that they cannot be held accountable for the crime they committed. It has been proven over and over again in previous cases that tumors, brain trauma, etc do affect a person’s ability to make rational decisions. Brain damage also affects one’s behavior , mood and thought process. This being said you cannot punish someone with brain damage the same way you would punish a person who fully understood what they were doing. The damage done to their brain is what caused them to act out of character.
"Sleep deprivation and depression"
This is a very interesting article as I have never seen or heard anything like it. Since this treatment has such a high success rate if done properly I do believe sleep deprivation could be used as a treatment for depression but only for a short term. In the article it states that even a short nap can affect the treatment, and because of that I don’t believe it would be appealing to most individuals as something they have to do long term.
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Post by PraiseGod Ekong on Mar 5, 2018 13:54:12 GMT -4
SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND DEPRESSION This was a good article. I find it very intriguing that a positive result has come out from this study. It is amazing that while sleep deprivation may alter the cycle of a normal person’s day negatively, it actually enhances the cycle of a depressed patient. I feel this should be encouraged because it will help a lot of patients (like Angelina and Peter) live a better and happy life and also reduce health systems money. Although, Benedetti says that “once you go to sleep and catch up on those missed hours of sleep,, you’ll have a 95 per cent chance of relapse”, the Pro’s outweigh the Con’s . I do agree with Benedetti that this is not something you should try to administer to yourself at home because if this is unsuccessful, it could lead to a more depressed state although the risks are not as his as self-administered medication at home but I strongly encourage this on supervision.
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