Thomas Szasz Under Fire - PowerPoint Presentation Example

Szasz under fire al affiliation Szasz under fire SLIDE slide Slide 2 Background of Thomas Szasz Thomas Szasz was born in Hungary in 1920. In his late teenage hood, he attended school in the United States of America where he studied Medicine. In fact, Thomas attained an MD in Medicine, in the Cincinnati University College and later on attended the University of Chicago Clinics for his Psychiatric, and later in the late 1940s, he went through training in psychoanalysis in the Chicago Institute. After his studies, Thomas managed to get certification from the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, a move that paved way to his joining the Institution for analysis in Chicago. Later on in his educational career, he managed to attain the position of professor at the State University at Upstate Medical Center. It is his experience in the field of Psychiatry that has seen his interest in publishing works that relate to mental illnesses; works that have caused a lot of debates in the society. Slide 3 Szasz’s time in a social and cultural context In the course of his works, Szasz claimed great position, both in the social and cultural contexts. In the social aspect, Szasz received a lot of criticisms from his publications, especially the ones that were much more concerned with mental illnesses and the approach on such patients. On one angle, Szasz was completely denounced by his critics, while on another angle, Szasz became a public figure that received a lot of backing especially from individuals who believed in all persons having the right to freedom of choice of decision making. However, it is his ability to defend his opinions on mental illness and patients that have led to persons, not only gaining keen interest in his works, but also have been termed as amusing by other analysts. Slide 4 The myth of Mental illness’ Mental illness has been described as the inability by a person to make tangible decisions in terms of the behavior they portray in the society. It is this case that mental illnesses only affect the brain but the mind. The major point of discussion is that the human mind and the brain are two distinctive features. Some diseases affect the mind and portray themselves as symptoms, just like what happens in the case of the bodily symptoms. In this case the myth of mental illness can be unraveled by an explanation of the fact that, the effects of mental illnesses do not go beyond the brain that is to the mind. The mind is, therefore, alienated from a likelihood of destruction from mental illness. In this case an individuals who may be depicted as mentally ill, in this context, is a sane person, in his or her mind. Slide 5 Medical model’s view on ‘Mental illness’ On a medical point of view, mental illness refers to; Mental illness are mere ruptures of the brain, not the mind Mentally illnesses are based on the senses and the perceptions that the individuals have on the world. Pressures on an individual may lead to mental ‘fractures’. How people express behaviors differ; thus, mentally ill persons The entire concept may be misleading in a great way as it would be extremely tasking differentiating what would be regarded as sickness of the mind and what is not. Perhaps more clarity on the theme would reduce the great disparities of understanding of the concept among various individuals. SLIDE 6- Forceful treatment on mentally ill patients Szasz under fire operates on the basis of scrutiny on the aspects of psychiatry. The major aim of Schaler’s (2004) work revolves around the fact that forceful treatment on individuals does not hold much importance to him. In his work, Schaler (2004) indicates that Szasz argued that any form of antisocial behavior does not deserve any form of excuses and treatment that relate to psychiatry. On another angle the major theme in the paper is that patients do not succumb to mental illness. In fact, according to Schaler (2004), Szasz indicates that forced treatment on patients confines them to a situation whereby a majority of these patients succumb to more stressful occurrences unlike in previous situations. In this case, the work of Schaler (2004) indicates that persons should be free and be allowed to do what sounds right in their own opinion. This includes taking part in medical activities and decisions that they feel is profitable to them. Additionally, Schaler (2004) indicates that Szasz did not believe in the aspect of mental illness among patients. This can arguably be indicated to be the major theme of the paper, though Szasz work resulted into as many oppositions and criticisms as possible. All in all, the reader must work towards an understanding of the reasons behind Szasz insisting on abolition of drugs and defense of the mentally ill, in an instance where an individual is found in a case. SLIDE 7- Critical response forceful treatment on mentally ill patients From Schaler (2004) work, my judgment of the work concurs with Szasz’ argument. In as much, Szasz’ life history does not indicate his working in a medical institution, his arguments are comprehensive enough. From his attack on the morally wrong practices on treatment of insane persons, the aspect of individual autonomy clearly comes out. Treatment of individuals must come from within the patients’ mind and inner feelings of what is good for them. As Szasz indicates, the treatment therapy offered to a patient may not portray positive attributes in totality, but at times create a more difficult situation for the patient. In essence, Szasz argument revolves around the need to give the patient an opportunity to come up with personal decisions based on their medical status. A closer scrutiny of Schaler’s (2004) work, the views of Szasz cannot be indicated to emanate from the conclusions made through one’s own judgment, but through careful analysis of facts and weighing of premises through well thought of research. SLIDE 8- Subtleties and complexities and emerging from forceful treatment on mentally ill patients From Schaler (2004) work, a lot of complexities emanate from Szasz work. Among the complexities is the definition of the term ‘disease’ as portrayed by Szasz. Szasz believes in the concept of disease as a form of abnormality in the body. Since mental illnesses are not part of the body but the brain, Szasz declines the thought that doctors have the ability to treat mental illnesses. The work has positives that indicate that involuntary treatment, on a critical view point, breaches the rights and freedoms of an individual. In line to this argument, Szasz does not believe in the fact that physicians must have the privilege of subjecting the individuals to drugs or taking individuals to allow death. Additionally, it is very complicated coming to terms with the fact that, illnesses do not have an effect on the human body but the individual themselves. In this case, it is exceedingly difficult to come to a conclusion on this aspect on illnesses. In the case of mental illnesses, it is tasking to explain how such an individual’s needs to be consulted on the best therapy that would suit such their needs, since they can hardly make correct decisions. Such assumptions cannot be warranted and would lead to the readers being in a total dilemma on what to accept as true and what to doubt. SLIDE 9- My standpoint in relation forceful treatment on mentally ill From the themes portrayed in the work by Schaler (2004) I still hold the perception that individuals must be allowed to make decisions that relate to their medical conditions. Involuntary therapeutic approaches are not beneficial to the individual to an individual but creates a situation whereby the individual feels pressured and forced to indulge into activities that are not form their own will. On another angle, I tend to believe that, if persons are allowed to make personal decisions, there is a great likelihood that the outcome will be positive as the decisions made are based on personal convictions. The entire theme of subjecting individuals to specific confines is not only morally wrong, but also denies individuals their liberties. SLIDE 10- Questions to my audience In order to come up with the best conclusion towards Szasz view on non subjection of patients to therapeutic approach, the following questions will be beneficial; What is the definition of forceful treatment? Under what circumstances can be therapy be considered forceful? Are mentally ill persons able to make decisions on their own accord? If not, can therapy be imposed on them be regarded as forceful, beneficial or harmful? Have therapeutic approaches been indicated to portray positive implications on mentally ill persons or negative ones? Are the basics of treatment based on the body entirely or whether the mind is also incorporated in the human system? Can mental ill people benefit from therapy whether forced or not and if the key issue is to alleviate the predicament or draw lines between forceful treatment and free will treatment. SLIDE 11- Actual presentation For the audience to get a clear picture of the facts, the presenter should begin with familiarizing the audience with the concepts of the therapeutic approaches and mental illnesses. The researcher must then lead the audience to answering dilemmatic questions, like discussions on the viability of therapeutic approaches on mentally ill persons. In this case the audience will be in a position to understand Szasz argument and the reasons behind his arguments on the topic. Consequently, the audience is able to come up with conclusions based on reasonable grounds. SLIDE 12- Pedagogical methods In such contentious issues, use of question and answer methods would prove useful for the audience. Questions have been indicated to arouse interest in the learners and the learning activity. It is also through questions that the audience is in a position to come to sensible conclusions on the topic as questions assist the audience in exhausting all possible solutions regarding a particular concept. Through this method, the audience is able to judge recommendations made by Szasz and whether they are of importance or not. Questions have also been credited for the creation of a situation whereby the audience and the researcher develop a relationship that would allow the audiences feel free to give any form of opinion regarding the topic under scrutiny. In such situations, it is possible to come up with sensible answers on the theme. SLIDE 13- Professional values of commitment to scholarship and enhancement of practice Professional values of commitment can only be portrayed with the researcher not taking sides in the theme without carrying out proper research. A good researcher is identified from the ability to base arguments based on careful analysis of background information and the methodology used to carry out research on the facts portrayed, in this case, by Szasz ability to base arguments based on careful analysis of background information and the methodology used to carry out research on the facts portrayed. Going the neutral way is useful for establishing any form of gaps that may exist in the course of the research. SLIDE 14-Relationship between philosophy and psychotherapeutic practice This fact is only possible through presentation of facts that are designed to give an understanding of the medical setting of the theme, unlike judgment of facts based on personal opinions. Through carrying out research based on the inductive reasoning, is profitable for giving weight to the theme on a wide context, as compared to assumptions made by the critics on the theme in question. SLIDE 15- References Is mental health getting worse? (2009) [Online image] Available at :http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?imgurl=http://depletedcranium.com/insane-asylum-brentwood.jpe&imgrefurl=http://depletedcranium.com/is-mental-health-getting-worse/&usg=__E_3TJpiEAoncaxkNc2SY5mzqNC8=&h=300&w=420&sz=20&hl=sw&start=7&zoom=1&tbnid=53BLBC5DQofBsM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=125&ei=qIZPT_XTB4aHhQfyh_zfCw&prev=/search%3Fq% [Access date: May 31st, 2009 ]. Schaler, J. (2004) Szasz under fire: a psychiatric abolitionist faces his critics. New York: Open Court Publishing. “State Police settle with Roger Wolfe (2009) [Online Image] Available at: http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/category/charleston/[Access date:   Thursday, October 1, 2009] “Thomas Szasz – A short talk”(2008) [Online Image] Available at http://encefalus.com/clinical/thomas-szasz-short-talk/ [Access date:  August 24th, 2008 ] Online image, Available at: http://www.superhappiness.com/thomas-szasz.html Online image, Available at: http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?imgurl=http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/depression(22).jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.examiner.com/nutrition-in-seattle/the-connection-between-nutrition-and-mental-illness&usg=__8v9refvwamTb5BJYc2o2 SLIDE 16- Appreciation Read More