April 6, 2010

Dehumanizing Humans

In this article which is not unique, a man accused of a crime is referred to as an illness. This is a pervasive example of how journalists dehumanize persons accused of mental illnesses. If the suspect had a broken leg would the reporter say (or the editors allow him to say) "broken-legged John Doe is accused of tweeting..." What is the causal connection between crime and psychiatry?
Moreover it is a violation of HIPAA laws to reveal medical records. What or who is the source of the diagnosis of this man? If it is not from a medical record of what value is the diagnosis if made by police, a relative or a neighbor? If everybody makes diagnoses who needs psychiatrists?

[From article]
"Reno, Nev., schizophrenic Justin Massler was being carted to New York last night for arraignment on misdemeanor charges
[. . .]
a Harvard-bound star student and athlete before mental illness struck"

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ny_hauls_in_ivanka_tweeter_IgpA6Mun1MulZaSCYMq24N

NY hauls in Ivanka tweeter
By LAURA ITALIANO
New York Post
Last Updated: 6:22 AM, April 1, 2010
Posted: 3:04 AM, April 1, 2010

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