Posted by Mitchell on December 29, 2001, at 21:40:46
In reply to Re: Dr. Thomas Szasz found guilty? --Mitchell, posted by Shar on December 29, 2001, at 16:05:33
> I found a couple of things under szasz + lawsuit, but not much. I don't think the case made it through to a conviction or acquittal (or whatever the civil courts call it).
Thanks for the tip, Shar. Unfortunately, the InterPsych Newsletter listserve returned in that search no longer offered the Nov. 18, 1994 Psychiatric News item titled "Szasz settles suit for $650,000".I think from the information provided through those search results, though, we can reasonably suggest that:
* No landmark legal precedent was set in a civil case filed by the estate of a patient of Dr. Szasz.
* Dr. Szasz was not charged with a crime.
* Dr. Szasz was not found "guilty" of incompetence, or of failure to provide necessary medical treatment, and or of any other charges.
* There was no finding of liability in a civil case filed by the estate of a former patient of Dr. Szasz.
* There were no findings of fact in the case that would explain whether the patient whose estate filed the suit stopped taking lithium then contacted Dr. Szasz. or stopped taking lithium because of Dr. Szasz' recommendation.
* The settlement between Dr. Szasz and the estate of a former patient contributed nothing to the legal understanding of physicians' duty to recommend or discourage use of medications.
I would still be interested to learn if the above suggestions are accurate, or exactly how Jamison represents the matter in her book. If anyone can provide relevant information, I would be grateful.
And Shar, I couldn't find any information in the szasz+lawsuit results about a *case* involving Dr. Szasz and Scientiology. But I can confidently suggest that Dr. Szasz is recognized as the founding director of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which is widely associated with Scientiology, but Dr. Szasz is not known to be a Scientologist. Thanks again for the tip.
poster:Mitchell
thread:15986
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011216/msgs/16024.html