This article is less than 2 pages long, so if anyone has the time, check it out. The article author concludes, "As Spinelli noted 'Our reluctance to place postpartum disorders within a diagnostic framework often leads to tragic outcomes for women, family, and society' (Spinelli 2005, p. 19). To conclude, a distinct PPP diagnosis would represent a significant legal development for US mothers." What do you think of this suggestion regarding PPP (post-partum psychosis)?
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An absorbing brief article which is a little disturbing (Some states effectively axing the insanity plea) and specifics I had no idea of:
"Thus, it’s possible for a woman who kills her child while suffering from postpartum psychosis
(PPP) to be put to death as punishment for a crime committed during a psychotic episode without being able to assert
an insanity defense."
Personally, a diagnosis of PPP is an immediate call that the individual needs help and will probably need a good deal of therapy and counseling once the full impact of their action hits them - they will not benefit from incarceration.
It's evident that the rules of onus probundi mean that the defense needs to 'prove' a diagnosis of PPP. However, it might help to assume in cases such as these that there is PPP present and then work from there.
The crime of hurting a child is something that affects all of us viscerally, and thus it's important that we recognize in cases with PPP the presence of two victims - both mother and child.
Here is a list of criteria as it stands here in the UK for diagnosis: