NursingLink

In this case the woman had mental health problems diagnosed well before this incident. The very nature of what she did reeks of severe schizophrenia. I work in a state prison in Texas doing dialysis. I can assure you that this prison, which was originally a criminal psychiatric unit and is now a combined med/psych facility, is no cakewalk. Double entry sally ports, high fences topped by concertina wire and signs at all entry points stating "No hostages will exit this facility".

In my mind she is a true insanity case. She is the definition of insanity. Eating the baby's brain? Dismembering it? And all her family knew she was schizophrenic. Where were they? I realize they didn't have the baby but still . ..

The question then is whether to commit her to a mental institution on the outside or one within the state penal system. That decision is best left to the prosecuting attorney and the court this case lands in. I feel due to her obvious danger she qualifies for the psychiatric penitentiary option. I agree the insanity plea horse has been ridden to death by lawyers and by criminals too. But the few details already known in this specific case - INSANE!

I am going to guess there are no Jonathan Swift fans out there.

Eating babies is not a new idea.

Nursejenny1310 says ...

Ok well, this si a very horrible story, as we all know. My question is do you all think she should ride out of this on an insanity plea? I for one am sick of people getting away with these things becasue they claim they have a mental illness. In my opinion the whole fricken world has a mental illness! What is happening to justice?

How can you, or I or anyone for that matter know what was in the mind of that woman that made her do that. Most people do not "ride out" of responsibility by an insanity plea. I am no lawyer, but if you talk to both prosecutors and defense lawyers you will find that it is very hard to fake a mental problem and fool the experts. Besides she had a history of mental problems before the incident. I am not a liberal do-gooder, in fact I am pretty much a law and order conservative but I think justice for what she did will not be served no matter what the penalty. I think she needs help and I hope that she gets it.

mrbrownrn49 says ...

In this case the woman had mental health problems diagnosed well before this incident. The very nature of what she did reeks of severe schizophrenia. I work in a state prison in Texas doing dialysis. I can assure you that this prison, which was originally a criminal psychiatric unit and is now a combined med/psych facility, is no cakewalk. Double entry sally ports, high fences topped by concertina wire and signs at all entry points stating "No hostages will exit this facility".

In my mind she is a true insanity case. She is the definition of insanity. Eating the baby's brain? Dismembering it? And all her family knew she was schizophrenic. Where were they? I realize they didn't have the baby but still . ..

The question then is whether to commit her to a mental institution on the outside or one within the state penal system. That decision is best left to the prosecuting attorney and the court this case lands in. I feel due to her obvious danger she qualifies for the psychiatric penitentiary option. I agree the insanity plea horse has been ridden to death by lawyers and by criminals too. But the few details already known in this specific case - INSANE!

The question is whether or not she was aware of her actions and knew they were wrong when she did them.

What did she think she was doing when she did this.

I'm not convinced her mental illness gives her a pass.

Nursejenny1310 says ...

MRBrown, and NurseJohn

I have come to greatly respect and look forward to both of your posts as they are always well put and informative. MY question is.........Yes, I agree she has mental issues. I also think a majority of the population has some sort of mental issue. Alchoholism is a mental disorder, in my opinion, but when some one drives drunk and kills someone we dont let them get away with it do we? I think this is the same kind of thing, and again, only my opinion.

Nursejenny, thank you for your nice words. When a person drives drunk, he/she chooses to drink in the first place, and then he/she chooses to drive the car. A person with a diagnosis of some sort of mental illness does not chose to have that mental illness. That is where I think most people see a difference in the two.  I know you can make the point that even with the mental illness, she chose to kill her baby. that is true, but because of the mental illness did she really know what she was doing?

       Yes, she does have a mental problem so lock her up in the mental floor of the state pen for the rest of her days and say some prayers for her as well.  I have empathy as to her mental problem and empathy for any more problems she could be causing to other adults and children if she is let out.  Lock her up with no key provided.  Mental illness or a clear self directed act does not matter as the result was a baby being made lunch.  As a Christian I'll always forgive the person, but I will never forget the act.

High hopes & God speed - Tim, R.N.

I believe it's fava beans and chianti. That movie was a long time ago. And prisoners in Texas wear all white. At least all I have seen and work with.

mrbrownrn49 says ...

I believe it's fava beans and chianti. That movie was a long time ago. And prisoners in Texas wear all white. At least all I have seen and work with.

Thanks! 

angienwgeorgia says ...

I read this article a while ago.   Absolutely sick.  My question is did she opt for fafar beans and a nice kianti?  Sorry, my fancy cuisine spelling and vocabulary never existed. Btw, If anybody knows the real kind of beans and wine Hannibal used, Id like to know.   Also...........I wonder if she will get an orange jumpsuit so she can dress like Hannibal Lector too?? 

Fava or broad beans are a staple throughout Africa and the Med.... one interesting note is a certain population lacks and enzyme to convert vicine and other proteins in the bean.. the lack of this,,, G6PD deficiency.. cuases hemolytic anemais called FAVISM.. in addition people on MAOIs should avoid them becuase of the high TYROSINE content. they are quite delicious .

Since 1996 the blend for Chianti and Chianti Classico has been 75-100% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% of any other approved red grape variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah... Its not technicall a super Tuscan.. but is good with acidic tomato based dishes and red meat.

MegSRN says ...

OH RIGHT..... like that baby is able to resume their life.......

Locking someone up is done for PUNISHMENT.....PUNISHMENT will do nothing for this woman except sooth the delicate senisbilites of the unwashed masses.... it is a DISEASE... do we arrest people with Tourette's syndorme if they curse in public?

What you suggest is societal revenge.. and THAT is not what the criminal justice system is about.

IF the person's MENTAL ILLNESS can be brought under control...... they are no longer a threat to ANYONE any more than any other person is....

Some one this sick does not experience , nor live in the same reality you do.. they are NOT resposible for what they did no matter how heinous the crime.

OK using THAT logic.. if a 6 year old shoots and kills a sibling.. WHICH is not unhread of,, you lock the CHILD up forever?

MegSRN says ...

You make a good point there. Except that there is no "cure" for her mental illness. A 6 year old will eventually develop an understanding of the finality of death and feel guilty over what he/she has done their entire life. That (after some serious discipline) will be enough punishment. This woman will have the insanity for the rest of her life. Thus, she will never be safe to the public.

So we incarcerate the child until they have an understanding of death and what they did... THEN we incarcerate them to punish them now that they are aware of thier actions?? You cannot have oit both ways... You jail the ILL person,, you MUST jail the child,,, that woman was no more aware of the badness of her crime than a child who kills.

Mental illness can never be brought under control??? Have you done your psych roatation yet?

SEVOFLURANE says ...

She was MENTALLY ILL.. not a  criminal.. MENTALLY ILL.. and that is no different from having HTN,DM or any other disease....she should be locked up UNTIL her DISEASE is brought under control... if it can.. and then.. like any other patient.. be allowed to resume her life...

totally agree...

       More of a reason to keep her locked up as she could once again fail to take her meds.  Eliminating her presence in the general population effectively stops the posibility of this happening again, your solution set leaves her open to do it again.  Reasons are wonerful in theory, but I always honor results.  The result of locking her up for the rest of her life would be us not having to eat our words latter if this would happen again.  Mental illness or not, a line was crossed which I don't want to happen again.  In this case forgive the person, but don't forget the act, subdue it as best possible (i.e. lock her up).  All criminals are mentally ill to some degree or another as they have deviated beyond an acceptable limit.

High hopes & God speed - Tim, R.N.

If you are going to lockup the mother forever regardless of her behavior AFTER tratment you have to lock up the 6 year old in my example as you ahve no idea if that child would kill again..