Lobotomy In The Twentieth Century Essay Example

few shocks of electro-shock In order to sedate im.The actual procedure only took approximately 10 minutes.

In his clinical notes, Freeman wrote "l introduced the orbitoclasts under the eyelids 3 cm from the midline, aimed them parallel with the nose and drove them a depth of 5 cm," then "pulled the handles laterally, and returned them halfway and drove them 2 cm deeper," (Three Rivers Press, 2008) He then swirled the instrument around in a sort of eggbeater motion which severed the prefrontal cortex and underlying structures.The Rise and Fall of Prefrontal Lobotomy, 2007) Although the procedure was meant to eave Howard emotionless and more manageable, it failed to produce that outcome In the long run with Howard spending his teen years In mental Institutions, his twenties in jail, and his thirties battling alcoholism and homelessness. Even more than the physical effect, the emotional pain that Howard suffered knowing that he was different and ultimately unaware of what exactly he had lost by having the surgery. Swertlow, 2005)Ultimately, a great deal of damage was done to many during this brutal period and brought the problems of Informed consent In the best Interests of children and youth to the forefront.

Almost 50 years later, doctors are astounded Howard's level of cognitive functioning when the amount of damage that was done was seen through MRI's. Even though his age is one that of the most controversial parts of his story, the doctors hypothesized that that exact factor is why ' he is able to have such remark kable cognitive functioning.Due to the fact that Howard's brain was still growing, the parts that were left undamaged grew stronger and able

to compensate, to some extent, for the parts that were. Lemay, 2010) By the 1950's, lobotomies had generally been discredited and with the introduction of psychological drugs, the procedure was virtually abandoned by 1960. Even though this practice is no longer a leading form of psychosurgery, the unanswered questions regarding informed consent in the best interest of the child in question still remain and continue to haunt our medical history.