This chapter dives into the eerie topic of medical malpractice, including the origins of lobotomies, a controversial procedure once used to treat mental illness by severing connections in the brain’s prefrontal lobe, often leaving patients severely impaired. It delves into the Little Albert experiment, a 1920s study in which a baby was conditioned to fear white rats, raising major ethical concern. Finally, it discusses the wrongful death of Brian Sinclair, an Indigenous man who died in a Canadian hospital waiting room after being ignored for 34 hours, highlighting systemic racism.

This chapter showcases the immense impact of medical malpractice and the importance of accountability in medicine.

TIMESTAMPS

Baby Albert - 5:48

Lobotomies - 19:35

Brian Sinclair - 30:48

Want to Make a Difference?

You can donate to the VAHS, a dental service for Canadian aboriginal people. Dental health is often one of the most ignored but most important aspects of health.

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/vancouver-aboriginal-health-society/

References

Caruso, James (September 2017). “Psychosurgery, ethics, and media: a history of Walter Freeman and the lobotomy”. JNS. Retrieved form:

https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/43/3/article-pE6.xml?tab_body=pdf-32452

Sanders, Robert (April 2016). “Neurophysiologist and philosopher Walter Freeman dies at 89”. UC Berkeley News. Retrieved from:

https://news.berkeley.edu/2016/04/27/neurophysiologist-and-philosopher-walter-freeman-dies-at-89/

Wiley, John (April 2005). “WALTER FREEMAN'S PSYCHOSURGERY AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY A CAUTIONARY TALE”. NeurologyToday. Retrieved from:

https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2005/04000/walter_freeman_s_psychosurgery_and_biological.20.aspx

Powell. R.A., Digdon, N., Harris, B. & Smithson, C. "Correcting the record on Watson, Rayner and Little Albert: Albert Barger as 'Psychology's lost boy.'" American Psychologist.

Digdon, Nancy; Powell, Russell A.; Harris, Ben (November 2014). "Little Albert's alleged neurological impairment: Watson, Rayner, and Historical Revision". History of Psychology.

Bartlett, T. (June 2, 2014). "The Search for Psychology's Lost Boy: In 2009 the Decades-old Mystery of 'Little Albert' was Finally Solved... or Was It?". The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"Death after 34-hour ER wait was preventable: judge". CTV News. December 12, 2014. Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020

Lett, Dan (November 19, 2013). "Emergency department problems raised at Sinclair inquest". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 185 (17): 1483.

"ER staff didn't believe Brian Sinclair was dead, even when other patients told them "". Winnipeg Sun. August 28, 2013. Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10,2020