[stanleyg]

Endorphins are neurotransmitters found in the brain that have pain-relieving properties similar to morphine. There are three major types of endorphins: beta endorpins, found primarily in the pituitary gland; and enkephalins and dynorphin, both distributed throughout the nervous system. Endorphins interact with opiate receptor neurons to reduce the intensity of pain: among individuals afflicted with chronic pain disorders, endorphins are often found in high numbers. Many painkilling drugs, such as morphine and codeine, act like endorphins and actually activate opiate receptors. Besides behaving as a pain regulator, endorphins are also thought to be connected to physiological processes including euphoric feelings, appetite modulation, and the release of sex hormones. Prolonged, continuous exercise contributes to an increased production and release of endorphins, resulting in a sense of euphoria that has been popularly labeled “runner’s high.” Published quote from Columbia Encyclopedia.

I wish it were somehow possible for the Courts to allow neurologists to testify as expert witnesses in criminal proceedings about the side effects of endorphins affecting human emotions or behaviors. Often time’s jurors may not be able to rationalize how persons commit heinous crimes. The latter testimonies would better educate jurors to understand how individuals may be suffering from the side effects of their natural painkillers.

My belief is that medical science could have a tremendous impact on reforming our system of justice. Rather than incarcerating convicted felons in prisons, society may come to the point of committing persons in hospitals to recover from their emotional illnesses.

Of course I am just an old cranky fool. What I believe or say really doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

[nemo]

The quote is definitely medical science, but the subject matter of the discussion is probably better suited for social sciences...

That said - do you believe that endorphins are the cause of some criminal activity? Perhaps that people get addicted to the "runner's high" involved with commiting a crime? I would think that a crime of passion (such as the consequences of walking in on your spouse and another man/woman/whatever) would be directly tied to the release of endorphins upon a person's behavior. I don't think a premeditated crime would be applicable to this line of thinking, simply because (chronic illness aside) high levels of endorphins are a temporary biological reaction to an immediate condition.

[TeleMad]

So the defense has moved from "The devil made me do it" to "The endorphins made me do it"?

[nemo]

it wasn't the devil... it was the blue dress she was wearing.

i don't think this changes much in the way of legal defenses - overall, this is still a biological / chemical analysis of an inability to control one's temper: "I saw Betty-Jo with Hank, and I thinked - hey, she's my girl! An I got so dern ticked I couldn do much else but what I did... He had it comin, anyway."

[stanleyg]

I subscribe to the notion that medical science offers the solution to all problems relatiing to human behaviors. The medical opinions of physicians outweigh the opinions of judges, lawyers or lay persons. Doctors pursue the course of reliieving all mankind from pain and suffering. I tend to follow their opinions as opposed to chasing the counter.

[nemo]

Would you then assume that all human behavior considered to be criminal can be rehabilitated through medical treatment?

There is a thread (I believe in the social sciences area) about capitol punishment you might be interested in... If the medical opinions of physicians outweigh judges, lawyers or lay persons, then there should be no need for the legal system as a whole. That's an interesting thought. Is it beyond the realm of possibility that a doctor(s) could be wrong? Assuming that medical school might not provide the requisite skill set to conduct crime scene investigations, what would we do if nobody confessed to the crime? Perhaps the police would still handle that, but report to a board of doctors instead of the current system. Of course, the police may occassionally apprehend the wrong person; should this happen, and 'rehabilitation' begins on the 'criminal' - how do you reverse the medical changes you have made to the patient when it is discovered that his evil twin from Michigan (just an example - nothing wrong with people from Michigan) actually pulled the trigger.

[Fishteacher73]

Something like this was done before...It was called eugenics. We have seen great strides in the medical comunity, as well as great blunders (electro-shock therapy). The idea of medically/surgically/chemically altering someone as a form of rehab could easily mis-used and applied in areas that the medical knowledge could still be lacking. Do we really know what a child raised on Ridlin or Prozac will turn out like in the long run? How about chemical castration, that's got to be good for you....

[pgrmdave]

Originally Posted by nemo

i don't think this changes much in the way of legal defenses - overall, this is still a biological / chemical analysis of an inability to control one's temper: "I saw Betty-Jo with Hank, and I thinked - hey, she's my girl! An I got so dern ticked I couldn do much else but what I did... He had it comin, anyway."

Unfortunately, defenses like this can work - there is a well-known legal defense called the "Twinkie defense". I cannot cite the case, but a man was legally deemed temporarily insane, and given a lower sentance because he had consumed massive amount of sugar.

[Fishteacher73]

Pg, I do not recall the defendants name but it was for shooting a counsel member in San Francisco because the counselor was homosexual.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by pgrmdave

Unfortunately, defenses like this can work - there is a well-known legal defense called the "Twinkie defense". I cannot cite the case, but a man was legally deemed temporarily insane, and given a lower sentance because he had consumed massive amount of sugar.

Supervisor Dan White murdered San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978 and made this one famous. Moscone Center in SF is named for George... Thanks to Twinkies, he only got 7 years in prison, but then thankfully did what the jury should have done in the first place and commited suicide a year after getting out...

Cheers,
Buffy