Ep 3. Dr. Lobotomy, Voodoo Rx, Killed by Kindness
- July 28, 2012
In season 2 episode 3 of Dark Matters: Twisted But True, viewers are taken on a journey through the dark and controversial medical practices of the mid-20th century. The episode is split into three segments, each exploring a different medical intervention gone awry.
The first segment, titled "Dr. Lobotomy," delves into the life and work of physician Dr. Walter Freeman. Freeman was one of the pioneers of lobotomy, a surgical procedure in which parts of the brain are severed in order to treat mental illness. The segment explores Freeman's controversial techniques, which involved using an ice pick to perform the surgery on hundreds of patients. Despite the widespread criticism and condemnation of lobotomy, Freeman continued to perform the procedure until well into the 1950s.
The second segment, "Voodoo Rx," looks at the use of voodoo in treating mental illness in the 1940s. The segment focuses on the work of Dr. William Sargant, a psychiatrist who visited Haiti in 1947 to study the use of voodoo by local healers. Sargant believed that voodoo could be used to treat mental illness and brought his findings back to the UK. However, his methods were widely criticized by his colleagues and many questioned the ethics of using a religious practice for medical treatment.
The final segment of the episode, "Killed by Kindness," explores the dangers of overmedication. The segment tells the story of a man named Paul who was prescribed numerous psychiatric medications by his doctor. Despite being warned of the potential dangers of mixing these drugs, Paul continued to take them. Eventually, the combination of medications proved to be fatal.
Overall, the episode sheds light on the darker side of medical history and the potential consequences of unethical medical practices. It serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous ethical standards in the medical profession and the need for continued education and awareness in the field.
