Child soldiers as zones of violence in The Democratic Republic of Congo: three cases of medico-legal evidence of torture. (65/133)

This article sets medico legal light on torture of three former child soldiers by comparing torture methods, consequences of torture and medical observations. It is focused on these child soldiers as representatives of the many abuses of children as soldiers in armed groups. The three persons were child soldiers during 12 years in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as members of three different armed groups. They were exposed to armed conflict events, experienced torture, and participated in atrocities, sexual abuse and traditional rituals during their role in armed conflict. They were psychologically distressed with unhealthy physical and mental states. The principles for working with child soldiers are described. The model addresses basic items: The confluence of the dimensions of the items will determine the specifics of medico legal evidence of torture in child soldiers, taking into consideration inputs that are required at the macro, community and individual levels. A primary goal is to prevent violence from occurring in child soldiers. Thus, much more deliberate effort is made to address the underlying causes of recruitment of children in armed groups in DRC and to invest more resources in conflict resolution before there is an outbreak of violence. Peace education tends to be introduced too late and does little to alleviate the use of children in armed conflict in DRC.  (+info)

Filicide in Austria and Finland--a register-based study on all filicide cases in Austria and Finland 1995-2005. (66/133)

 (+info)

The exploration & forensic analysis of computer usage data in the elderly. (67/133)

 (+info)

Involvement in the US criminal justice system and cost implications for persons treated for schizophrenia. (68/133)

 (+info)

A systematic review of outcome measures used in forensic mental health research with consensus panel opinion. (69/133)

 (+info)

Free will and psychiatric assessments of criminal responsibility: a parallel with informed consent. (70/133)

 (+info)

Accumulated coercion and short-term outcome of inpatient psychiatric care. (71/133)

 (+info)

The unique predisposition to criminal violations in frontotemporal dementia. (72/133)

Brain disorders can lead to criminal violations. Patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are particularly prone to sociopathic behavior while retaining knowledge of their acts and of moral and conventional rules. This report describes four FTD patients who committed criminal violations in the presence of clear consciousness and sufficiently intact cognition. They understood the nature of their acts and the potential consequences, but did not feel sufficiently concerned to be deterred. FTD involves a unique pathologic combination affecting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, with altered moral feelings, right anterior temporal loss of emotional empathy, and orbitofrontal changes with disinhibited, compulsive behavior. These case histories and the literature indicate that those with right temporal FTD retain the capacity to tell right from wrong but have the slow and insidious loss of the capacity for moral rationality. Patients with early FTD present a challenge to the criminal justice system to consider alterations in moral cognition before ascribing criminal responsibility.  (+info)