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Effect of Brain Damage on Personality

How can brain damage be used to create reasonable doubt? In 1990, a 40-year-old schoolteacher suddenly began using prostitutes and making inappropriate advances to his stepdaughter. The courts ordered him to go to Sexaholics Anonymous or go to prison. He failed the program because he kept asking people for sex. The hospital found a large Read More...

Delirium & Psychosis in the Hospitalized Patient

Delirium in criminal cases Hypothetically, there is a case where the defendant was injured in a car accident and being cared for the in the ICU. During his hospitalization, he demonstrates bizarre behavior and is diagnosed with a psychotic break. His behavior is presumed to be the cause of the accident and psychiatric care is Read More...

Actinic (Senile) Purpura and Its Imposters

Often in assault or abuse cases, the victim is elderly. When evaluating these cases, it is prudent to retain a medical expert to review the discovery and determine if the injuries are consistent with contusions from trauma or are senile purpura. Contusions (bruises) can have a similar appearance to purpura, but contusions occur because of Read More...

Traumatic Brain Injury or Mental Illness?

TBI and Mental Illness What if a defendant commits a crime because of being affected by either an acute brain injury or an acquired or inherited brain disease? This is called the “brain defense.” In criminal cases, defense attorneys are increasingly using clinical evidence of brain injury to either establish their client’s innocence or mitigate Read More...

Did COVID-19 Bring a Higher Risk of Abuse?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic people have been told to stay at home for their own safety and the safety of others.  Could there be a higher risk of abuse? What about those people who are victims of domestic violence? How are they faring at home? Is home a safe place for victims Read More...