Robert M Kaplan is a forensic psychiatrist, writer and historian. He is Clinical Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Australia
Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the role of prominent paediatrician Professor Sir... more Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the role of prominent paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow in the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) in mothers accused of murdering their children. Conclusion: The MSBP saga is a further chapter of an era of moral panic that started several decades ago with repressed memory therapy, satanic ritual abuse and multiple personalities. The fall of medieval sage Savonarola is an apt analogy for the fate of Roy Meadow. The history of medicine is rife with figures who become their own authority and rule by force of personality.
The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 2020
Isidor Sadger, one of the earliest members of the Freudian circle, was the only one of the Vienne... more Isidor Sadger, one of the earliest members of the Freudian circle, was the only one of the Viennese psychoanalysts to die in a Nazi concentration camp. His analytic career was not without its difficulties and he was closely involved with Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, the first child analyst. This article presents an outline of his career, writings, and interactions with Freud and the early analytic group.
The first Royal Commission into the activities of a psychiatrist took place in Melbourne in 1924,... more The first Royal Commission into the activities of a psychiatrist took place in Melbourne in 1924, inquiring into misconduct by Dr Reg Ellery at Kew Hospital. Ellery, appalled by the conditions at the Idiot Cottages, had attempted to make improvements for the children. This led to a confrontation with the Attendant’s Union— who had been challenging the power of doctors to run the asylums—which met with an unexpected change in Victorian state politics to lead to the establishment of the Royal Commission. Though Ellery was in the end exonerated, his subsequent treatment by the Lunacy Department was slightly insulting, featuring a transfer to another hospital. Despite all this, however, Ellery went on to become the most prominent psychiatrist in Australia between the wars.
Objective: To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery.
Conclusion: Ell... more Objective: To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery. Conclusion: Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to pro- duce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery’s views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery’s more interesting cases are discussed.
Objective: This article examines the 1943 surrealistic painting Schizophrenia by Ivor Francis, th... more Objective: This article examines the 1943 surrealistic painting Schizophrenia by Ivor Francis, the first major Austral- ian art work depicting a mental disorder. Francis was influenced by Max Harris who encouraged him to read works on surrealism and psychoanalysis, but took his ideas from the book on schizophrenia by the radical Melbourne psychiatrist, Reg Ellery. Conclusion: Ivor Francis produced a riveting painting that stands as an enduring visual beacon in the cultural his- tory of Antipodean psychiatry.
A biographical account of the life of Reg Ellery, Australian psychiatrist between the wars. Eller... more A biographical account of the life of Reg Ellery, Australian psychiatrist between the wars. Ellery was a pioneer in biological treatments, promoted psychoanalysis and had a radical profile. He mixed with artists, writers and radicals. In 1937 he visited the Soviet Union and always promoted communism as a superior ideology for the world
Objective: To consider the life of psychiatrist, Dr Radovan Karadzic, and the following questions... more Objective: To consider the life of psychiatrist, Dr Radovan Karadzic, and the following questions: (i) whether there was anything in Karadzic's personal life to predict his subsequent career as genocidal leader; (ii) what kind of psychiatrist was Karadzic; and (iii) what comparisons can be made with other genocidal leaders? Conclusions: Karadzic, who, in addition to practising psychiatry, was variously poet, troubadour, soccer coach, chicken farmer, businessman, ecologist and petty criminal, had an astonishing rise to power, becoming president of the Bosnian Serb Republic. As a result of atrocities committed during the Bosnian Civil War 1992-1995, Karadzic stands indicted as a suspected war criminal for crimes against humanity and genocide, the first doctor so indicted since the Nuremberg Doctors' Trial in 1946. Many aspects of Karadzic's personality remain deeply enigmatic. Nevertheless, his grandiose self-image, reckless and profligate nature, boundless opportunism and grotesque capacity for self-deception are his most enduring characteristics.
Objectives: Syphilis has changed the course of history, shaped the path of medicine and had more ... more Objectives: Syphilis has changed the course of history, shaped the path of medicine and had more influence on psychiatry than any other illness. This paper, part one of a two-part series, investigates the historical, social and cultural aspects of the interaction of syphilis and psychiatry.
Objective: To review the famous case of Anna O. (the index case of psychoanalysis) as seen by eac... more Objective: To review the famous case of Anna O. (the index case of psychoanalysis) as seen by each generation, in the light of current knowledge and thinking. Conclusions: The case was neither a catharsis nor a cure as described. Historical research has revealed a significantly different outcome, shedding new light on the motives of the chief protagonists, Breuer and Freud. No less interesting but greatly neglected is the life of Bertha Pappenheim, the real identity of Anna O.
Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the role of prominent paediatrician Professor Sir... more Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the role of prominent paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow in the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) in mothers accused of murdering their children. Conclusion: The MSBP saga is a further chapter of an era of moral panic that started several decades ago with repressed memory therapy, satanic ritual abuse and multiple personalities. The fall of medieval sage Savonarola is an apt analogy for the fate of Roy Meadow. The history of medicine is rife with figures who become their own authority and rule by force of personality.
The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 2020
Isidor Sadger, one of the earliest members of the Freudian circle, was the only one of the Vienne... more Isidor Sadger, one of the earliest members of the Freudian circle, was the only one of the Viennese psychoanalysts to die in a Nazi concentration camp. His analytic career was not without its difficulties and he was closely involved with Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, the first child analyst. This article presents an outline of his career, writings, and interactions with Freud and the early analytic group.
The first Royal Commission into the activities of a psychiatrist took place in Melbourne in 1924,... more The first Royal Commission into the activities of a psychiatrist took place in Melbourne in 1924, inquiring into misconduct by Dr Reg Ellery at Kew Hospital. Ellery, appalled by the conditions at the Idiot Cottages, had attempted to make improvements for the children. This led to a confrontation with the Attendant’s Union— who had been challenging the power of doctors to run the asylums—which met with an unexpected change in Victorian state politics to lead to the establishment of the Royal Commission. Though Ellery was in the end exonerated, his subsequent treatment by the Lunacy Department was slightly insulting, featuring a transfer to another hospital. Despite all this, however, Ellery went on to become the most prominent psychiatrist in Australia between the wars.
Objective: To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery.
Conclusion: Ell... more Objective: To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery. Conclusion: Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to pro- duce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery’s views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery’s more interesting cases are discussed.
Objective: This article examines the 1943 surrealistic painting Schizophrenia by Ivor Francis, th... more Objective: This article examines the 1943 surrealistic painting Schizophrenia by Ivor Francis, the first major Austral- ian art work depicting a mental disorder. Francis was influenced by Max Harris who encouraged him to read works on surrealism and psychoanalysis, but took his ideas from the book on schizophrenia by the radical Melbourne psychiatrist, Reg Ellery. Conclusion: Ivor Francis produced a riveting painting that stands as an enduring visual beacon in the cultural his- tory of Antipodean psychiatry.
A biographical account of the life of Reg Ellery, Australian psychiatrist between the wars. Eller... more A biographical account of the life of Reg Ellery, Australian psychiatrist between the wars. Ellery was a pioneer in biological treatments, promoted psychoanalysis and had a radical profile. He mixed with artists, writers and radicals. In 1937 he visited the Soviet Union and always promoted communism as a superior ideology for the world
Objective: To consider the life of psychiatrist, Dr Radovan Karadzic, and the following questions... more Objective: To consider the life of psychiatrist, Dr Radovan Karadzic, and the following questions: (i) whether there was anything in Karadzic's personal life to predict his subsequent career as genocidal leader; (ii) what kind of psychiatrist was Karadzic; and (iii) what comparisons can be made with other genocidal leaders? Conclusions: Karadzic, who, in addition to practising psychiatry, was variously poet, troubadour, soccer coach, chicken farmer, businessman, ecologist and petty criminal, had an astonishing rise to power, becoming president of the Bosnian Serb Republic. As a result of atrocities committed during the Bosnian Civil War 1992-1995, Karadzic stands indicted as a suspected war criminal for crimes against humanity and genocide, the first doctor so indicted since the Nuremberg Doctors' Trial in 1946. Many aspects of Karadzic's personality remain deeply enigmatic. Nevertheless, his grandiose self-image, reckless and profligate nature, boundless opportunism and grotesque capacity for self-deception are his most enduring characteristics.
Objectives: Syphilis has changed the course of history, shaped the path of medicine and had more ... more Objectives: Syphilis has changed the course of history, shaped the path of medicine and had more influence on psychiatry than any other illness. This paper, part one of a two-part series, investigates the historical, social and cultural aspects of the interaction of syphilis and psychiatry.
Objective: To review the famous case of Anna O. (the index case of psychoanalysis) as seen by eac... more Objective: To review the famous case of Anna O. (the index case of psychoanalysis) as seen by each generation, in the light of current knowledge and thinking. Conclusions: The case was neither a catharsis nor a cure as described. Historical research has revealed a significantly different outcome, shedding new light on the motives of the chief protagonists, Breuer and Freud. No less interesting but greatly neglected is the life of Bertha Pappenheim, the real identity of Anna O.
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Papers by Robert Kaplan
Conclusion: Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to pro- duce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery’s views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery’s more interesting cases are discussed.
Conclusion: Ivor Francis produced a riveting painting that stands as an enduring visual beacon in the cultural his- tory of Antipodean psychiatry.
Conclusion: Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to pro- duce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery’s views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery’s more interesting cases are discussed.
Conclusion: Ivor Francis produced a riveting painting that stands as an enduring visual beacon in the cultural his- tory of Antipodean psychiatry.