Major Thesis

    The "Major Thesis" is a term I coined, to recognize a  2003 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, in the case of Starson v. Swayze.  Justice John Major, writing for the 6-3 majority, ruled the defendant, Scott Starson, had the right to refuse anti-psychotic medication, which a psychiatrist wanted him to take.     
     The case centred on an Ontario Appeals Court ruling that Mr. Starson's "capacity" was not judged under legal values but under medical values.
     The decision emphasized the right of citizens to self determination, but in his ruling Justice Major wrote that "Psychiatry is not an exact science", and that "capable but dissident interpretations of information are to be expected".
     Wikipedia paraphrased this by writing:  "The majority also noted that psychiatrists do not always agree on diagnoses (as if to devalue the importance that the court should place on their opinions)".
     One could have a field day describing the major split between the corporate-driven medical model (DSM) diagnoses, and those of independent psychiatrists- the "dissident but capable" group,  those many professionals in the medical community who question the use of mind altering medications in psychiatry, and warn about the negative consequences they often cause.
     In recognition of this brave ruling of the majority on the Supreme Court of Canada,  I take it upon myself to point out some of the main "dissident but capable"  psychiatrists and authors: Peter Breggin, Joseph Glenmullen, and David Healy.
     Each of them has a book with the name Prozac in the title, including Breggin's 'Talking Back to Prozac', Glenmullen's 'Prozac Backlash', and Healy's 'Let Them Eat Prozac', in which one can learn an immense amount of knowledge about psychiatric medications. 
     Perhaps I'll leave it to my readers to seek out these books if they're interested, for I'll need a very long rest before I venture out on this particular field day.
     I may just prefer to take in a little "field work" in the Baseball playoffs instead.

Zen and the Anatomy of an Epidemic

    Zen is mostly seen as 'meditation'.  Another interpretation of Zen I've read, calls it a way of looking at an insoluble problem. As my title today I've chosen to combine "Zen" with the title of the extremely important book by Robert Whitaker- "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America".
    Robert Whitaker must qualify as a Zen master for this formidable project, which I am slowly working my way through.
    As my opinions will soon emerge as fairly loyal to the Whitaker theses, I want to mention two other books I am reading: "Awakening to Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau, and "Zen Therapy" by David Brazier.     
    Kapleau founded the Rochester Zen Centre in  1966, in upstate New York, after meeting Zen Master DT Suzuki in Japan and undergoing thirteen years of formal training with two of Japan's  contemporary Zen masters- Harada Roshi and Yasutani Roshi.
   The part of Kapleau's book that most interests me is where he tells us that he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, after which he relates how he had to replace his life long antipathy to drugs with acceptance of their new role in his life.  In other chapters, Kapleau writes about mind-altering drugs, the artful use of pain in Zen, and sections on 'illness, dying, caregiving and families', and 'On Confronting a Chronic Illness'.
     What I gained from Kapleau's book was an appreciation that even someone opposed to the use of drugs had to come to terms with them, and in his case recognize the fact that he had become dependent on pharmaceuticals for his very life.  I would be stupid not to acknowledge this possibility arising in my own life.   Currently, the two prescription drugs I take are for high blood pressure, and depression.
      For the latter I'm trying a milder form of Lithium than the more common Carbonate, called Lithium Orotate.  I'm mostly taking this for neuroprotection. I also take a combination of herbs and other neuro-supportive substances such as choline and fish oil.  Perhaps the fact that I'm blogging is some evidence of success in my approach to mental health.
      The use of these supports is due to a very bad experience with a psychiatric drug, that caused a lot of harm and no good at all.  Fortunately I read about alternative medicine constantly, and follow the integrative philosophy of doctors like Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra.
     Before I launch into further blog entries with a lot of anti-psychiatry fervour, I assure you I'll try to absorb the message of Kapleau, and other masters and students of Zen.
   

Strange Fate

       Yes, I had a fine education.  UAlberta, UBC, McGill.  Well known universities, sure to enhance my reputation...  And, nowadays the humble Canadian college is eager to gain the advantages of university status, which provides me with credit from Emily Carr University (once a mere college), Mount Royal University, once a college, (where Ralph Klein taught Media Arts, ahem...), David Thompson University of the Arts, in Nelson, British Columbia, and, of course Edmonton's pride, Grant MacEwan College, now also bestowed with University status.  I studied journalism there, so trust me, I am a well trained journalist...
     And, I'm eager to report on some peculiar trends I've noticed.  I had the advantage of being the progeny of two University of Alberta professors, both holders of Ph.Ds from Ivy League Universities, Columbia in the case of my father. and Cornell U., where my mother obtained a Ph.D in Linguistics.
     So, bear with me, for you see New York is home to these very extraordinary universities, and I spent time there, in Ithaca, where I was enrolled in Fall Creek elementary school in grade one, Boynton Jr. High in grade seven, DeWitt Jr. High in grade seven, and at a Free School called Markles Flats Alternate Jr. High in grade nine. I thank my lucky stars I was exposed to this example of American progressivism. 
     Today, Charlie Rose speaks of American exceptionalism, which draws scholars from throughout the world to American universities, who often go on to leadership roles in democratic institutions in their home countries.  This speaks highly of America's role in the world, and I try to remain sympathetic to this patriotic view, expressed by Rose and most journalists employed by American media outlets.
    But I fled Ithaca High School in 1974, to return to Edmonton...  Yes it is hard to explain the appeal.
    Nowadays I see Edmonton as "The Middle Path" , in Buddhist terms, where I try to avoid the hardships the world throws at me.  Ithaca had intellectual stimulation galore, but somehow my Canadian roots drew me back.  So I'm the intellectual who calls Edmonton home.  There's not a lot of company...