Do you know the difference between epilepsy and mental illness?

[elionwyr]

Well, apparently you're one up on Californian District Attorney Dean Flippo, who stated to the press, regarding the shooting of an epileptic woman by police who thought she was holding a knife (which was in fact a crochet hook):

“After a careful review of the evidence by three experienced prosecutors, all concluded that a jury would be highly unlikely to return a verdict of guilty on any possible homicide charge," Flippo said. "This tragic case highlights the challenges faced by those living with mental illness, their families, and the community which is charged with helping them manage an illness which can present itself in unpredictable yet dangerous ways.”


http://www.ksbw.com/news/19176041/detail.html

I suggest y'all take a moment and let DA Flippo know exactly what you think.

DEAN D. FLIPPO
District Attorney
Monterey County
P.O. Box 1131
Salinas, CA 93902

Phone: 831-755-5070

Comments

[briansiano.livejournal.com]

Main difference? Epilepsy doesn't make you vote Republican.

[alexjay.livejournal.com]

Will do, in the morning, sayeth THIS angry epileptic ...

[mert-mt-bc.livejournal.com]

The American Heritage Dictionary actually defines epilepsy as: Any of various neurological disorders characterized by sudden recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or psychic malfunction with or without loss of consciousness or convulsive seizures. At one time, people who were instituationalized were labeled "epileptics." So really according to that definition, epilepsy can include psychic disorders and may or may not have seizures as a a part of the diagnosis.

We actually put together a presentation which included this a couple of years ago.

However, the most common understanding of epilepsy is as a seizure disorder, not a mental disorder. So while he was insensitive, techincally he wasn't totally wrong, just dated.