NCJ Number
32668
Journal
CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION JOURNAL Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 443-446
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN THE CASE OF UNBEARABLE CONDITIONS, INMATES USE SELFMUTILATION TO EXPRESS GRIEVANCES, WITH THE REALISTIC HOPE OF OBTAINING SOME ALTERATION IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Abstract
MEDICAL STATISTICS ARE KEPT SECRET IN THE USSR, BUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS PAPER (WHO HIMSELF WAS IMPRISONED IN 1958-1961 AND WORKED AS A PRISON SURGEON) HAS TREATED INMATES WHO CUT THEIR VEINS, SEWED UP THEIR MOUTHS, SEWED BUTTONS ON THEIR BODIES, DISEMBOWELLED THEMSELVES, SLASHED OFF THEIR FINGERS, TOES, GENITALS AND EARS, SWALLOWED FOREIGN OBJECTS, AND SO ON. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)