Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
The best-known Para Olympic athlete in the world is going to be spending quite a bit of his time at Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria soon. It is going to be extremely interesting to see what the reports of the various experts say when they are delivered to the Court and both sides and our firm utilises for its clients two of the experts that have either seen Oscar Pistorius or are still to see him. The court has allowed him to visit as an outpatient, but officials from other psychiatric hospitals said that that has very little value. They say they need somebody to be there all the time and to sleep over, for them to observe the person on a continual basis and make a decision. The medical specialists have been asked to determine whether Pistorius could appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions and act according to that appreciation and we will all know the answer to that on 30 June 2014 when the matter is back in court. Like most court cases this one is proving to be quite unpredictable, there are various twists and turns in the case that we all probably thought would be wrapped up in three or four weeks and it is most likely that it will finally be heard in July, if there are no more twists and turns before then!
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 27-May-14
Post a Comment
Comments
Elektra said:
on Thursday 03-Jul-14 09:11 AM
Its been a month now. And its time to see the experts have to say. Lets hope no new twists come about that will postpone the matter even longer.
Nicky said:
on Friday 30-May-14 05:13 PM
I agree with Juliet's comment that psychiatrists and psycholgists tend to make a diagnosis when one should not always be made.
Everybody has some anxiety and stress at some point in their lives and at sometimes it can be worse than others-but does that then mean that it is a disorder? I think that society's need to always label people also has something to do with the with the sometimes unnecessary diagnosis.
I am however, keen to see what the experts have to say regarding Oscar's state of mind currently and when Reeva was killed and how it would affect the rest of the trial.
said:
on Friday 30-May-14 05:12 PM
I agree with Juliet's comment that psychiatrists and psycholgists tend to make a diagnosis when one should not always be made.
Everybody has some anxiety and stress at some point in their lives and at sometimes it can be worse than others-but does that then mean that it is a disorder? I think that society's need to always label people also has something to do with the with the sometimes unnecessary diagnosis.
I am however, keen to see what the experts have to say regarding Oscar's state of mind currently and when Reeva was killed and how it would affect the rest of the trial.
Catherine said:
on Thursday 29-May-14 09:43 AM
Being an athlete who actively participates in competitive games, one would expect him to have to a certain extend GAD. But the question as Sorea correctly puts it, did it interfere with his ability to distinguish between wrong or right.
Angelique said:
on Thursday 29-May-14 09:40 AM
I think he should have been admitted full-time for a few weeks so they can make a proper observation and observe him 24-7. He could be acting in there, but if he is there 24-7 they could really see the real him. I am not expert but I think he suffers from anxiety - hopefully the specialists will get to the bottom of it. You know what they say once you go in... you don't come out.
Bianca R said:
on Wednesday 28-May-14 10:26 AM
I am eager to see what the findings are on Oscar's emotional state. I personally think that he is a joke and a really good actor! Anyone would be devastated loosing their career and all of their sponsorship's, this is why he is devastated. Not because he took his girlfriend's life. Pathetic little man.
Juliet said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 05:21 PM
It will be interesting to see the reports but I hope the clinicians are not as generous with their diagnoses for Oscar as they are for active children labelling them ADHD. Sometimes I think a psychiatrist / psychologist feels they haven't succeeded unless they make a diagnosis and therefore make one even if minor, when really sometimes there is nothing to diagnose, and that is OK.
Jolene said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 05:20 PM
Cant wait to hear the outcome, just don't understand why he is only an outpatient when they couldve observe him better if he was there 24/7?
Marzelle said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 04:48 PM
I do agree with Kaylee, why send him only now, after he has obviously developed anxiety if not more during the trial so far. Still feel sorry for Reeva's parents though. And I also agree that no one will ever know the true story only Reeva and Oscar....But the truth DOES set you free!!
Jade said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 04:42 PM
I think that psychology is largely flawed because one could merely pick up a textbook, read the signs of general anxiety disorder and display these signs. It isn't as scientific as taking a blood sample to diagnose a disease or looking at an X-ray to determine if there is a broken bone.
It will be difficult to show that this anxiety was so severe that he could not understand whether his actions were right or wrong and act on this understanding.
Thabitha said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 02:49 PM
Life is like a blink of an eye one moment you are up next you down and out.
Monique said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 12:25 PM
I am really interested in what the experts will say! I think Oscar does suffer from insane amounts of anxiety- and such amounts, in my opinion, could definitely have effected his actions on the night the crime was committed. However, i really doubt that the whole truth will ever really be known. Something, im sure, he will go to his grave with.
Sinead said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 10:34 AM
I can't wait to see what the specialists will say, but I must say that I think they need to monitor him more at night than they do during the day. Only he knows what really happened that night.
Hopefully Judge Masipa will make the right decision.
I really can't wait for all of this to be over.
Sorea said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 10:24 AM
We must remember, that whether he has GAD or not is not the problem. What they are trying to determine is whether the GAD has, to put it very simply, interfered with his ability to distinguish right from wrong.
Refilwe said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 10:08 AM
I agree with Yolandi. I actually hope he breaks down and comes out with the truth.... It must eat him up.
Lizanne said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 09:54 AM
I am also very anxious to see what the specialist has to say about Oscar. I still think he is guilty and the specialists will definitely know whether he is telling the truth or not. I also still think that he was supposed to be an in patient because now it seems like he is getting special treatment, a wonderful example to fellow murderers in the same position, if you get what i am trying to say. Well, i cannot wait for 30 June 2014 to hear the outcome.
Yolandi P said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 08:48 AM
The specialist at Weskoppies are some of the best and we have to remember that they work with violent offenders on a regular basis. I believe they will provide a clear answer about whether he is faking the general anxiety disorder or not.
Stephanie said:
on Tuesday 27-May-14 08:33 AM
I am very anxious to see what the specialists has to say about him, I wish it could be all over by now. I feel sorry for him and Reeva's parents. The whole situation being in the media makes it just more difficult for either of them. It is not my place to judge him, what he has done will haunt him for the rest of his life. I hope he gets the right help and that the judge will make the correct decision.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
