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Automatism — a medico-legal conundrum*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Paul T. d'Orbán
Paul T. d'Orbán*
Affiliation:
Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG
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Abstract

During the past 35 years, a series of Court decisions have developed and refined the concept of automatism, defined in law as unconscious involuntary action. Two varieties of automatism have come to be recognised. In insane automatism, the absence of mens rea is caused by disease of the mind, and the defence leads to an insanity verdict with compulsory detention in hospital. In non-insane automatism, the mind is affected by some external factor and the findings result in complete acquittal. However, from the medical point of view, the distinction between exogenous and endogenous factors is naive and may lead to decisions that are contrary to natural justice and common sense. The main practical problems arise because of the mandatory commital to hospital when there is an insanity verdict and legal reform is required.

Keywords

AutomatismCrimeJurisprudenceForensic PsychiatryHomicide
Type
Review Articles
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , September 1989 , pp. 71 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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Footnotes

*

Based on a lecture given at a medico-legal symposium at The Central Mental Hospital, Dublin, on 24th February 1989.

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