The simplest thank you note to all readers
Addendum: I wish to thank my colleague Craig Newnes and all fellow professionals from Egalitarian Publishing for the publication of a peer reviewed version brief piece at their journal The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (JCPCP), vol. 24, No. 1, 60-62. If you can, please support their work aimed to end psychiatric abuse and malpractice, while providing materials to academics, services and training institutions to work more thoughtfully in that direction to the benefit of us all.
https://www.egalitarianpublishing.com/
https://www.egalitarianpublishing.com/JCPCP/2024/jcpcp2401_Torrents.html
Garcia Torrents, Enric (2024): “The destructiveness of xenophobia”, in: Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (Lancaster), Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 60-62. Online resource
This communication serves to express profound appreciation for the tireless efforts of individuals and institutions dedicated to elevating the efficacy and ethicality of healthcare delivery. My personal narrative serves as a poignant illustration of the systemic shortcomings that necessitate urgent reforms, particularly in light of the devastating intersection of inadequate medical care and domestic violence.
“ The ultimate consequence was years of pain,
of narrowly avoiding my early demise.
Years of beatings unchecked. “
For years, I suffered severe physical and emotional abuse, starting with an incident during a debilitating migraine and continuing as my spouse inflicted prolonged harm. Despite my efforts to build a career and support my family, the abuse was repeatedly overlooked by those who should have intervened.
The neglect I faced resulted in significant consequences: ongoing pain, defamation, threats to my life, and systemic failures that worsened my suffering. This experience highlights several critical issues:
Dismissal of Legitimate Concerns: My plight was often dismissed, leading to prolonged and unnecessary suffering. This problem extends beyond medical professionals to social workers and others who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, contribute to a cycle of pain.
Complicated Institutional Processes: Domestic violence not only exacerbates personal suffering but also distorts institutional processes, leading to further abuse and harm. This ongoing issue underscores the urgent need for systemic reform.
These experiences reveal a broader failure in addressing and managing domestic violence within institutional frameworks. We must confront these systemic shortcomings and advocate for comprehensive reforms to prevent further harm and ensure that all individuals receive the support they need.
From the onset of the domestic violence an avoidable error occurred with the use of a Transcranial Arterial Cerebral (TAC) scan, which was improperly relied upon to diagnose my condition. At the time, I was potentially suffering from the first beatings, in addition to the effects of a severe migraine. All was dismissed, including the bruises. The TAC scan is not suited for detecting migraines or the subtle neurological changes associated with them, nor to dismiss the pain. The TAC scan’s limitations are significant: it fails to capture dynamic brain activity and the subjective experience of pain, making it ineffective for diagnosing both typical and silent migraines.
This oversight led to an inaccurate assessment of my condition and situation, and neglected the possibility of a contusion on top of the migraine, exacerbating my suffering. The result was years of additional pain and harm, affecting both myself and my loved ones, who depended on my well-being.
This situation highlights the critical need for proper diagnostic practices and the use of more suitable imaging techniques. It serves as a call to action for addressing medical malpractice and improving the handling of domestic violence cases. My experience underscores the importance of rigorous clinical evaluation and advanced diagnostic tools to prevent such errors and ensure accurate, compassionate care.
This message serves as a clarion call to those actively combating the insidious practices of medical malpractice and domestic violence. While the ramifications of my ordeal extended significantly to my loved ones, and through my own life almost destroyed and taken, also to those I help through my own work as researcher and professor, I wish to emphasize the following key points that apply to all:
The inherent limitations of Transcranial Arterial Cerebral (TAC) scans in detecting migraines: Due to their inability to capture the dynamic aspects of brain activity, subtle neurological shifts, and the subjective experience of pain itself, TAC scans are inherently incapable of identifying both silent and typical migraines. Consequently, accurate diagnosis necessitates rigorous clinical evaluations or the deployment of more advanced imaging modalities.
The paramount importance of meticulous diagnosis, particularly in mental health assessments, with heightened awareness of potential domestic violence: My lived experience, encompassing chronic migraines attributed to overwork and a potentially contusive head injury, exemplifies the crucial need to objectively discern verifiable facts from subjective interpretations and emotional narratives. This discernment should not be left to chance but must be guided by established, evidence-based best practices within the medical field, coupled with sensitivity to the complexities of domestic violence and its potential to manipulate diagnoses and narratives.
The urgent need for comprehensive healthcare systems that recognize and address domestic violence: My personal case shines a stark light on the alarming potential for healthcare systems, ironically, to become perpetrators of further illness rather than facilitators of genuine healing and effective solutions. Moving forward, a collective effort is imperative to establish a healthcare system that prioritizes precision in diagnosis, compassionate care, and, ultimately, the optimal well-being of all individuals, with specific protocols and training in place to identify and combat domestic violence within the medical setting.
My story unveils a harrowing truth: systems meant to help can become sources of harm when they fail to act with integrity and care. We deserve better! We need a society where all institutions, from healthcare to social services and law enforcement, prioritize accurate assessments, compassionate intervention, and the well-being of all. This is not just my story, it's a collective reckoning. Inaccurate assessments and negligence can devastate families, leaving emotional scars, financial burdens, and disrupted care in their wake. They sow fear, silencing voices and discouraging essential help-seeking, ultimately jeopardizing our collective well-being. Let's join hands and demand more. We need systems where professionals across all fields work with dedication, honesty, and unwavering commitment to best practices, fully aware of the devastating consequences of carelessness. Together, we can build a society that truly heals, protects, and empowers.