June 12th, 2015 by drcoplan
I am in an interesting conversation with a reader on Facebook about the Newtown shootings. Her most recent post asks: “What other parties do you think bear responsibility?”
Here is what I wrote:
The Office of the Child Advocate’s report goes into painstaking detail on the shortcomings of the school district and the medical community. The OCA report documents numerous instances in which the school district deviated from recommended practices. To cite but one example, the SD persisted in classifying Adam as “Other Health Impaired” rather than “Autistic” or “Emotionally Disturbed.” Quoting from the report: “By this point [2006 – six years before the fatal outcome], there were multiple indicators that AL met statutory-regulatory criteria and applicable guidance for autism spectrum disorders or, alternatively, for emotional disturbance… Read the rest of this entry »
What E.T. teaches us about Newtown
March 3rd, 2015 by drcoplan
James Coplan, MD, continues his review of the OCA report on the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and introduces the concept of enmeshment.
Improbable as it may seem, the film E.T. holds a clue that is central to understanding of Adam Lanza’s behavior, which culminated in the triple tragedy of matricide, mass murder, and suicide. In the movie, E.T. is befriended by, and bonds with, Elliott, a 10 year old boy. Initially, E.T. mirrors Elliott’s behavior: Elliott screams when he first spots E.T.; E.T. screams back (thinking, perhaps, that this is how earthlings communicate). Elliott rubs his nose; E.T. mirrors that behavior as well. Soon, however, the situation is reversed, and it is Elliott who starts mirroring E.T.; whatever E.T. feels, Elliott feels as well. The bond is so strong that Elliott doesn’t even need to be in E.T.’s presence. Rather, E.T.’s influence over Elliott is transmitted telepathically. In one of the early scenes, E.T. gets drunk on a can of beer. Elliott, miles away at school, simultaneously becomes intoxicated. Back at home, E.T. switches on the TV and becomes mesmerized by a romantic movie. E.T.’s emotional reaction is channeled to Elliott, who impetuously kisses a female classmate. As the movie progresses, the relationship deepens, to the point where Elliott is not simply sharing E.T’s emotional reactions; rather, he has become a physical extension of E.T. E.T.’s health begins to fail, due to his encounters with Earth’s environment. Although earth is Elliott’s home, Elliott’s health likewise begins to fail. Worried by E.T.’s sickly appearance, Elliott’s brother Michael observes: “You know Elliott, he doesn’t look too good anymore,” to which Elliott replies: “Don’t say that. We’re fine.” Alarmed, Michael shoots back: “What’s all this ‘we’ stuff? You say ‘we’ all the time now!” Read the rest of this entry »