Wspomnienia ze szpitala psychiatrycznego – między prawem a medycyną

Abstract

Psychiatric hospital is a special place. On the one hand, the hospital is interested and fascinated researchers who want to understand the nature of the human psyche. On the other prospects similar facilities still inspire social fear. Psychosis, treatment coercion or incapacitation are terms which are often presented in the context of scandals, violations or concerns. Following the global and national literature there are publications that show from inside the lives of patients psychiatric hospital. These are not only a scientific publications, such as the famous “Total institutions”, written by E. Goffman. On similar topics have spoken out also contemporaries: foreign writers, scientists and national experts dealing with assistance to the mentally ill. The present article aims to present-hospital perspective shown in the diaries and memoirs. In particular, the analysis will undergo a diary of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. It was written by him during his first psychiatric hospitalization. The work will be undertaken particularly attempt to draw attention to “legal-creative” character of similar publications.