NCJ Number
57639
Journal
THE PRACTITIONER Volume: 218 Issue: 1308 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 828-833
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS BRITISH ARTICLE EXAMINES WHAT THE FAMILY DOCTOR CAN AND CANNOT DO ABOUT THE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AMONG HIS PATIENTS, BY MEANS OF THREE CASE STUDIES.
Abstract
THERE IS MUCH CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER TO TREAT JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AS CRIMINALS OR SICK CHILDREN, AND THE GROWTH OF THEORIES ABOUT THEM IS EXCEEDED ONLY BY THAT OF THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN CAUSING TROUBLE. WHILE THESE CHILDREN MAY ONLY BE REFLECTING SOCIETY'S FAULTS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ORGANIZED TO HELP THEM MERELY ADD TO THE CONFUSION AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR TO OBTAIN PUBLIC HELP FOR HIS PATIENTS. IN THE FIRST CASE, A WOMAN SEEKS HER DOCTOR'S ADVICE ABOUT HER TEENAGED SON, WHO IS STEALING. THE BOY'S SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG WILL BE DAMAGED IF HIS BEHAVIOR IS IGNORED, YET THE DOCTOR HESITATES TO REVEAL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO THE POLICE. THEREFORE, AT HIS SUGGESTION, BOTH PARENTS CONFRONT THE BOY, GIVING HIM THE DISCIPLINE HE NEEDS. SIMILARLY, ANOTHER DOCTOR PERSUADES A FATHER TO MAKE HIS TRUANT SON GO TO SCHOOL, AND THE TRUANT BEHAVIOR STOPS. IN BOTH CASES, FAMILY LIFE IS IMPROVED BY BOTH PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT AND THE DOCTORS' ADVICE. THE THIRD CASE, HOWEVER, SHOWS THE LIMITS OF A DOCTOR'S ABILITY TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY MATTERS. DELINQUENCY IS OBSERVED IN A LARGE FAMILY IN WHICH PARENTS SHOW NEITHER CONCERN FOR THEIR FAMILY NOR WILLINGNESS TO BE ADVISED AND HELPED. THE DOCTOR DECIDES THAT ALL HE CAN DO IS TREAT PHYSICAL ILLNESSES AND WAIT FOR THE PARENTS TO BECOME MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR CHILDRENS' PLIGHT. (PAP)