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(This article was taken from "Medical Ethics" by Edwin F. Healy, S.J. published
by Loyola University Press, 1956)
The Use of Hypnotism
Hypnotism consists of a "state
of mental absorption in which all distracting thoughts
are for the moment warded off, and only such thoughts
as are suggested by the hypnotist reach the consciousness
of the patient. The essence of hypnotism is the concentration
of mind on one idea or only a few ideas dictated by the
hypnotist."1 If the hypnotist is not skilled in
this practice, the patient may suffer various evil effects.
Among the deleterious effects that may be produced are:
- an abnormal proneness to become drowsy and to fall
asleep;
- a detachment, more or less pronounced, from reality,
even though the patient is to all appearances in a
state of wakefulness;
- an occasional loss of memory and of mental equilibrium
resulting in increased irritability;
- incoherence of speech. The hypnotist has the subject
in his power and can strongly influence his mind. He
is able, moreover, to force him to reveal secret knowledge,
to fill his memory with unwholesome suggestions, and
even to perpetrate immoral actions with him.
There is of course nothing wrong in
itself with the practice of hypnotism, and therefore
under certain conditions its use would be licit. Since
hypnotism, however, violently deprives the subject of
the full use of reason and free will, a justifying cause
is required for allowing it to be practiced. Hypnotism
may be licitly used provided three conditions are verified:
- there is present a grave reason,
- the consent of the subject is obtained, and
- due precautions are observed. We shall explain in
detail the meaning of these three conditions.
A Grave Reason. A proportionate
cause is required in order that one licitly be hypnotized,
for we are not permitted to give up, without a compensatory
reason, our dominion over the faculties of the understanding
and the will. A justifying reason would be, for example,
the need to cure or to curtail an evil habit such as
drunkenness, pyromania, masturbation, or kleptomania.
If deemed medically advisable, hypnotism may be licitly
employed in place of an anesthetic for surgical cases.
If there is at hand another remedy which would be equally
effective but would not involve the dangers that often
accompany hypnotism, it must of course be preferred.
The Use of Hypnotism
The Consent of the Subject. The
consent of the patient must be procured, for no one has
the right to deprive another, against his wishes, of
the full use of his faculties. Hence forcibly to impose
an hypnotic state on another, even for a short period,
would be to violate his rights. It is not necessary,
however, always to obtain the explicit consent of the
patient. If the patient is in such circumstances that
his explicit consent cannot prudently be sought and if
one is convinced that he would not object to hypnotic
treatment, this would be considered sufficient consent
on the part of the patient. With regard to the insane
and to children who have not reached the age of reason,
the physician should not use hypnotism without first
procuring the consent of the parents or of the one who
is charged with their care.
Due Precautions. The
first precaution which must be observed is that the hypnotist
be one who is medically qualified to exercise this art.
An unskillful hypnotist may injure the patient's mental
faculties. A competent physician can as a rule prevent
the evil effects which sometimes result from the use
of hypnosis. The second requirement is that there be
present an authorized witness of unimpeachable character
who will serve as a protection both to the physician
and to the patient. The witness (for example, a parent
or the marriage partner of the patient) could afterward
defend the physician against any false accusations of
improper conduct.
Use of Hypnotism in Insomnia
The patient is of a nervous type and
is suffering from insomnia. The physician wishes to try
hypnosis to effect a cure, but he is doubtful whether
it is licit to use hypnosis as a remedy for insomnia.
Solution. The use of hypnotism in this case is licit.
ENDNOTES
James J. Walsh, M.D., , p. 152. New
York: D. Appleton and Company, 1929.
For material on hypnotism and its morality
see:
- James J. Walsh, M.D., Psychotherapy, pp. 151-62 (New
York: D. Appleton and Company, 1929);
- Catholic Encyclopedia,
article "Hypnotism";
- William T. Heron, Clinical
Applications of Suggestion and Hypnosis, chap. 8, pp.
90-93 (Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1950).
(The following excerpt is taken from "The Modern
Catholic Dictionary" by Fr. John A. Hardon, published
by Doubleday & Company Inc.)
HYPNOTISM
The phenomenon of artificially induced sleep, which renders
the victim abnormally open to suggestion. The subject
of hypnosis tends to be dominated by the ideas and
suggestions of the hypnotist while under the induced
spell and later on. According to Catholic principles,
hypnotism is not wrong in itself, so that its use under
certain circumstances is permissible. But since it
deprives the subject of the full use of reason and
free will, a justifying cause is necessary for allowing
it to be practiced. Moreover, because hypnotism puts
the subject's will in the power of the hypnotist, certain
precautions are necessary to safeguard the subject's
virtue, and to protect him or her and others against
the danger of being guilty of any injurious actions.
For grave reasons, e.g., to cure a drunkard or one
with a suicide complex, it is licit to exercise hypnotism,
given the precaution that it is done in the presence
of a trustworthy witness by a competent and upright
hypnotist. The consent, at least presumed, of the subject
must also be had. Several documents of the Holy See
set down the norms to be followed in the use of hypnotism
(The Holy Office, August 4, 1956; July 26, 1899).
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