Rickie
by Frederic Flach with Rickie Flach HartmanIn 1966, Rickie Flach was 13. She had been acting somewhat strange for a while, and her parents were nervous. With a friend, they decided that Rickie had schizophrenia, and they committed her to a mental institution. Although Rickie's parents meant to leave her for only a month, the doctors did not think that Rickie was ready to leave in that time. Rickie stayed in mental institution for a decade. At the end of that time, Rickie's life was changed by two treatments from outside the mainstream; dietary supplements, and treatment for a visual problem. Rickie and her father believe that Rickie never had schizophrenia and that any psychiatric illness that she may have had was iatrogenic. Although this is a haunting story of malpractice, it is not terribly relevant to current times. Hospitalization of nonviolent 13 year olds does not happen without good reason, and parents are not legally allowed to be stripped of their parental rights.
Happy reading.
