Retarded Kennedy sister dies at 86

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON -- Rosemary Kennedy, a sister of John F. Kennedy who was born mentally retarded and lived most of her life in an institution after undergoing a lobotomy, died Friday, her family said. She was 86.

Kennedy, the inspiration for the Special Olympics spearheaded by the Kennedy family, had been a patient since 1949 at St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children in Jefferson, Wis. She was the third child and first daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, born a year after her brother John.

In 1941, Joseph Kennedy, worried his daughter's mild mental retardation would lead her into situations that could damage the family's reputation, arranged for Rosemary to have a lobotomy. She was 23.

"Rosemary was a woman, and there was a dread fear of pregnancy, disease and disgrace," author Laurence Leamer wrote in his book "The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family." He wrote that Rosemary, whose retardation possibly stemmed from brain damage at birth, had taken to sneaking out of the convent where she was staying at the time.

more…
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Obit%20Rosemary%20Kennedy

[GRLMGC]

1. What kind of title is that? nf

[shamanstar]

5. we just had a conversation about that

like, wtf?????
so she had a labotomy because they were afraid that she would do something to damage her families reputation???!?!? because she was MILDLY retarded??
those wacky kennedys...
wow.

[barb162]

9. Not "they"... it was the father, not Rose who did that to her. He

didn't bother consulting Rose about it. Arrogance

[liberalhistorian]

17. That's true, he had it done

when Rose and the kids were on vacation somewhere else so they couldn't stop him, because he knew that they would try to do so.

After that, Rose moved into her own room, saying she'd had enough of "wifely duties" after bearing nine children and that Joe was on his own as far as "gratification of needs" was concerned. The belief is that she was absolutely furious over what Joe had done and what it did to Rosemary (they called her "Rosie", and the rest of the family wasn't too happy with dad, either, especially Eunice (Maria Shriver's mom) who was close to Rosie.

[shamanstar]

31. isnt shriver very involved in the special olympics?

?

[liberalhistorian]

35. Yes, she actually founded the

Special Olympics, inspired by Rosemary and the realization that the public needed to be better educated about special needs children and that such children needed to show themselves and the public that they were capable of far more than they believed.

[girl gone mad]

51. It's worse than you think, too..

because many people who were close to the family when Resmary was young believe that her condition prior to the lobotomy was nothing more serious than a learning disability such as severe dyslexia combined with shyness or depression. Things that could be easily treated today.

The lobotomy left her with paralysis on one side, incoherent speech and no longer able to function without continual aid.

[liberalhistorian]

76. Still, as other posters here have said,

I really believe that Joe didn't have it done out of malice or selfishness. The doctors really sold him on the benefits of lobotomies, and he really thought it would help her since she was starting to get out of control. At that time, such surgery was considered a sure-fire cure for a lot of similar ailments; the real problems with lobotomies and the damage they could cause wasn't fully known yet and wouldn't be for awhile longer.

He was devastated when she woke up and the tremendous damage it had done became apparent, and I don't think he ever really forgave himself. I know Rose never forgave him, especially for doing it without telling her.

[meppie-meppie not]

82. it's such a magnificent procedure I for one feel that half

the present cabinet is do for one, starting with the resident creep ;-)

[MADem]

52. I understand that she was feeling her oats, as it were

I think that sonofabitch Joe figured if she got a lobotomy, she'd be docile and not horny, like most kids her age usually are. Stupid jerk. He ruined that child's life.

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. not to defend the practice

but it wasn't all that uncommon in 1949 to perform lobotomies on mentally retarded folks

[DulceDecorum]

71. I do not think it was ever as popular as

sterilizations.
They were really big on surgery of that nature.
Buck v brown paved the way for this and it has NEVER been repealed, which is just one of the reasons why I hate Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger so very much.
If the surgeons had a few spare moments, they cut up a negro since slavery had gone out of vogue and they could not sell off the babies anymore.
USAID has continued where these guys left off. Practically every nation that gets aid has to reduce its population by any means necessary.
It all ties back to eugenics.
And Darwin and Malthus. Shitheads, both of them.

[bleedingheart]

75. you are correct, surgery for the retarded was one of many procedures

in fact I have read of cases today where parents have had their Down Syndrome children's tongues shortened surgically to make them appear more normal....

[MountainLaurel]

87. Not just the retarded

If you were an unmarried woman and sexually active, you were considered "disturbed". At which point, you were institutionalized and not allowed to leave unless you had the surgery done. Although, often they would sterilize women and tell them they had their appendixes removed.

is a good scholarly source on the history of forced sterilization, though it covers a great deal more.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

90. I saw a documentary on lobotomies. It was promoted it as a miracle cure.

I really think the "sin" here is on the doctors who advised it. Hindsight is 20/20 but I'd like to believe a father was actually trying to help his daughter even if the family's public image did play a role in the decision.

[lebkuchen]

64. One that is very 1950's

an era to which the Bushies have relegated this country.

[Skittles]

79. sick and inhumane, that's what

yes she suffered from mental retardation but she was a human being for chrissakes

[bpilgrim]

2. tragic

and despicable what was done to her life by her OWN father and i thought the bush crime family was bad :puke:

RIP

peace

[patdem]

4. Ignorance is what we learn from...

I do not believe it was done out of spite or a desire to harm, it was done because they believed it would help. Ignorance is what we learn from...stupidity is what we suffer from!

[CottonBear]

11. Their guilt = Special Olympics. Tragic. n/t

[bpilgrim]

16. Her Life, Silenced to maintain IMAGE. Common

Frances Farmer 1914-1970: Raped, Shocked and Brutalized


Genuinely frightened, Farmer escaped, only to find herself institutionalized again in March 1944, when her mother secretly swore out a complaint against her. At Western Washington State hospital at Steilacoom, psychiatrists immediately embarked upon an extensive course of electroshock treatments in an attempt to break her defiant and rebellious will. When this failed to turn her into a model patient, a new brutal treatment was added, “hydrotherapy.” Now illegal, this barbaric practice consisted of her being stripped naked and thrown into a tub of icy water for six to eight hours at a time. After several more months of this torture, she was publicly declared “completely cured” —a supposed model victory for what was then called the “mental hygiene” movement. “I think this case demonstrates just how successfully antisocial behavior can be modified,” said psychiatrist Dr. Donald Nicholson.

Returning home, Farmer remained terrified at the prospect of being incarcerated again and repeatedly ran away, always gathering press in the process. Stung by publicity that seemed to promote their failure, the psychiatrists contacted her mother and explained that “Frances had, in effect, ‘tricked’ them, that she had merely been ‘acting’ normal. She had obviously needed more ‘treatment’ all along.” On May 5, 1945, her mother had her returned to Steilacoom. She would remain there for the next five years, this time descending into Dante’s Inferno.

Conditions were barbaric: both criminals and the mentally retarded were crowded together, their meals thrown on the dirt floor to be fought over. Farmer was again subjected to regular and continuous electroshock. In addition, she was prostituted to soldiers from the local military base and raped and abused by the orderlies. “One of the most vivid recollections of some veterans of the institution would be the sight of Frances Farmer being held down by orderlies and raped by drunken gangs of soldiers.” She was also used as an experimental subject for drugs such as Thorazine, Stelazine, Mellaril and Prolixin.

One of her last visitors before again being declared “cured” and released was Dr. Walter Freeman, America’s “foremost psychosurgeon” who developed the transorbital lobotomy (a treatment which only required the lifting of the eye lid and the insertion of an ice pick to tear into the brain). On his second visit, Freeman treated Farmer alone in an isolated room and although the exact details are not known, the majority opinion among the hospital workers at the time was that he had given her a lobotomy. Farmer would never be the same again.

more...
http://www.cchr.org/art/eng/page35.htm

peace

[Pirate Smile]

26. OMG, what a horror.

:cry:

[barb162]

34. beyond despicable what they did to people

[burrowowl]

49. Tragic

I saw the movie of her life, it is very well done.
Tragic for Rosie too, may she rest in peace.

[delete_bush]

63. I don't know which version is more accurate,

but here's another side of the story. Regardless, both stories do admit to lobotomies being performed.

In the years since Farmer's death, her treatment in institutions has been the subject of serious discussion and wild speculation, such as the sensationized chapter relating to her breakdown, in Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger. Her own ghostwritten autobiography published after her death described the brutality of her incarceration, and claimed that she had been raped, beaten, doused in freezing baths, and forced by a warder to eat her own faeces. The book's author, Farmer's friend Jean Ratcliffe, admitted that she had written the book specifically with the view to creating a saleable and filmable property. Ratcliffe later admitted that she had deliberately exaggerated Farmer's torment, and that much of the finished work was not contributed by Farmer.

A further biography Shadowlands by William Arnold, published in 1978, asserted for the first time that Farmer had been the subject of a transorbital lobotomy. This statement was widely accepted as factual, and scenes of Farmer being subjected to the procedure were used to shocking effect in the film Frances. Arnold stated several years later that his intention had not been to create a true biography of Farmer, and that much of his story had been "fictionalized". Debunkers of this aspect of Farmer's representation have stated that medical records for Western State Hospital, where Farmer was a patient, show that lobotomies were practiced during her time there. Considered a ground-breaking medical procedure at the time, the hospital did not attempt to conceal their work, and on the contrary had kept extensive records. Although a number of patients have been recorded as receiving the procedure, there has been no evidence presented to support the claim that Farmer was among them. It has been further stated that former staff members have confirmed in interviews that Farmer did not receive a lobotomy.

Associates who knew Farmer during her later years in Indianapolis have described her as a woman capable of unreasonable or temperamental behaviour, who could sometimes be confrontational and difficult. They describe emotional outbursts similar to those attributed to Farmer during her Hollywood years. They also describe a woman who was able to establish a comfortable lifestyle and a successful career, (albeit hampered by alcoholism), in which she was required to display creativity and intelligence, and to communicate and interract effectively with a variety of people, especially during her 6 year role as a television presenter. These comments do not support the biographical description of her as a "lobotomized zombie".

[bpilgrim]

12. they did it so it wouldn't EMBARRASS the ELITES

:puke:

peace

[dflprincess]

13. Supposedly the doctors sold Joe Kennedy on the lobotomy

Rosemary's behavior was becoming more unpredictable and she was acting out quite wildly. From what I've read the concern was with her well being, not the family reputation. - Keep in mind that they never hid her (she was even presented at Court when he was Ambassador to the Court of St. James) and that was back in the days when people did lock their retarded children away. It wasn't until after the lobotomy destroyed her that she was sent to live in a home. And, while she did not appear in public, they never pretended she didn't exist.

Not that Joe was a great guy, but everything I've ever read sounds like he did love his children. I don't believe he would have allowed this to be done if he hadn't believed it would help her.

[barb162]

18. why do you suppose she was sent all the way to the middle of WI

It had to be extremely hard, especially back in those days, to visit her, especially back in those days (mostly train travel)

[liberalhistorian]

25. Actually, the family did visit

her quite frequently, including Joe. Keep in mind that they had money and resources, so travel was a bit easier for them.

[barb162]

30. yeah, but I am saying why send her several hundred miles away

when there had to be a lot of places in the Boston/NY area and also they could have had her in their large houses with nurses round the clock. Right?

I also wonder what that lobotomy did to her. I wonder if it increased the level of retardation and/or if it "calmed" her down. "Calmed" her down in the sense of where she was staring at walls. I wonder if she could still read and write, things like that

[HuckleB]

48. St. Coletta was considered THE "state of the art" Catholic institution...

at the time. The Kennedys have given a great deal of money to the place over time, including recent years, when residents moved into the community, and the facility became more of a workplace for most.

[Buck_Fush]

66. i am pretty sure everyone who is lobotomized gives up reading and writing

but they don't get calm. They actually get more agitated, wouldn't we?

[Skittles]

80. she never was aware her brother was president

that should tell ya something

[bpilgrim]

24. father complained about... her embarrassing new interest in boys

"And Rosemary Kennedy, sister to John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy, was given a lobotomy when her father complained about the mildly retarded girl’s embarrassing new interest in boys. Her father never informed the rest of the family about what he had done. She lived out her life in a Wisconsin institution."

source...
http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/lobotomy.html

see also...

Rosemary Kennedy

· 1918 born to Joe and Rose Kennedy—sister of John F. Kennedy

· Diagnosed as mildly handicapped at birth but good at sports. She fit comfortably into social settings, where she was perceived as shy.

· When she turned 22 years old, her condition began to deteriorate. She began to throw tantrums, had violent spells, became jealous of success of her siblings, and began to wander streets alone at night

· Rosemary’s father, Joe Kennedy, was opposed to institutionalizing her and in desperation had her lobotomized in 1941. Joe kept the operation secret from her mother for the next 20 years.

· The lobotomy exacerbated Rosemary’s condition. As a result, her family placed her in an institution for a period of years before sending her to a special boarding school in 1949.

· The Kennedy family was deeply embarrassed by her condition, hiding it from the public until the 1960s.

· Pearl Buck’s book about her daughter, Carol, encouraged Rose Kennedy to talk publicly about Rosemary.

source...
http://pediatrics.med.miami.edu/HistoryDisabilityArt/ArtTimeLine.htm

peace

[barb162]

33. "embarrassing new interest in boy" The philanderer is worried

aboutthe kid's interest in the opposite sex. He should have had a lobotomy done on himself first.
-------------
"Joe kept the operation secret from her mother for the next 20 years"
And this sure is charming too

[Swamp Rat]

37. Maybe Joe was incestuous and jealous too

Sick fuck. :mad:

[dannynyc]

74. An interesting family

I've read many books about the Kennedy's, and, I agree - Joe was hardly a fine, upstanding gentleman, but, he dearly loved his children. He did instill in his children several things - the importance of family, and, the chidren's obligation to do good for the world because they came from a background with many advantages.

You can see how the Kennedy's stick together to this day, and through current generations. And, the children all have a history of doing good for the world.

IIRC, the Joseph Kennedy, Jr Foundation began giving grants to mental health reserach in the 50's. Eunice took up this cause as her own. I believe it was her attachment to Rosemary that propelled her into this area. Jack set up a Presidential Commission on mental health at Eunice's urging. Unlike many Presidential Commissions, that actually did something. And, Eunice did found and head the Special Olympics for many years.

The Kennedy's have many critics and distractors. Two of the three boys who started into politics (Ted and Jack) had a shaky start, but, in time, fought for what would help a great majority of people.

I do have a lot of admiration for the Kennedy's for the good they have done, individually and as a family. That is not to say there have not been many scandals and horrible incidents. But, on balance, I've seen few families who have worked so hard through their lives to improve the lives of others.

[kskiska]

78. The Bushes, on the other hand,

have done nothing but trade off the family name to enrich themselves. They're not even patrons of the arts. A guest tells of roaming around at Kennebunkport late one night in search of something to read, and there wasn't one book in the house.

The family tradition is to care for no one but themselves and their bank accounts.

[NashVegas]

86. Great Deal of Arrogance in That Era

As far as experimental methods for "correcting" behavior were concerned.

Lou Reed was subjected to electroshock to cure his homosexual tendencies.

[liberalhistorian]

20. I tend to believe that, too,

lobotomies were touted as the cure for a lot of things at that time, the damage they could cause really wasn't fully known yet. Joe was worried about the family's reputation, of course, but he was also worried about Rosemary since she was having increasing "fits" that she couldn't seem to control, and he really did think it would help her. He was devastated when she awoke from the surgery and the tremendous damage that had been done became apparent.

Granted, however, it was totally wrong of him to do it on his own while Rose and the kids were on vacation, without consulting them or telling them anything about it.

[spooked]

68. Yes, he really was gambling that the operation would IMPROVE her condition

How tragic when the doctor had to tell him the girl they knew was gone forever.

[HuckleB]

41. The difference...

is that the Bush family would probably still do the same thing today, while the Kennedys would know better.

[bpilgrim]

44. sure

peace

[HuckleB]

46. Yes, she's lucky GWB's in the same boat. GHWB would do it in a flash.

He'd just find some uncouth shrink to label her schizophrenic, and send her off to some secret torture facility for a little "modern medicine."

[bpilgrim]

47. don't give'm no ideas

please

peace

[meppie-meppie not]

83. this country needs GWB to have one! ;-) nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. too true!! n/t

[antigone382]

89. Didn't Babs and Bush1 go golfing the day after their daughter died?

Their first daughter, Robin, died of Leukemia in 1953, just before her fourth birthday. In Kitty Kelly's "The Family," she mentioned that the Bushes went golfing the next day.

Someone on DU pasted the excerpt from the book a while back. Maybe somebody else who has a copy or has read it could do the same?

[Ilsa]

3. May she rest in peace.

Poor dear, to have been given only half a life because of that horrible surgery.

[baba]

6. I never knew about the lobotomy.

That's horrible.

[Heddi]

7. Whoah! I was about to alert on the title b/c I thought

the OP was making up a title

I CAN NOT believe that the PI would print such a...a...uuuugh for a title.

Actually, now that I think about it, yes I *CAN* believe the PI would print such garbage.

:opening MS Word to write scathing letter to editor:

[barb162]

15. you'll notice the family statement uses another form of the word. It

wasn't an ugly word years ago and I think it shouldn't be looked at that way now. Using the word "retard" as a noun is TOTALLY ugly. It's really something the way words change meaning over the years.

[Heddi]

19. oh I noticed that, and I know the "use" of the word was more acceptable

at another time in our history.

But this PI article was written today. As in 2005.

My agast was at this "newspaper" using such an antequated term to describe people today that have other, more fitting medical diagnoses to decribe them.

Even if they used the term such as "downs syndrome' or 'mentally handicapped'--that's not the issue. The issue I have is that this woman is being identifed by three words

RETARDED
KENNEDY
SISTER

They could have totally omitted 'retarded' and used "Elder" or "Forgotten" or something along those lines.

Her life was more than being 'retarded', and that shouldn't be 1/3 of the way the PI chose to identify her.

I don't know---that would be like a headline being

FAG SINGER DIES

---
having worked in newspapers & advertising for 10+ years, I can tell you that this is just irresponsible journalism, and any editor (shit--any REPORTER) worth their salt would have killed this story based on headline alone and demanded a re-write.

Sloppy writing, sloppier editorial oversight, and quite a nice little 'dig' at the kennedies, don't you think?

[sonicx]

23. AP wrote the article. The headline is in a few google links too

Some sources didn't use it, tho.

[Heddi]

27. Doesn't matter if it was AP or the PI

actually, it's even MORE crazy that the AP used the term 'retarded'.

I'm happy some sources didn't use the original title.

That's just....a horrific title. horrific.

[barb162]

36. yeah and this woman who had an enormous injustice done to her is

reduced in all respects by it. Too bad they just didn't write "Rosemarie Kennedy Dead, 87" or something where the writer shows more respect and dignity to the person.

"Her life was more than being 'retarded'" and I wish the writer could have, if the info were available, perhaps mentioned her fondness for music or whatever, her lifelong interests in dogs, cats????, etc. Sort of reminds me of MDs talking about the appendectomy in room 202 (aka Mrs. Jones), you know, the damned dehumanizing to the medical procedure performed rather than the person.

[MADem]

53. A bit off topic, but on the point you made

About a dozen years or so ago, I was living in the UK, and my neighbor came around with one of those little cans with the slot at the top, collecting for a charity. Being a good neighbor, and liking the woman, I hauled out a few quid to contribute. The name of the charity was something like The Crippled and Spastic Children's Fund.

I don't really know where I come down on some of the verbiage used to describe conditions. Some of it is cruel, and used to put down people, but in some cases, it describes a condition (the fag singer thing you mentioned above is not salient). But when they call people who really ARE handicapped something like Handy-Able it just seems a bit PANDERING to me.

I've a friend who lost a leg who calls himself a goddamn cripple, or a one legged sonofabitch. He is forced to explain himself a lot because he has a handicapped plate and most days he can walk fairly well, but there's often--quite often--someone who makes a snarky remark to him when he parks in the handicapped spot and appears to walk normally to the store. He's gotten quite efficient at dressing these busybodies down, too. I make it a point never to question anyone who has the valid documentation to use a handicapped spot--ya just never do really know...

[Catchawave]

21. I thought the same thing....

and was going to hit alert. Thank goodness I checked the link first. Mentally Disabled would have sufficed.

Bless Rosemary's heart, and what was left of her mind, sounds like if she was writing diaries, she was pretty functional.

Sadly, that was another time and era :( Kids are luckier today. Probably why I find "retarded" so icky too, reminds me of the ignorant days.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. You will be shocked by this

I am a special ed teacher and in my state, the term 'mentally retarded' is now used by the state dept of ed as the official label for these students. We used 'mentally handicaped' for about 15 years, then a couple years ago, the state went back to 'mentally retarded'.

And no, I don't know why and I don't understand it.

on edit: I live in KS but teach in MO. I don't know if KS uses the term 'retarded' or not. But MO does.

[sonicx]

8. Since when does AP use 'Retarded'?

[BrotherBuzz]

29. It's AP alright. Odd...

I thought I had unknowingly wandered into NewsMax. Perhaps the writer used to work for them. :shrug:

[HuckleB]

45. SInce forever. AP Style Book doesn't change much with the times.

[Blue Diadem]

10. Rest in Peace Rosemary. n/t

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Rest in peace indeed.

According to the msnbc.com article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6801152/

<snip>

She died with her brother, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and her sisters by her side, the family said in a statement.

“Rosemary was a lifelong jewel to every member of our family,” the statement said. “From her earliest years, her mental retardation was a continuing inspiration to each of us and a powerful source of our family’s commitment to do all we can to help all persons with disabilities live full and productive lives.”

“We know our parents and our brothers and sister who have gone before us are welcoming her joyfully home to heaven,” the family said.

<snip>

[liberalhistorian]

28. I remember a picture I saw

in one of the many Kennedy biography books I've read through the years, I think it was Doris Kearns Goodwin's "The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys." It was a picture of an adult Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver (Eunice Kennedy Shriver's daughter) swimming in the ocean with Rosemary sometime in the 80's. They looked like they were all having a good time and like they all enjoyed being together. It was a nice picture.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

22. That's so sad. Rest in peace Rosemary

It is frightening to think that a lobotomy was thought to aid in situations such as hers. (and Frances Farmer). Makes me wonder what society will think in 50 years of the meds we place people on now?

WTF is with that title?? I know it was an okay term to use a few years ago...

But I work with and have a family member who is developmentally disabled - I wish more of America would realize how much the word "Retarded" hurts them.

/end of rant.

[barb162]

42. To me "retarded" is not a bad or hurtful word any more than to say

someone is challenged or developmentally disabled. But I know that its use has changed over the years into negative connotations so I don't use the word to others. But in my head, there is no disrepect connected with the word. It reminds me of the word "Negro" which had a tone of respect years back but then a person had to use the word "Black" later on as "Negro" took on negative connotations.

[Nevernose]

32. "Retarded" is a medical term

It's use as a derogatory term is limited to those small-minded individuals who choose to make it such.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

38. Yeah I know that.

It still upsets many who are classified as such, when they are referred to that way.

[HuckleB]

43. Exactly.

To a point, I mean. It's still not acceptable to simply label someone as retarded, in this day and age, however. To say she lived with mental retardation is one thing, to label her with the term as the main descriptive is another.

[Catherine Vincent]

39. Very classy of that wesite to use the word "retarded".

[DulceDecorum]

70. Most states have legislation

that protects the rights of the RETARDED.
There is even a UN treaty to that effect.

Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/m_mental.htm

It is not an insult to use the word retarded, but there are other things that go into making up a person.
It would be very annoying to be called "left-handed" all the time as if it were your name but most people who are left-handed do not get all politically correct about the term. After all, they ARE left-handed.

[PartyPooper]

40. This is such a sad and tragic story. I weep for all of the Kennedys.

And, I pray for Rosemary. May she finally rest in peace.

:-(

:cry:

[w4rma]

50. Wow. The AP is despicable. They used her death to take hits at the Kennedy

family by leaving out very important context within the first 3 paragraphs.

[Mizmoon]

54. Lots of information here at psychosurgery.org

What is a Lobotomy Anyway?

There are nerves that connect the frontal lobes to the rest of the brain. The idea behind psychosurgery, later proven to be invalid, was that these nerves were somehow malformed or damaged, and if they were severed they might regenerate into new, healthy connections. Contrary to popular conception, the operation was not used only on psychiatric patients. Many people were lobotomized for “intractable pain”, such as chronic, severe backaches or agonizing headaches.

The three common versions of psychosurgery were prefrontal leucotomy, prefrontal lobotomy, and transorbital lobotomy.

A leucotomy basically involved drilling holes in the skull in order to access the brain. Once visible, the surgeon would sever the nerves using a pencil-sized tool called a leucotome. It had a slide mechanism on the side that would deploy a wire loop or loops from the tip. The idea was to be able to slide the “pencil” into the pre-drilled holes in the top of skull, into the brain, then use the slide to make the loop(s) come out. The surgeon could sever the nerves by removing “cores” of brain tissue, slide the loop back in, and the operation was complete.

A lobotomy also utilized drilled holes, but in the upper forehead instead of the top of the skull. It was also different in that the surgeon used a blade to cut the brain instead of a leucotome.

The infamous transorbital lobotomy was a “blind” operation in that the surgeon did not know for certain if he had severed the nerves or not. A sharp, ice-pick like object would be inserted through the eye socket between the upper lid and eye. When the doctor thought he was at about the right spot, he would hit the end of the instrument with a hammer.

There were other types of lobotomy as well … as many varieties as there were imaginative neurosurgeons.

http://www.psychosurgery.org/index_files/Page607.htm">link

[Erika]

55. Lobotimies used to be popular

They were thought of a way to limit agressive behavior by removing the part of the brain capable of independent thought. Sick, sick, sick.

[chookie]

59. My deepest grief

This is a terrible blow.

God bless the Kennedys -- they made Rosemary a part of their lives all along-- even presenting her at the Court of St James when Joseph was the US Ambassador. They all did their best to include her in their lives, extraordinary and not.

Papa Joseph may have made a tragic mistake in agreeing to a lobotomy for his daughter.... All the more tragic in that his wife, the precious most Rose, had no consent in the matter -- and one can only imagine the emotional tsunami it wrecked upon their lives....

So sad.

All I know is that the family did their best for Rosemary. Senator Ted Kennedy visited her frequently all these years. As someone who has had loved ones in such states, all I can say is, I understand....

I know and love people like dear darling Rosemary...and I am devastated by this news. Deeply hurt.

I'm not religious, and at times I wish I were, and this is one.

Rosemary, may you have become God's music, blessed child.

[meppie-meppie not]

85. nicely said and TY...nt

[eowyn_of_rohan]

94. Ted Kennedy brought Rosemary to a Kerry rally in Wisconsin

this fall...Or else he arranged to have her brought. I think it was in Milwaukee or nearby. I saw her picture, smiling, in a wheelchair. I can't seem to find it on Google.

[chookie]

60. Please excuse me -- this is so sad for me

Rosemary was "mildly retarded" in a family of extraordinarily high achievers.

They included her in everything.

When Joe Kennedy became American Ambassador to the Court of St James -- Rosemary was dressed in a beautiful gown and participated -- she danced and charmed all who meet her. She was a beautiful and sweet woman, and most charming, from all accounts.

Word has it that she became frustrated in such a high achieving family. Who knows? Seems to me the family was WAY big enough to accommodate her -- there was never any rejection of her. They were admirable in how they made her always the center of their life together.

As far as I understand, Papa Joe was duped into allowing a lobotomy to take place; without his wise wife's consent -- oh, I shudder.... I am sure Papa Joe's mistake has repeated way too many times since....

I know and love people like Rosemary, and count them among my dearest friends, so the tragedies in her life resonate powerfully.

[njdemocrat106]

61. Sad news

May Rosemary find the peace in the next world that she didn't have here with us.

[Erika]

62. May Maria

look at the programs for the needy her husband is going to cut funds from, and think of the Rose's who weren't born wealthy.

[Piperay]

65. R-I-P

Sweet Rosemary O8) ... you will be loved and missed by the family that loved you and never forgot you.

[alphafemale]

67. omg! I was just talking about her to our kids yesterday,

I had no idea. But I'd been thinking about her off and on all day.

:cry:

[spooked]

69. Pictures of Rosemary

In the Court of St. James, I believe Kathleen and Rosemary had their debutante ball together in London


Rosemary is standing in the back on the left

[merh]

72. Rest in peace Rosie, now you can finally rest in peace.

What is scary is this type of treatment is what our government is steering toward.

No, not the surgical lobotomy, but the chemical. They want to medicate society so that it is manageable. They will subject our children to the mental testing and medicate them to control their problems. That is the dream of the weed's admin.

[Ilsa]

73. I'm concerned that at some point, the term "developmentally disabled"

is going to be made fun of to the extent that it becomes politically incorrect as well. "Retarded" used to have meaning. My son has this more ambiguous label of developmentally disabled, but he is not "retarded" as far as IQ (whatever the hell that really is) is concerned.

[Logansquare]

81. Yes, "retarded" was a replacement for "cretin" or "idiot"

It was a way to destigmatize mentally disabled. Disabled were called "cripples" in both formal in informal settings.

[meppie-meppie not]

84. and here I thought "cretin" & "idiot" were reserved for shrub

learn something new every day

[bleedingheart]

77. May she rest in peace.

If there is a heaven she is with her mother, father, brothers and sister...she is in good company...

[happynewyear]

88. RIP Rosemary Kennedy

:kick:

[sleipnir]

91. I'm sorry I still find the title hostile and offensive

I'm not buying the tripe and still argue that this headline should be changed. It's amazing things like this are standing after an editor allowed the article to go out.

[TankLV]

92. My condolences to Senator Kennedy and the entire Kennedy family.

This is sad news indeed.

At least she lived a long life.

[TheEconomist]

93. Do we still use the term 'retarded'

Not exactly PC.