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Examining the role of healthcare professionals in the use of solitary confinement

BMJ 2017; 359 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4657 (Published 24 October 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;359:j4657

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Re: Examining the role of healthcare professionals in the use of solitary confinement

For millennia, hermits, monks, spiritual awareness explorers, have used isolation voluntarily, to achieve higher levels of consciousness, mindfulness, spiritual training. [1][2][3][4][5]
Solitary confinement is considered a blessing to some, and cruel torture to others.
Most men would rather receive continuous painful electric shocks than sit alone in a quiet room and think for 15 minutes. [6][7]
It all depends on the state of mind people choose.
References
[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/9539104/Life-lessons-from...
[2] http://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/10/28/modern-day-hermits-answeri...
[3] http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-spiritual-hotels/index.html
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jan/05/the-holy-mountain-m...
[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mt-athos-a-visit-to-the-holy-mountain/
[6] http://nypost.com/2014/07/07/most-people-would-rather-get-electrocuted-t...
[7] http://time.com/2950919/alone-with-thoughts/

Competing interests: No competing interests

30 October 2017
Stavros Saripanidis
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Hellas
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