Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

It had been more than three months since the trial began, and David couldn't remember the last time he had a full night's sleep. When they came back from court one afternoon, Sandra said, "David, I think I should go back to San Francisco." David looked at her in surprise. "Why? We're on trial—oh my God." He put his arms around her. "Baby. Coming?" Sandra smiled. "It could be anytime now. If I went back there and was closer to Dr. Bailey, I'd feel safer. My mom said she'd come and stay with me." "Of course you have to go back," said David. "I've lost track of time. You're due in three weeks, aren't you?"

"yes." He looked pained. "But I can't be there with you." Sandra took his hand. "Don't be sad, dear. This trial will be over soon." "This damn trial is ruining our lives." "David, we're going to be fine. My old job is waiting for me. After the baby is born, I can..." David said, "I'm so sorry, Sandra. I hope..." "David, never feel sorry for doing something you believed was right." "I love you." "I love you." He stroked her belly. "I love you both." He sighed. "Okay. I'll pack your bags for you. I'll drive you back to San Francisco tonight and then..."

"No," Sandra said firmly, "you can't leave here. I'll let Emily come get me." "Ask her if she can join us for dinner tonight." "OK." ※※※ Emily was very happy: "Of course I will come to pick you up." Two hours later, she arrived in San Jose. That night, the three of them ate at "Cai Jian". "Either sooner or later," said Emily, "I don't want you two to be separated from each other at this time." "The trial is almost over," David said hopefully, "and probably before the baby is born."

Emily smiled. "We're going to have a double-happiness celebration." ※※※ Time to go.David held Sandra in his arms. "I'll talk to you every night." "Please don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I love you very much." Sandra stared at him and said, "Take care of yourself, David. You look tired." It wasn't until Sandra left that David realized how alone he was. ※※※ The court is in session. Mitch Blaine stood up and told the judge, "I would like to call Dr. Lawrence Larkin as my next witness." A gray-haired man of extraordinary poise swore the oath and took the witness stand.

"I want to thank you for being here, Dr. Larkin. I know your time is precious, can you tell us a little bit about your background?" "I have a very successful practice in Chicago. I am past president of the Chicago Psychological Society." "How long have you been practicing medicine, Doctor?" "About thirty years." "As a psychologist, I imagine you must have seen many cases of multiple personality disorder?" "No." Blaine frowned. "When you say no, do you mean you haven't seen many of these cases? Maybe a dozen?"

"I've never seen a single case of multiple personality disorder." Blynon looked at the jury with forced astonishment, then back at the doctor. "In thirty years of treating the mentally ill, have you not encountered a single case of multiple personality disorder?" "right." "I'm surprised. How do you explain that?" "It's simple. I don't think multiple personality disorder exists." "Well, I'm a little confused, doctor. Aren't cases of multiple personality disorder reported?" Dr. Larkin retorted, "Just because they've been reported doesn't mean they exist. You see, some doctors believe it's multiple personality disorder, but they confuse it with schizophrenia, depression, and various other anxiety disorders. .”

"That's interesting. So, from your point of view as a psychologist, you don't think multiple personality disorder even exists?" "right." "Thank you, doctor." Mitch Blynon turned to David. "Go ahead and ask." David stood up and walked over to the witness stand. "You are the former president of the Chicago Psychological Association, Mr. Larkin?" "yes." "Surely you have seen many of your colleagues?" "Yes. I'm proud to say, I have." "Do you know Dr. Lois Salem?" "Yes. I know him well."

"Is he a good therapist?" "Excellent. One of the best." "Have you ever seen Dr. Clyde Donovan?" "Yes. Many times." "Will you say that he is a good psychiatrist?" "I'll use him," he smiled slightly, "if I need someone." "And Dr. Ingram? Do you know him?" "Ray Ingram? Yes, I know. Nice guy." "A qualified psychiatrist?" "Oh yes." "Tell me, do all psychiatrists hold the same view on every mental condition?" "No. Of course we have some differences of opinion. Psychology is not an exact science."

"That's really interesting, doctor. Because Dr. Salem, Dr. Donovan, and Dr. Ingram are all here to testify that they treat too many cases of multiple personality disorder. Probably none of them are as capable as you. That's all." Much. You can go." Judge Williams turned to Bryanham. "Should I ask again directly?" Blaine stood up and walked over to the witness stand. "Dr. Larkin, since these other doctors disagree with you on the issue of multiple personality disorder, do you think they are right and you are wrong?" "No. I could call in dozens of psychiatrists who don't believe in multiple personality disorder."

"Thank you, doctor. There is no other question." ※※※ Mitch Blennon said: "Dr. Upton, we have heard testimonies that sometimes what is thought to be Multiple Personality Disorder is actually confused with other disorders. What tests are there to prove that Multiple Personality Disorder is not something else? One of the situations?" "There is no means of testing." Blaine gave the jury a dumbfounded look. "There's no test? You're saying there's no way to tell if the person claiming to have multiple personality disorder is lying or faking it or using it as a crime for which he or she doesn't want to be held accountable subterfuge?"

"As I said earlier, there is no means of testing." "So, it's all about the difference between the beholder and the wise? Some psychiatrists believe it and some don't?" "right." "Let me ask you this, doctor. If you hypnotize someone, you're sure to be able to tell if that person really has multiple personality disorder, or if they're just pretending to have it?" Dr. Upton shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Even under hypnosis or sedative-hypnotics, there's no way to unmask the person if he or she is faking?" "That was really interesting. Thank you, Doctor. No more questions." Blynon turned to David. "Go ahead and ask." David stood up and walked over to the witness stand. "Dr. Upton, have you ever had a patient come to you who has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder by another doctor?" "Yes. A few times." "So did you treat those patients?" "No, I'm not cured." "why not?" "I can't treat a condition that doesn't exist. One patient embezzled money and he wanted me to testify on his behalf that he couldn't be held accountable because he had an alter ego who did it. The other patient was a family Woman, she was arrested for beating her child. She said something inside her forced her to do it. There are other patients like this with different excuses, but they are all trying to hide something thing. In other words, they're faking it." "You seem to have a very definite point of view on the subject, doctor." "Yes? I know I'm right." David said, "You know you're right?" "Uh, I mean..." "You mean, everyone else must be wrong? All those doctors who believe in multiple personality disorder are wrong?" "I'm not saying..." "And you're the only one right. Thank you, Doctor. That's all." ※※※ Dr. Simon Raleigh was on the witness stand, a short, balding man in his sixties. Bryan said, "Thank you for being here, Doctor. You had a long and accomplished career, you were a doctor, you were a professor, you went to high school..." David stood up. "The defense will ensure that the outstanding background of the witnesses is known." "Thank you." Blynon turned back to the patient. "Dr. Raleigh, what do you mean by iatrogenic?" "The term means that when a disease is present, it is exacerbated by the medical treatment of psychotherapy." "Could you be more specific, doctor?" "Well, very often in psychotherapy, the therapist influences the patient with his problems and attitudes. He may make the patient feel that he has to live up to the therapist's expectations." "Then what happens when it is applied to multiple personality disorder?" "If the therapist is asking the patient about different personalities in him, the patient may invent some to please the therapist. This is a very delicate area. Patients who are otherwise normal are under the influence of sedative-hypnotics and hypnotics. , showing symptoms of multiple personality disorder." "So what you mean is that the therapist himself can change the condition of a patient under hypnosis so that the patient believes that which is not true?" "It happened, yes." "Thank you, Doctor." He looked at David. "Go ahead and ask." "Thank you," David said, standing up and walking over to the witness stand.David said in a disarming tone: "Your diploma is really impressive. Not only are you a psychiatrist, you also teach at the university." "yes." "How long have you been teaching, Doctor?" "More than fifteen years." "It's amazing. How do you divide your time? I mean, do you spend half your time teaching and the other half working as a doctor?" "Now, I teach full-time." "Oh? How long have you been actually practicing medicine?" "About eight years. Still, I keep an eye on all the latest medical literature." "I gotta tell you, I find that very admirable. You read a lot, then. Is that how you know iatrogenics so well?" "yes." "So in the past, many patients came to you and said they had multiple personality disorder?" "Uh, no..." "Not many? In all your years of practice, wouldn't you say you've had a dozen cases claiming they had multiple personality disorder?" "No?" "Six?" Dr. Larry shook his head. "Four?" no answer. "Doctor, have you ever been visited by a patient with multiple personality disorder?" "Ugh, it's hard..." "Yes, or no, Doctor?" "No." "So, what you really know about multiple personality disorder is what you read from books? There is no other problem." ※※※ The prosecution called six more witnesses, and the pattern was much the same.Mitch Blaine has brought together nine top psychiatrists from all over the country, all of whom firmly believe that multiple personality disorder does not exist. ※※※ The testimony of prosecution witnesses is coming to an end. When the last witness on the prosecution's witness list was let go, Judge Williams turned to Bryanham. "Are you going to call any other witnesses, Mr. Brannan?" "No, Your Honor. But I would like to show the jury police photographs of the death scene from the murder scene..." David said angrily, "No way." Judge Williams turned to David. "What did you say, Mr. Singer?" "I say," David said, restraining himself, "I object. The prosecution is trying to fuel the jury..." "The objection is void. The grounds for the move have been established in a motion for the pretrial conference." Judge Williams turned to Brennan. "You can show the photographs." David sat down, furious. Blaine walked back to his desk, picked up a stack of photos, and handed them to the jurors. "These pictures don't look comfortable, ladies and gentlemen, but that's what this trial is about. It's not about words or theories or excuses. It's not about the mysterious alter ego of those murderers. It's About three real people who were brutally and brutally murdered. The legal system has been restored, and it has not been missed. Whether justice will be upheld depends on your judgment." Bryant could see the terror on the faces of the jurors as they passed around the photos. He turned to Judge Williams. "The prosecution has completed its testimony." Judge Williams looked at his watch. "It's four o'clock. The court is adjourned for the rest of the day. It will resume at ten o'clock next Monday morning. Adjourned."