Orne, M.T. The use and misuse of hypnosis in court. International ...
Orne, M.T. The use and misuse of hypnosis in court. International ...
Orne, M.T. The use and misuse of hypnosis in court. International ...
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<strong>Orne</strong> 1979 IJCEHhttp://www.sas.upenn.edu/psych/history/orne/orneijceh19794311341.html18 de 23 19/03/2012 17:24vastly different, <strong>and</strong> we must guard aga<strong>in</strong>st be<strong>in</strong>g coopted--witt<strong>in</strong>gly or unwitt<strong>in</strong>gly--by prosecution ordefense. In the long run, the only expert who can help the adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>of</strong> justice is one who is able toma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dependent perspective rather than see himself as work<strong>in</strong>g for either the defense or theprosecution.Safeguards for the Forensic Use <strong>of</strong> Hypnosis<strong>The</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> <strong>and</strong> related techniques to facilitate memory raises pr<strong>of</strong>ound, complex questions, <strong>and</strong>it is likely that the <strong>in</strong>dividual will be protected only if these issues are dealt with at the highest level <strong>of</strong> our<strong>court</strong> system. <strong>The</strong>re are <strong>in</strong>stances when <strong>hypnosis</strong> can be <strong>use</strong>d appropriately provided that the nature <strong>of</strong> thephenomenon is understood by all parties concerned. It must be recognized, however, that the <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>hypnosis</strong> by either the prosecution or the defense can pr<strong>of</strong>oundly affect the <strong>in</strong>dividual's subsequenttestimony. S<strong>in</strong>ce these changes are not reversible, if <strong>in</strong>dividuals are to be allowed to testify after hav<strong>in</strong>gundergone <strong>hypnosis</strong> to aid their memory, a m<strong>in</strong>imum number <strong>of</strong> safeguards are absolutely essential. Basedupon extensive review <strong>of</strong> the field <strong>and</strong> my own experiences <strong>in</strong> a considerable number <strong>of</strong> circumstances, Ihave proposed the follow<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>imal safeguards <strong>in</strong> an affidavit (<strong>Orne</strong>, 1978) <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> Quagl<strong>in</strong>o v.California (1978) which was filed with the Supreme Court <strong>of</strong> the United States.91. Hypnosis should be carried out by a psychiatrist or psychologist with special tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> its <strong>use</strong>. He should not be <strong>in</strong>formedabout the facts <strong>of</strong> the case verbally; rather, he should receive a written memoran-9 A recent Wiscons<strong>in</strong> Circuit Court op<strong>in</strong>ion by Judge Wedemeyer <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> State v. White (1979)explicates <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>s upon these safeguards (Slip op<strong>in</strong>ion, Pp. 11-13).336 MARTIN T. ORNEdum outl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g whatever facts he is to know, carefully avoid<strong>in</strong>g any other communication which might affect his op<strong>in</strong>ion. Thus, hisbeliefs <strong>and</strong> possible bias can be evaluated. It is extremely undesirable to have the <strong>in</strong>dividual conduct<strong>in</strong>g the hypnotic sessions tohave any <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>of</strong> the case. Further, he should be an <strong>in</strong>dependent pr<strong>of</strong>essional not responsible to theprosecution or the <strong>in</strong>vestigators.2. All contact <strong>of</strong> the psychiatrist or psychologist with the <strong>in</strong>dividual to be hypnotized should be videotaped from the moment theymeet until the entire <strong>in</strong>teraction is completed. <strong>The</strong> casual comments which are passed before or after <strong>hypnosis</strong> are every bit asimportant to get on tape as the hypnotic session itself. (It is possible to give suggestions prior to the <strong>in</strong>duction <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> whichwill act as posthypnotic suggestions.)Prior to the <strong>in</strong>duction <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong>, a brief evaluation <strong>of</strong> the patient should be carried out <strong>and</strong> the psychiatrist or psychologistshould then elicit a detailed description <strong>of</strong> the facts as the witness or victim remembers them. This is important beca<strong>use</strong><strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>of</strong>ten are able to recall a good deal more while talk<strong>in</strong>g to a psychiatrist or psychologist than when they are with an<strong>in</strong>vestigator, <strong>and</strong> it is important to have a record <strong>of</strong> what the witness's beliefs are before <strong>hypnosis</strong>. Only after this has beencompleted should the hypnotic session be <strong>in</strong>itiated. <strong>The</strong> psychiatrist or psychologist should strive to avoid add<strong>in</strong>g any newelements to the witness's description <strong>of</strong> his experience, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those which he had discussed <strong>in</strong> his wake state, lest he<strong>in</strong>advertently alter the nature <strong>of</strong> the witness's memories--or constra<strong>in</strong> them by rem<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>of</strong> his wak<strong>in</strong>g memories.3. No one other than the psychiatrist or psychologist <strong>and</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dividual to be hypnotized should be present <strong>in</strong> the room before <strong>and</strong>dur<strong>in</strong>g the hypnotic session. This is important beca<strong>use</strong> it is all too easy for observers to <strong>in</strong>advertently communicate to the subjectwhat they expect, what they are startled by, or what they are disappo<strong>in</strong>ted by. If either the prosecution or the defense wish toobserve the hypnotic session, they may do so without jeopardiz<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>tegrity <strong>of</strong> the session through a one-way screen or on atelevision monitor.4. Beca<strong>use</strong> the <strong>in</strong>teractions which have preceded the hypnotic session may well have a pr<strong>of</strong>ound effect on the sessionsthemselves, tape record<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> prior <strong>in</strong>terrogations are important to document that a witness had not been implicitly or explicitlycued perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation which might then be reported for apparently the first time by the witness dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>hypnosis</strong>.[<strong>Orne</strong>, 1978, Pp. 853-855]In sum, an effort has been made to outl<strong>in</strong>e some <strong>of</strong> the major issues that must be considered for theforensic <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong>, <strong>and</strong> particularly if hypnotically enhanced recall is to be <strong>use</strong>d <strong>in</strong> <strong>court</strong>. It ispossible to document, as has been done here, some <strong>of</strong> the circumstances where <strong>hypnosis</strong> has worked