Leukotomy
(Neurosurgery) (Wiki)
Also
referred to as Leucotomy
Also referred to as Lobotomy
This is horrific and is only ever used nowadays when there
is quite literally no choice for whatever reason.
Basically, one's prefrontal cortex is destroyed or the connections to and
from the prefrontal cortex; often this is achieved by means of
an ice pick being inserted through the
eye sockets - this is referred to as a
"transorbital leukotomy" and was pioneered by the
American neurologist and psychiatrist Walter Freeman. Prior to this, the
skull was drilled through to gain access to
the brain. On last counting, the
UK performs (or performed) an average of
15 leukotomies a year. The procedure often leads to a
massive change in personality and that's the most benign effect. It
is the ultimate, most effective method of
controlling symptoms, but at a huge price. As I said, this
procedure is only ever carried out when there is no
choice.
"[A] surgical procedure in which the
nerve pathways in a lobe or lobes of the brain are severed
from those in other areas. The procedure formerly was used
as a radical therapeutic measure to help grossly disturbed
patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other
mental illnesses. Lobotomy was introduced in 1935 by two
Portuguese neurophysicians, António Egas Moniz and Almeida
Lima. The practice was soon widely adopted, largely because
there were few other viable therapeutic measures at the
time for quieting chronically agitated, delusional,
self-destructive, or violent patients." -
Encyclopædia Britannica