A radical psychiatrist and the law: the forensic career of Reg Ellery

Authors

Robert M. Kaplan, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

101996

Publication Details

Kaplan, R. M. (2015). A radical psychiatrist and the law: the forensic career of Reg Ellery. Australasian Psychiatry, 23 (2), 183-186.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery. Conclusion: Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to produce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery's views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery's more interesting cases are discussed.