FROM PRISONDOC TALE: DISCLOSURE

Originally, when I used the citation, “All this has happened before, and all this will happen again,”  I had in my mind the central theme of the Sci-Fi series Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009, developed by Ronald D. Moore, based on the 70’s TV series Battlestar Galactica created by Glen A. Larson) but as I was trying to understand some copyrights issues, I’ve discovered so many interesting things about this phrase. It originally appeared in the play “Peter Pan” written by J.M. Barrie (1904), later in his book “Peter and Wendy” (1911), and then again in different versions of Peter Pan films.

“What has been what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been, in the ages before us.”

But so very interesting for me, as a Jew, who knows her Bible quite well, was to learn that the whole concept and idea was, already from the beginning, based on biblical origin. The book of Kohelet, or as mostly known by non-Jews as the book of Ecclesiastes has apparently been a huge influence on so many creators, in so many art fields, from painters, to writers and TV producers. The original quotation from the book, which appears in verses 1 to 9 is:

And so, it seems that while this sentence was running in my mind over and over, working with addicts and prisoners, I unintentionally went back to my Jewish traditional/cultural/religious origins. Ah. Ironic.

Nothing is new under the sun.

A few books titles were mentioned in this book. Catch 22  by Joseph miller, and A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. In both cases the titles of the books were used as they managed to express so well the concept I was writing about. These books are so different from one another. The first was published in 1961 and tells the story of American soldiers in WWII, while the second book was written in 1931 and describes a far future, amazingly before so many scientific findings that support the possibilities that the book presents. Sadly, Huxley managed to describe a future world and reality that partially resembles today’s. I have read both of them countless times, and even though I can’t thank the authors or compliment them, I do want to express my gratitude for their marvelous creations.

The few personal stories of patients that I described here were written very carefully. If usually we are used to seeing disclosures in which the author declares that any relation with real people is unintentional, in my case the stories and the people are very real. But to protect their privacy, and the small possibility that they will be recognized, I have omitted many small and big details which might make them recognizable. Names, places, ages and other personal information were not written down or were slightly changed. I do hope I have done a good job with it.

Also a few TV series dealing with prisons were mentioned in the book, as an example for the sources of information I had about prison before starting to work in one. I spent hours watching (as an adult) “Oz” which ran for whole 6 seasons from 1997 till 2003 and “Prison Break” with its 5 seasons during my MD studied and have always been fascinated by them. Thank goodness that my prisons were so much different from these two.

I would like to recommend again watching “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix. As a mother and as a physician for addiction issues, with a master’s degree in psychological multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of behavioral addictions I found this film scary. The film gives us, the end-users, a glimpse into an unknown world. And gives us, especially parents, one more reason to worry.