The Posttraumatic Stress Defence in Canada: Reconnoitring the 'Old Lie'

Criminal Law Quarterly, Vol. 54, No. 2, p. 189, 2008

57 Pages Posted: 17 Dec 2007 Last revised: 5 Dec 2008

Date Written: October 30, 2008

Abstract

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a hitherto-obscure phenomenon in the criminal law. Law has, for too long, been "marching with medicine, but in the rear, and limping a little." Yet, increasing awareness of the Disorder has prompted counsel to plead it in both civil and criminal proceedings. It is, perhaps, unsurprising that this disease, which was once prevalent as "shell shock," is the modern scourge of Canada's military obligations abroad. When Canadian Forces (CF) personnel return home, they are often not debriefed, nor provided with adequate mental health services. This neglect sows a ticking time bomb in Canadian homes; when the time is up, the explosion is sometimes violent, and criminal charges are laid. Yet, PTSD is not germane to only soldiers; sexual assault victims, and disaster survivors often suffer from the Disorder. However, because combat veterans often suffer more severe PTSD, and suffer it more prevalently, they will be the focus in this analysis. This paper will demonstrate that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can form the basis of a successful Defence of Mental Disorder (Not Criminally Responsible, or NCR) in criminal proceedings.

The analysis will first define PTSD as a Mental Disorder; second, it will synthesize the Canadian law on the Defence of Mental Disorder; third, it will demonstrate how PTSD can form a basis for a successful NCR defence; fourth, it will address potential problems with the latter assertion; and finally, it will propose some measures to prevent PTSD in the highest risk group - Canadian Forces soldiers - and more effective means of treating them when they do suffer from PTSD.

A 2008 report by CBC News indicates that the number of CF soldiers suffering from PTSD has more than tripled since Canada first deployed troops to Afghanistan in 2001. The deployment is now expected to continue to 2011. Veteran Affairs acknowledges that "without [treatment] - many [such] veterans have the potential to harm themselves or others." In June 2006, the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, acquitted a CF member on this precise defence, in R. v. Borsch. The Court of Appeal recently ordered a new trial, on factual grounds. These decisions, coupled with the fact that the Defence application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada is currently pending, demonstrate that this defence is clearly relevant to the discourse in the modern Canadian criminal law

Keywords: Criminal Law, PTSD, s.16, s. 16, Insanity, Insanity Defence, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Canadian Forces, Afghanistan, War, Shell Shock, Peacekeeping, Peace Keeping, Peacekeepers, Peace Keepers, Borsch, military, military law, McEachern, soldiers, mental disorder

JEL Classification: K14, K41, K10, I18, I19

Suggested Citation

Kormos, Benjamin J., The Posttraumatic Stress Defence in Canada: Reconnoitring the 'Old Lie' (October 30, 2008). Criminal Law Quarterly, Vol. 54, No. 2, p. 189, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1073982

Benjamin J. Kormos (Contact Author)

Walsh Wilkins Creighton LLP ( email )

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