The Press
January 10 2002.
Sexual abuse payouts
Letter to the Editor
by H Ralf
Unger, Fendalton, Jan 9
Sir – I am appalled at the predicable but sad development in legal
business regarding post traumatic stress in sexual abuse victims.
As a psychologist
also counseling in this area, accredited by the ACC, I welcomed the end of
the lump-sum payment and regret its resurfacing. This was a philosophy of kissing the hurt
better with a cheque, which is a misguided approach.
I am aware of the careful, delicate, and empathic investigation and treatment
in dealing with patients who have finally revealed their experiences. To
expect a legal firm to follow up with a personal questionnaire on the same
topic and take a hefty percentage of “profit” on the results seems to belie
what the emotional damage is all about.
It is essential that subsidising of counselling continues. Building up an
American model of legal “ambulance chasers” is a retrograde step which will
bring into existence a group of abused whose main motive may be finance
rather than mental health.
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