Questionable Treatments

Due to the efforts of a mother looking into Michael Swango and finally seeing the pattern that had been repeatedly ignored by medical institutions, police, and the general public, this poisoner is finally recognized and stopped.  It's a rough and twisting story but stick with us as we show how one person can make all the difference!

Sources:

https://www.serialkillercalendar.com/Michael%20SWANGO.php

Michael Swango had a very promising start in life with genuine talent and intelligence.  Too bad his compulsion to poison everyone around him got in the way and derailed his medical career.  Part 1 explores his younger years, his early medical ambitions, and the ignored red flags that would end up costing lives.

Sources:

https://www.serialkillercalendar.com/Michael%20SWANGO.php

https://www...

The machinery of justice may be rusty but in this case it finally did kick into motion.  Join us to hear how a prolific and largely unknown serial killer was finally brought down and what happened to all involved!

Sources:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2395004

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-southeastern-pennsylvania/patients/pa-abortion-control-act

https://cdn.cnsnews.com/document...

This was a doctor who appeared to many to be doing the right thing and serving the underserved in his community.  In reality, he was taking advantage of anyone in his orbit and prioritizing profit over all else while seemingly taking joy in killing with impunity.

Sources:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2395004

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-southeastern-pennsylvania/patients/pa-abor...

In explaining character stats, Matt Dinniman said that intelligence is walking out of the bar and recognizing that a police bike is parked there while wisdom is knowing not to piss on it.  Kevorkian had a reasonable intelligence stat but very low wisdom.  Listen in to hear how his undoing was pretty much entirely of his own making despite largely setting the stage for his stated goal of the legalization of euthanasia.

We all know the name Jack Kevorkian but many may not fully understand his story.  To some, he was a doctor fighting for his patients' right to choose how they left this world.  In secret, he had a fascination with death bordering on obsession.  Part 1 of this 2 parter will explain exactly what we mean.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1115402/

https://...

Known at different times over the facility's 135 year run as the California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble Minded Children (1883), Sonoma State Home (1909), Sonoma State Hospital (1953), and Sonoma Developmental Center (1986), this facility has a dark history of abuse, selfish experimentation, and corruption.  Even worse, although overcrowded, there were more staff members than many institutions had yet this one seem...

How does a state funded school become a dark hiding place for society to store its differently abled with no classes, no care, and no hope?  Join us as we discuss one of the most disgusting institutions in American history made famous by Geraldo Rivera's investigative piece Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace.  Spoiler:  State funded institutions usually go bad because of state funding.

Sources used:

This institution had an incredibly long run and made a lot of people who needed help very miserable.  This facility which began as a place to care for those in need eventually became a prison and a hunting ground for the predators who drew a paycheck and those who became their preferred henchmen.  Join us as we delve as deeply as we can handle into such a dark topic.

Sources referenced:

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If there was an award for the most misleadingly named institution in American history, the Fairview Training Center would be hard to beat. Originally pitched as a school for vulnerable youth with mental and developmental disabilities, the only thing Fairview actually trained people in was survival. It rapidly devolved from a place of learning into a state-funded child prison. The vulnerable kids became inmates, and the staff exploi...

The asylums we have discussed so far still exist in some way or another until now.  Trans-Allegheny shut down in 1994 with no new location and no new name changes.  It was just gone.  Now it is probably the most famous location for ghost hunting and has been featured on every ghost show and YouTube channel we can think of.  So what is the truth and what actually went on there?  Join us to find out!

Sources...

New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum, formerly known as New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton and currently known as Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, is still in operation today and was an early asylum founded by Dorothea Dix herself.  Don't let that give you hope, though, because one Henry Cotton got control everything changed.  Join us as Kim describes the unique medical treatment that started there and eventually spread to othe...

This time we are talking about some of the bizarre things that happened at Western State Hospital in Virginia.  From mysterious deaths and political intrigue to an early US Eugenics movement, Western State has been through quite a bit and is still around in a new form today.  Join us to find out what happened and to hear a married couple bicker - the most true love language!

Sources used are below:

https:...

Byberry Asylum, otherwise known as The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry, was established in 1907 with the best of intentions.  Originally intended as a working farm for the mentally ill but eventually became the largest mental hospital in Pennsylvania before finally being shut down in 1990 after the horrific conditions inside because too much for the outside world to ignore.  Join us as Kim tells us about the histor...

In this first episode of Questionable Treatments we are exploring the history of insane asylums from their origin tied to medieval Almshouses all the way up to what we know from modern horror movies and ghost hunting shows.  We will also be digging into the history of Insulin Shock Therapy, Electroshock Therapy, and the Lobotomy.

All sources referenced can be found below:

https://www.almshouses.org/history-of-...