af·flu·en·za

af·flu·en·za: a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.

According to the published time lines, this affliction did not take root until around 2010 and it’s actual definition appears to be somewhat in question. Interestingly enough, it is not listed in the Blacks Law Dictionary ( the most widely accepted dictionary of law) or similar links, bringing into question it’s application and consideration in legal rulings. This is not completely uncommon since new definitions for different conditions and afflictions are under consideration in a variety of cases, but the use of or excuse for behaviors that result in loss of human life is rare. If in fact we are to consider this a medical condition, then different forms of treatment certainly should be considered.

A simple observation of the apparent condition might suggest that the best cure would be to remove the conditions that caused it and to reverse those conditions to the point that the condition naturally reverts back to “normal”. Since the causation appears to be a life of “plenty” and “excess”, both causes must be removed and replaced with a treatment of labor and conditions much like the great majority of our population experience each day; in fact to reverse the condition it might be well for treatment to include a period of time equal to that which caused the affliction, which is approximately 16 years, his age at the time of the accident. Since he has gone without treatment for nearly 3 additional years and there has been at least one relapse, a sound course of treatment might be considered at 20 years. In fact, the legal system has a description for such treatment. It is “20 years at hard labor”. While some might say this is unconstitutional by todays practices, let me remind you this is described as a medical/physiological condition so those rules simply do not apply. The good of the patient must take precedence.

Now, we are not talking about tossing the poor lad into a common prison cell. That would be cruel (although not unusual) and would not provide any treatment. A treatment something more in line with that old movie “Holes” would be more in line, in fact I’m betting there are quite a few young people out there with this affliction so an entire course of treatment in a similar facility should be considered reasonable and appropriate. We would advise against a warden that coated her finger nails with rattlesnake venom … that should be reserved for only the most die hard cases that completely resist treatment.

So, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office has some options and the judge in the case also has his own responsibilities to the people, the family, and of course to the poor lad that is so afflicted. Let’s hope that go for an appropriate treatment that will serve everyone and prevent any further relapses!