[Buddha-l] Was the Buddha mentally ill?

[Franz Metcalf]

Gang,

Sorry not to have time to reply more substantively, but one comment:

Dr. Carlat (Danny to me) grew up as the son of a psychiatrist (Paul  
Carlat) and was a family friend of ours along with his dad. My father  
was a psychiatrist as well and a colleague of Paul's. So Danny (sorry,  
Dr. Carlat fils) brings a real sense of history to his view of the  
profession. He's also a really good person, so though I've not read  
the book I take his view seriously. I would point out that he's right  
to hold the profession accountable: the conflict of interest displayed  
in it would be illegal in many fields. My father prescribed drugs to  
two or three patients in his entire professional career, but he was  
exceptional in that way. He spearheaded a new policy in his regional  
organization of child and adolescent psychiatry that members would not  
accept payment or samples or trips or any other tainted benefits from  
drug companies. A tough road to hoe and I'm glad that Dr. Carlat and  
others are doing the work.

Franz