ABSTRACT

It might be illuminating to start this chapter with two small illustrations. Th e fi rst is derived from the notorious Bobbitt case that received worldwide attention because of the specifi c details of the events. In June 1993, Lorena Bobbitt chopped off almost half of her husband’s penis with an 8-inch kitchen knife while he was asleep. She then drove off and threw the severed piece out of the window of her vehicle. It was later found by police offi cers and reattached aft er more than 9 hours of surgery. Lorena was charged with “malicious wounding” but eventually was acquitted because she was deemed temporarily insane by the jury. Her defense lawyer welcomed the verdict with the following words: “Th is is a giant step forward for Lorena in the healing process.”