Ziekte en verminderde verantwoordelijkheid

A pheochromocytoma tumor in the adrenal kidney might cause randomised secretion of adrenaline which might cause anger-attacks. In some cases these might lead to murder. This case is an example of the problem of diminished responsibility because of a disease. From a medical point of view it is unlikely that this tumor is the only cause for aggressive behaviour, therefore, is there is a place for an insanity defence, or for diminished responsibility? There is diversity in the way countries deal with questions about legal responsibility and also there is limited satisfaction about the criteria. Ethics provide an appealing option to think about free will and responsibility. The new compatibilism approach provides interesting tools to think about different types of internal restriction of responsibility because of disease.