Harold Shipman Research Papers

Gabriela Botero
Lostio
Ap Psychology
8 June 2015

Harold Shipman: Doctor or Murderer?

Upon hearing the news of a serial killer, first question would come to mind would be why? Killing people is obviously not in the norm, but still we begin to wonder what causes humans to have the ability to end the life of another? Those that choose science to answer all questions, psychology can definitely help. From childhood to the anatomy of the person there can almost be an answer to this difficult question. Harold Fredrick Shipman Jr. was born January 14th, 1946. Mothers name was Vera, and fathers name was Harold, Shipman was the second child of four children. He grew up watching his mother get sicker and weaker from lung cancer. At the age of seventeen, his mother that he loved dearly passed away. Because his mother was given morphine to help her pain during her sickness, there the curiosity of how medicine helped people feel better began. Here we may connect the

He continued with denial to any accusation. On October 5, 1999, Harold went to trial with 15 murdering charges and forgery. Harold denied the misuse of lethal administration of pain relievers and denied knowledge of how the victims could have received them. Harold was sentenced for a life in jail. Harold had no diagnosed mental disorder, he was capable to withstand trial as a stable person. the exact number of lives Harold Shipman has taken will be unknown, some would say 250 victims. He is named Dr. Death and soon took his own life on January 13, 2004. Harold's death was one of surprise to the guards at the jail since he showed no signs of being suicidal. For the victims of Harold's actions some found it as a injustice, the man that took their loved ones life not fulfilling his punishment. For some they felt cheated, never knowing the reason behind everything and for not having an apology or confession to his awful