E62: Doctor Fear’s Medical School

What was Pennhurst State School? Was it a school? A hospital? A mental health treatment facility? Turns out it wasn't really any of those things and instead is better identified as "Pennsylvania's Shame." The Pennhurst State School was borne out of a eugenicist idea that individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities are "other" and should not be permitted to intermingle with "preferred" society. For 80 years, Pennhurst State School was a place where suffering was the norm and no one cared. In 1968, however, a local news reporter named Bill Baldini produced a multi-part expose on the "school" which lead to some immediate reforms but also - and critically - many lawsuits. In part 1 of our 3 part series on Pennhurst, Katie teaches us the history of the institution up to and including Mr. Baldini's report.  Reminder! While Garet is out on maternity leave, ALL subscribers to our Patreon get access to ad-free episodes (a perk usually reserved for Limbo Champions Only) - so sign up now at www.patreon.com/thebarisanklehigh . And make sure you're following us on Instagram @thebarisanklehigh to participate in our weekly episode title contest for your chance to win a free podcast sticker!   Sources:  https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/pennhurst-state-school-and-hospital/#:~:text=During%20eight%20decades%20of%20continuous,the%20remaining%20residents%20moved%20elsewhere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennhurst_State_School_and_Hospital http://www.preservepennhurst.org/default.aspx?pg=26 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/04/us/workers-indicted-in-patient-abuse.html https://thesnapper.millersville.edu/index.php/2020/11/06/behind-the-walls-of-terror/ http://preservepennhurst.com/default.aspx?pg=93 https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution https://disabilityjustice.org/halderman-v-pennhurst-state-school-hospital/