This is the story of the psychiatrist Balthazar
Caravedo and his struggle to reform the methods
used at a hospital run by the Charity Nuns which
treated psychiatric patients. He was supported
by his wife and fellow medical professionals and
he succeeded in challenging the nuns and their
brutal methods which were based upon religious
beliefs and tradition. On a memorable day, Caravedo
and his supporters broke in and occupied the hospital
and confronted the nuns who accused them of being
“atheist Darwinians”.
With the help of a wealthy supporter, Caravedo
and his group reopened the hospital and applied
a new method to treat psychiatric problems called
“Open door”. This meant that straight
jackets, chains and baths of boiling water were
replaced by more humanist and modern practices.
