[Legal aspects of the epilepsies].
BACKGROUND
Epilepsy has been considered by the Spanish courts of law to be a psychiatric disorder and many rulings have dealt with the supposedly violent attitude of epileptics. This has led to social and legal confusion.


METHODS
We have considered various Supreme Court rulings and evidence given by expert witnesses which show the role of epileptic disorders in our institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that epileptics are still considered to be potentially dangerous persons. Mental disorder is still considered to be a partial or complete defence, although in the new Penal Code this concept of static disorder has been superseded by a mixed biological psychological formula when considering whether a person may be charged with an offence or not.
Villanueva Gómez
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Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica; Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo, 33006, España. FVILLANUEVA@HCAS.INSALUD.ES
D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013030:Spain; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence