Our justice system is far from perfect. Too often, the process of securing justice runs the risk of re-traumatizing victims who must recount the worst moments of their lives on the stand. This can be particularly difficult for young victims. That’s where man’s best friend comes in. Some dogs comfort witnesses before and after testimony, while other programs will allow the dogs to be present with the witness on the stand.
Supporters of these programs say the dogs comfort witnesses and help them open up on the stand, although some defense attorneys allege that the presence of dogs makes the witness seem more sympathetic to the jury. State law varies when it comes to the use of therapy dogs in court, and in some states the use of such dogs is at the judge’s discretion.
It may surprise some readers that a doctor who specializes in internal medicine is writing a blog post about support animals, but doctors have known for some time about the mind-body connection. While the old phrase, “mind over matter” is a myth, a person’s mental state absolutely has an effect on physical health. Issues like long-term anxiety or prolonged stress, although primarily mental, can have an impact on physical health, as detailed here and here. Personally, I am all for the use of therapy dogs in court to make a stressful experience less so. We could all deal with less stress in our lives, or at least better coping strategies.
