The legal system is based on the assumption of personal responsibility, but a di

Generally it is accepted that people should be held responsible for their actions.
Yet sometimes mental disorders may prevent a person from understanding the difference between right and wrong or make it impossible for a person to control his or her behavior.
It is difficult to distinguish impairments that legitimately reduce a person’s responsibility for his or her actions from unjustified excuses.
A diminished-capacity defense is allowed in some jurisdictions that may result in reducing the charges or punishment without exonerating the person.
Individual positions will vary.