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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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Psychiatric survivor
groups are banding together in their fight for compensation for the
institutional torture and abuse they suffered at the hands of the state. Human rights advocate
Helen Gilbert said thousands of people had experienced abuse and torture at
the hands of the state, ranging from electric shock treatment, medication and
seclusion as punishment to unnecessary long-term incarceration. Many did not
have the money to go to a lawyer and seek through the court system the
compensation they were entitled. Compensation was not
just about money. "They simply want to be heard by the state and
acknowledged." The coalition
represented thousands of former psychiatric patients from Wellington,
Porirua, Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Christchurch and Rotorua. Others
were expected to join. Central Potential
survivors group spokesman John Tovey said he did not want a witch hunt.
"The institutions in which the abuse took place were to a large extent
an extension of wider community attitudes at the time." Nevertheless, the lives
of many people had been touched by what went on at the old Porirua hospital, including
former patients, their families and people who worked there, and redress was
needed. Meanwhile,
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson says she is looking for alternatives to
court action for former psychiatric patients. The Government was talking to claimants
about options but further work was needed before decisions were made, she
said. |
