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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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The Government has
rejected calls to set up an inquiry into the allegations by hundreds of
former patients that they were abused in psychiatric hospitals. Instead, it is creating
a special forum to hear the stories of former patients, their families and
hospital staff - forcing people who want compensation to go through the
courts. Attorney-General
Margaret Wilson said the forum, chaired by ombudsman and former judge Anand
Satyanand, would refer people where necessary to the appropriate agencies,
such as ACC, the Health and Disability Commissioner or the police. It could
also refer people for state-paid counselling. But the forum's terms
of reference do not provide for it to give compensation or apologies, nor to
recommend the Government pay compensation or apologise. However, a spokesperson
for Ms Wilson said last night an apology had not been ruled out. Lawyers representing
former patients say the forum will be a pointless talk-shop. "It's a big slap
in the face ... It seems to me to be a complete waste of time," said
lawyer Sonja Cooper. More than 300 former
patients have contacted her or Roger Chapman alleging abuse at psychiatric
hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s. Around 80 have filed claims in the High
Court. Ms Wilson said the
courts were the best place for the compensation claims because of issues of
credibility, the historic nature of the claims and the big sums sought. Some of the alleged
abusers denied the claims during a preliminary investigation and must be
allowed to defend their reputations, she said. Ms Cooper said the
Government's decision "forces most of our clients to take their cases
through the courts, to confront the very people who abused them, and to
relive the traumatic experiences they had hoped to put behind them". Mr Chapman said the
costs of taking the claims through the courts would be enormous. "Almost
all of our clients are legally aided, so the costs will fall on the
taxpayer." "We were looking
for some sort of [Government] investigation ... This forum will be able to do
nothing at all except listen to what people say." A spokeswoman for the
Psych Survivors Redress Coalition, Helen Gilbert, said hundreds of former
patients were not seeking compensation. "For lots of people it's about
being heard and having it acknowledged ... For many the big driver is that
nothing like this ever happens again."
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More than 300 former patients have alleged they were
abused in the 1960s and 1970s at psychiatric hospitals including Porirua,
Oakley, Kingseat, Tokanui or Lake Alice. All, except Porirua, have been
closed. ·
The former patients, mostly eight to 16 at the time,
allege beatings and sexual abuse by staff and patients, inappropriate and excessive
use of electric-shock therapy, drugs and solitary confinement. ·
Around 80 of the claims against the crown have been filed
in the High Court. Each seeks up to $500,000 compensation and exemplary
damages approaching $50,000. ·
Their lawyers wanted a Government investigation as a
forerunner to a settlement process. ·
The Government yesterday opted instead for a forum to hear
the stories of former patients, their families and hospital staff. |
