Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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A former Christchurch
psychiatric patient, subjected to years of shock treatment and threatened
with a lobotomy, has dismissed as a "waste of time" Government
plans to hear abuse claims in a confidential forum. The woman, now in her
50s, is one of about 300 former patients claiming abuse during the 1960s and
'70s. Many were sent to psychiatric institutions because of behavioural
difficulties but then treated as if they had serious psychiatric illnesses.
Some were as young as eight. Allegations include
physical and sexual abuse, long periods of solitary confinement and the use
of electroconvulsive therapy as punishment. Yesterday,
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson announced a confidential forum would be
established where former patients, their families and hospital staff could
tell their stories. "The forum is designed to give former patients a
chance to talk about their experiences in a non-critical and confidential
environment," said Wilson. People would also be
offered referrals to agencies, such as the ACC, the health and disability
commissioner and police, as well as professional counselling. She said the
forum would report back to the Government. But a former Sunnyside
patient, still living in Christchurch, could not see the point of the forum
nor of further counselling. She was admitted to
Sunnyside's secure Stewart Villa in the 1970s after cutting and sandpapering
herself, following years of childhood sexual abuse. During 14 years of
treatment she was subjected to more than 70 electric shock treatments,
deep-sleep therapy and was threatened with a lobotomy. Her brother, also a
child victim of sexual abuse, was sent to Cherry Farm aged 10 simply because
an appropriate foster home could not be found. Yesterday, the former
Stewart Villa patient said the proposed forum sounded like "a waste of
time and a delaying tactic". She said the Government
was treating former patients as if they were mad people whose claims could
not be trusted. "They tell society
that and society believes it." She sometimes regretted
raising her claims. "It's awful going back into it, it stirs you up and
brings back all the unfairness of it. I think of the years of life I lost and
all those professional people who should have picked up what was wrong."
Adding to her emotional
trauma, legal costs have swallowed up her life savings and she did not know
if she would be entitled to legal aid to carry on. "It's a bit
heartbreaking." Her case is one of
about 85 now lodged with the courts through Wellington lawyers Roger Chapman
and Sonja Cooper. At least another 140 claims were expected to be lodged. Chapman said the
Government's forum would not help his clients. "Many of them are
looking for something like an apology and a large number, whose lives have
been completely changed by what happened, would like some compensation,"
said Chapman. "The forum doesn't address any of that." Cooper added the forum
could increase clients' distress for no benefit as they would still have to
go to court to have their cases accepted. "It will be hugely
traumatic. We have had two clients hospitalised after telling their story to
us." Cooper and Chapman have
repeatedly called for an independent inquiry to establish whether systematic
abuse had happened, such as the claims of abuse at Lake Alice Hospital. But a spokeswoman for
Wilson said the case differed significantly from Lake Alice. Many
institutions were involved and, crucially, many of the current allegations
were contested. Those seeking to
establish liability or compensation would have to go to court, said Wilson:
"It is a matter of natural justice to allow (alleged abusers) to defend
their reputations." The forum will be open
to those who were patients in psychiatric hospitals before 1992. To
participate call 0800 225590. -------------------- CAPTION: Margaret Wilson |