|
2004-0626 - NZ Herald - Cold
case parents' agony
by Stephen Cook - The
death certificate said James Kake died of a severe asthma attack, but his family
were never convinced. Now they are joining the growing chorus of calls
seeking a public inquiry into claims of serious abuse at mental hospitals.
2004-0623 - The Press -
Desperate days at Sunnyside recalled
By Kamala Hayman -
Sally (not her real name) knew she was not like other girls. Withdrawn and
depressed, she was secretly scrubbing her stomach with sandpaper. Sometimes
she would grab a piece of broken glass, a razor blade – anything sharp – and
slice into her arms and legs. She had started self-harming when she was 12
years old……………
2004-0623 - The Press - Abuse
victims call for Govt inquiry
By Kamala Hayman - A
woman subjected to years of shock treatment and threatened with a lobotomy
while a teenage patient at Christchurch's Sunnyside Hospital in the 1960s is
seeking an inquiry. The woman, now aged 56, is joining more than 200 former
child psychiatric patients nationwide taking legal action against the
Government over alleged mistreatment during the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0623 - NZ Parliament -
Questions for Oral Answer
Psychiatric
Institutions—Abuse
- Ron Mark (NZ First) to the Attorney-General: Will she be ordering an
inquiry into claims of serious abuse at psychiatric institutions during the
1960s and 1970s; if not, why not?
2004-0621 - NZ Herald
- Abuse complaints 'should be believed'
by Martin Johnston -
The more than 200 former psychiatric patients claiming compensation for
mistreatment should be believed because of the sheer force of their numbers,
a lawyer says. Sonja Cooper, who represents more than half the claimants,
said their credibility was established by so many people recounting similar
experiences.
2004-0620 - Newstalk ZB -
Abuse inquiries flow in
There has been a
steady stream of inquiries from former employees and patients over abuse
allegations at psychiatric hospitals. Almost 200 official complaints have
been made by people who allege they were physically and sexually abused in
state mental health hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0619 - The Press - Nelson
abuse claims
Four former patients
of Ngawhatu Psychiatric Hospital in Nelson have
lodged formal complaints of abuse at the institution, including allegations of
experimentation on patients. Almost 200 complaints have been made by people
who allege they were abused in mental health hospitals around New Zealand
during the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0619 - NZ Herald -
Witness to boy's death believes there was a cover-up
by Stephen Cook - A
chill cuts through the air as Stephen Lindsay slumps on to his sofa bed. As
he pores over pages of crumpled documents trying to piece together his
thoughts, his eyes suddenly bulge and dart to the other side of his cramped
and cluttered haunt. Then his composure melts. ……..
2004-0619 - NZ Herald - Mother
wants to know how son died at psychiatric hospital
by Martin Johnston -
Clement Matthews' mother wants the police to get to the truth about his death
in Kingseat mental hospital 36 years ago. Rebecca Matthews, 63, said
yesterday that she first learned of the police re-opening their investigation
into the 1968 death of 11-year-old Clement in last week's Weekend Herald.
2004-0618 - NZ Herald - More
allegations of abuse at mental institution
NZPA - Four former
patients of Ngawhatu
Psychiatric Hospital in
Nelson have lodged formal complaints of abuse at the institution, including
allegations of experimentation on patients. Almost 200 complaints have been
made by people who allege they were abused in mental health hospitals around
New Zealand during the 1960s and 1970s. Wellington lawyer Roger Chapman said
today a "steady number" of former patients of Ngawhatu Hospital
were now coming forward.
2004-0618 - Nelson Mail -
Abuse complaints mount against psychiatric hospital
by Sheriee Smith -
Four more former patients of Ngawhatu psychiatric hospital have lodged formal
complaints of alleged abuse at the institution - including claims of
experimentation on patients. Almost 200 complaints have been made by people
who allege they were abused in mental health hospitals around New Zealand
during the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0615 - NZ Herald - PM ponders
response to psychiatric abuse allegations
by Audrey Young - The
Prime Minister yesterday raised the possibility that complaints about abuse
in mental hospital could be dealt with through mediation. However, she said
the Government needed more information before it decided between that
approach or an inquiry.
2004-0614 - NZ Herald - More
patients say they were abused in asylums
by Martin Johnston -
More former patients have come forward alleging that they were abused in
mental asylums during the 1960s and 1970s. The Weekend Herald revealed that
the claims of widespread mistreatment that were previously confined to the
former Porirua and Lake Alice asylums encompass most of the closed mental
hospitals from Auckland to Otago.
2004-0614 - Nelson Mail -
Nelson patients alleging abuse
The Government is
considering an inquiry into claims of serious abuse at mental health
hospitals, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today. Almost 200 complaints have
been made by former patients who allege they were abused in mental asylums
during the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0612 - One News - Police
reopen 1960s Kingseat case
The death of an 11-year-old boy nearly four decades ago at an Auckland
psychiatric hospital is being investigated again by police. The case has been
reopened after a witness spoke out against the original coroner's findings.
The case is also adding weight to calls for a commission of inquiry into
claims of abuse at psychiatric institutions in the 1960s and '70s.
2004-0612 - NZ Herald - Woman
recalls Tokanui trauma
by Martin Johnston -
Mary was put in Tokanui mental hospital in 1968 to help her to recover from
depression. Aged 18, she was depressed after the birth of a baby, the second
of her four children. But instead of receiving help, Mary says, she suffered
beatings and sexual abuse, and was left damaged by electro-convulsive therapy
(ECT).
2004-0612 - NZ Herald - Police
re-open boy's hospital death case after 36 years
by Martin Johnston -
The police have re-opened the 36-year-old case of a boy's death at Kingseat
psychiatric hospital south of Auckland, after a witness said a nurse beat the
youngster. A 1968 coroner's finding that 11-year-old Clement Matthews died of
pneumonia has been challenged by former patient Stephen Lindsay, who was 14
at the time. He says he saw a male nurse attack Clement 12 hours before he
was found dying in his locked room.
2004-0612 - Newstalk ZB -
200-plus abuse claims from ex-psych patients
Lawyers are expecting
a landslide of abuse claims from former psychiatric patients. More than 200 claims,
alleging physical abuse in state-run institutions, are believed to be in the
pipeline. Police have reopened the 36-year-old case of Clement Matthews, who
was ruled to have died of pneumonia at Kingseat psychiatric hospital, south
of Auckland.
2004-0602 - Dominion Post -
Porirua abuse claims rise to 130
The number of claims
against the Crown for alleged physical, sexual and mental abuse at Porirua
Hospital during the 1960s and 70s had risen to about 130 by yesterday. One of
the lawyers spearheading the legal action, Sonja Cooper, said more claims
were expected. "People find it difficult to talk about this kind of
abuse and for some it can take months or even years to summon up the courage."
2004-0601 - Dominion Post -
Patient abuse claims investigated
Complaints of
mistreatment of former patients at Porirua
Hospital are under
investigation by the Crown Law Office, it has been revealed. Prime Minister
Helen Clark and Attorney-General Margaret Wilson have left the door open to
an inquiry but say the complaints must be investigated first. Ms Wilson
confirmed yesterday that the Crown was investigating 62 claims about
treatment at various psychiatric institutions, including Porirua, and a
further 44 complaints were likely to be filed.
2004-0531 - One News - Crown
probes alleged patient abuse
The Attorney General
says the Crown is currently investigating 62 allegations of past abuse of
patients at psychiatric hospitals. Margaret Wilson issued a statement on
Monday afternoon in response to claims by former patients on the Sunday
programme that they were physically abused by staff at Porirua Hospital in
the 1960s and 1970s.
2004-0531 - NZ
Government - Post Cabinet Press Conference
Rt. Hon Helen Clark
- Media: Is the government considering
any sort of inquiry into the allegations of abuse at Porirua? PM: That has been referred to Crown Law
and the Attorney-General. We’re investigating 62 claims, which have been
filed, and I understand Margaret Wilson will have a statement out later
today.
2004-0323 -
Manawatu Standard - Lake Alice decision delay upsets victims
A preliminary
decision about laying charges against former Lake Alice Hospital staff who
allegedly abused and tortured children in the 1970s is expected next month. The
Crown Law Office is expected to give the Police Commissioner's Office its
advice within weeks. Then Commissioner Robert Robinson will decide whether to
lay charges.
2004-0306 - Manawatu
Standard - Raped and tortured: A New Zealand childhood
The demons of Lake
Alice still haunt the people who lost their childhoods there. Lee Matthews
talks to a survivor. "We were doomed people in Lake Alice because nobody
helped us. We soon learned not to complain. We knew nobody would
listen."
|
