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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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No Govt apology offered over psychiatric care
report The Government won't say yet
whether it will apologise or offer compensation to former mental health
patients whose experiences are the subject of a harrowing report. Former in-patients of psychiatric
hospitals have talked of rape, physical and mental abuse, bullying and fear. On Thursday, the Government
released the final report of a group set up three years ago to help those in
psychiatric institutions until 1992 to come to terms with the experience. The Confidential Forum was set up
by the Government with a focus on reconciliation rather than truth, blame or
compensation. Almost 500 people attended hearings, and the report paints a
bleak picture of their experiences. Most of those involved were
patients at places such as Kingseat and Cherry Farm between the 1940s and
1990s, and they had no choice over their admission or treatment. The report details their fear,
humiliation, beatings, sexual misconduct, abuse and over-medication.
The chairman of the group charged
with hearing the experiences of former psychiatric patients spoke of their
fear when they were given shock treatment against their will. Judge Patrick Mahony says there
were some positive stories about the care people received, but most were
bleak. He says a significant number of
patients got shock treatment, without their consent.
The Government has welcomed the report
and is to extend support services to all former patients in state care during
the period. However, Health Minister Pete
Hodgson says legal action limits what can be said about an apology or
compensation. Some who talked to the
Confidential Forum said they wanted a formal acknowledgement of their
suffering. Mr Hodgson says the Government
acknowledges the stories of the former in- patients.
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