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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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The confidential forum reported to
Parliament about psychiatric abuse. It is timely for the health select
committee to have a good look at the report. A considerable number of people
have spoken of extensive maltreatment with electro convulsive shocks without
anaesthetics; insulin maltreatment to make them convulsive; deep sleep;
significant periods of time in seclusion; and heavy drug regimes with
medicines such as Largactil and Paraldehyde. Paraldehyde is a torture drug,
very painful when injected into the muscle. If you put Paraldehyde in a
plastic syringe, the syringe will melt. Many of the patients suffered
physical abuse, and individual cases of sexual misconduct, including indecent
assault and sexual violation, were reported. The Government has the
responsibility to compensate these people for their suffering while in the
care of state hospitals. The state has to take responsibility. The laws have to change so this
can never happen again. The Mental Health Act 1992 is open to abuse. Section
59 and section 60 give doctors the right to use electro convulsive shock
treatment despite a patient's refusal. Section 122 excuses doctors from
criminal responsibility if they act in good faith. Nothing has changed, it is still
going on right now. Lots of money is given for mental
health. All that money is going in the wrong direction, to the drug
companies, and more is spent on torture devices. It has to stop.
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