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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Dominion
March 12, 2002

More former Porirua patients claim abuse

The number of former Porirua Hospital patients planning to sue the Crown for alleged abuse they suffered as children is growing.

Wellington lawyer Sonja Cooper and Nelson-based Jane Hunter are acting for a small group of former patients who claim to have suffered abuse in the late 1960s and 1970s.

According to Ms Cooper, those who had come forward so far, all women, had told remarkably similar stories. All were children when they were in the hospital in the late 1960s and 1970s and all had "behavioural difficulties".

Ms Cooper said that since allegations of abuse had been reported, four more former patients had come forward.

"I'm sure there will be more."

Ms Cooper said three of the four people who called her on Monday were children when at the hospital. They wanted some recognition and acknowledgment that there was abuse.

Those involved in the claim tell stories of being locked in cells, being emotionally, physically and sexually abused, being given electroconvulsive therapy, sometimes without anesthetic, and being injected with the drug paraldehyde as punishment.

The group is taking action against the attorney-general as the representative of the health ministry and their claims include alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, statutory duty and negligence.

Last year, a group of former Lake Alice patients received a formal apology and a total of $6.5 million compensation for abuse they suffered.

Health Minister Annette King's office referred inquiries back to the Health Ministry on Monday.

Ministry deputy director general mental health Janice Wilson said any legal claim based on past abuse would be considered.

"At present there is no evidence of the kind of systematic abuse at Porirua as occurred at Lake Alice."

Last December, Mrs King told the former patients that the Government would not investigate their allegations because there was no evidence of systematic abuse.