Child sex abuse hysteria and the Ellis case
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	NZ Herald August 9, 2003 Congratulations to Diana Wichtel Letter by Gordon Waugh, Auckland Congratulations to Diana Wichtel (Comment, Aug 9) for her clear insight into the Ellis conviction and for her courage to constructively criticise that shameful affair. The Christchurch Creche case is virtually identical to scores ofothers overseas. With few exceptions, those convictions have since been quashed by appellate courts because the beliefs, assumptions and interrogation methods used were unreliable, unsafe and fatally flawed. Over the past decade, those unethical, unscientific methods have resulted in tens of thousands of New Zealand men being accused of sexual abuse. The effect on our community has been devastating. Thousands more will inevitably suffer the same fate. A Royal Commission is needed. It should at least include a thorough review of those methods and the reliability of "evidence" they produce; introduction of legislation to control counsellor training, examination, registration and accountability; the systemic flaws in the ACC system; and the unhealthy amendments and additions made to Section 23 of the Evidence Act. In the meantime, your male readers might ponder the observation "There, but for the grace of God, go I."