WPC  ~m jA.1 /GRh PD@ϴ6qm ;~CtĀlT:0C΃B4&lxhED|KX G`l(?0p~I"J!)h yҭ>S?`rнr&]6x_nf*SNd ;"F9# \xv\PH7끘Tq1}2=P$ok2ݰ:j`A3 5H6)F:J`PC}x=W~Uȡ,uwf \5ʒKoYB I|7z9'T'CUxU0:n( %+U@1q#(B 0MjN ^ w 0N 4 + m- fD <6X9`("Courier 10cpi<6X9`("Courier 10cpiXx6X@8;X@) `(CG TimesScalable&&m P7&P) `(CG TimesScalableO P7PX) `(CG TimesScalable3|x HP LaserJet IIID,,,,,,0!(%$    USUS.,EXXXSXXEbXXSfXXbvXXfJXXvZXXJbXXZjXXbrXXj-X+Xr=X+-XDXX=LXXDTXXL[XXTUXX[TXXUGXXTWXXGgXXWWXXgVXXWv!b' (O$4'bk1h= U \\R'ALegal Landscape\ !    USUS.,EXXXSXXEbXXSfXXbvXXfJXXvZXXJbXXZjXXbrXXj-h+Xr=X+-hDXX=LXXDTXXL[XXTUXX[TXXUGXXTWXXGgXXWWXXgVXXWv!  _  TR[,'AX3' Letter 'ALegal Landscape3'TdA'h',\,    54XV5u445v!  8&%dd8    @.."B@..".oftheheadataboutthetemples,orsometimes  onthefrontandbackofonesideoftheheadso  theelectricitywillpassthroughjusttheleftor 0T rightsideofthebrain(whichiscalled unilat  eralECT).Somepsychiatristsfalselyclaim  ECTconsistsofaverysmallamountofelectric .R itybeingpassedthroughthebrain.Infact,the  70to400voltsand200to1600milliamperes  usedinECTisquitepowerful.Thepower ,P appliedinECTistypicallyasgreatasthatfound   inthewallsocketsinyourhome.Itcouldkill    the patientifthecurrentwerenotlimitedto * N  thehead.TheelectricityinECTissopowerful    itcanburntheskinontheheadwheretheelec ~   trodesareplaced.Becauseofthis,psychiatrists ( L  useelectrodejelly,alsocalledconductivegel,to   preventskinburnsfromtheelectricity.The |  electricitygoingthroughthebraincausessei &J  zuressopowerfulthesocalledpatientsreceiving   thissocalledtherapyhavebrokentheirown z  bonesduringtheseizures.Topreventthis,a $H  muscleparalyzingdrugisadministeredimmedi   atelybeforethesocalledtreatment.Ofcourse, x theworstpartofECTisbraindamage,not "F brokenbones.   ` Electricityisonlyoneofseveralways v psychiatristshaveinducedseizuresinpeoplefor  D supposedlytherapeuticpurposes.Accordingto  psychiatrists,seizuresinducedbychemicalsor t gasinhalantsarejustaseffective,psychiatrically B speaking,as_ECT._ԀInSeptember1977inthe  AmericanJournalofPsychiatry,psychiatry r professorMaxFink,M.D.,said: Seizuresmay @  alsobeinducedbyananestheticinhalant, ! _flurothyl_,withnoelectricalcurrents,andthese p" treatmentsareaseffectiveasECT(p.992). ># Onthesamepagehesaidseizuresinducedby $ injectingadrug,pentylenetetrazol(Metrazol), n% intothebloodstreamhavetherapeuticeffects <& equaltoseizuresinducedwith_ECT._ '  ` Itsinteresting,tosaytheleast,thatany l( ofthesethreeverydifferentseizureproducing :) agents"_flurothyl_Ԁgasinhaledthroughagas * mask,Metrazolinjectedwithahypodermic j+ needle,orelectricitypassedthroughthehead"  8, couldbeequallypsychiatrically therapeutic.  - Psychiatristssaythatitistheseizurethatis h!.  therapeutic,notthemethodofinducingthe "6/ seizure.Butwhywouldseizuresinducedbyany "0 ofthesethreeverydifferentmethodsbeequally f# 1  therapeutic? $4!2  ` Onetheoryistheyareallequallyhorri $!3 fyingtothevictim(the patient)whoreceives d%"4 the treatment.InhisbookAgainstTherapy,  publishedin1988,psychoanalystJeffrey  АMasson,Ph.D.,asks: Whydopsychiatrists 0T torturepeopleandcallitelectroshocktherapy?  (p.xv).InhisbookBattlefortheMind:A  PhysiologyofConversionandBrainWashing, .R William_Sargant_Ԁsaid Thehistoryofpsychiatric  treatmentshows,indeed,thatfromtimeimme  morialattemptshavebeenmadetocuremental ,P disordersbytheuseofphysiologicalshocks,   frights,andvariouschemicalagents;andsuch    meanshavealwaysyieldedbrilliantresultsin * N  certaintypesofpatient(p.82).Inhisbook    Breakdown,psychologistNormanS.Sutherland ~   pointsoutthatinhisobservationsECT was ( L  widelydreaded,andhesays therearemany   reportsfrompatientslikeningtheatmospherein |  hospitalondayswhenECTwastobeadminis &J  teredtothatofaprisononthedayofanexecu   tion(p.196). z   ` DefendersofECTsaythatbecauseof $H  theadditionofanesthesiatomaketheprocedure   painless,thehorriblenessofECTisentirelya x thingofthepast.Thisargumentmissesthe "F point.Itisthementaldisorientation,themem  oryloss,thelostmentalability,therealization v afterawakingfromthe therapythatthees  D senceofonesveryselfisbeingdestroyedbythe   treatmentthatinducestheterror"notonlyor t evenprimarilyphysicalsuffering.ECT,or B electroshock,strikestothecorepersonalityand  isterrifyingforthisreason.Aswassaidby r _Lothar_ԀB._Kalinowsky_,M.D.,andPaulH. @  _Hoch_,M.D.,intheirbookShockTreatments, ! А_Psychosurgery_,andOtherSomaticTreatmentsin p" Psychiatry: FearofECT,however,isagreater ># problemthanwasoriginallyrealized.This $ referstoafearwhichdevelopsorincreasesonly n% afteracertainnumberoftreatments.Itisdiffer <& entthanthefearwhichthepatient,unacquainted ' withthetreatment,haspriortothefirstapplica l( tion....Theagonizingexperienceofthe :) shatteredselfisthemostconvincingexplanation * forthelatefearofthetreatment(p.133).One j+ wayECTachievesitseffectsisthevictimsof  8, thissupposedtherapychangetheirbehavior,  - displayofemotion,andexpressedideasforthe h!. purposeofavoidingbeingtorturedanddestroyed "6/ bythe therapy.RefusingtotakeECTdoesnt "0 alwayswork,becauseECTisoftenadministered f# 1 againstthe patientswill.InThePowersof $4!2 Psychiatry,publishedin1980,EmoryUniversity $!3 ProfessorJonas_Robitscher_,J.D.,M.D.,said d%"4  Organizedpsychiatrycontinuestoopposeany  restrictionsbystatute,regulation,orcourtcase  onitsrighttogiveshocktoinvoluntaryand 0T unwillingpatients(p.279).Evennowinthe  1990sonlyonestateintheUnitedStates"Wis  consin"prohibitsallinvoluntaryadministration .R of_ECT._   ` Sincethe patientsfearofECTisone  ofthethingsthatmakesECT work,psychia ,P tristsoftengetresultsbymerelythreatening   peoplewith_ECT._ԀAspsychiatristPeterR.    А_Breggin_,M.D.,saysinhisbookElectroshock: * N  ItsBrainDisablingEffects: Forpatientswho    witnessthese[braindisabling]effectswithout ~   themselvesundergoingECT,theeffectofECT ( L  isnonethelessintimidating.Theydoeverything   intheirpowertocooperateinordertoavoida |  similarfate(p.173). &J   ` AnotherwayECTachievesitseffectsis   bydamagingthebrain.InthewordsofLee z  Coleman,M.D.,apsychiatrist: Therationale $H  forelectroshockwasformerlycouchedin   Аpsychoanalyticterms,withpunitivesuperegos x sometimesrequiringrepeatedshocksof110volts "F forappeasement.Onlythencouldguiltbe  assuagedanddiscontentberelieved.Itismuch v morecommonnowtohearequallyabsurd  D Аneurophysiologicalexplanations,thistimethe  ideabeingthattheseelectricalassaultssomehow t rearrangebrainchemistryforthebetter.Most B theoristsreadilyagree,however,thattheseare  speculations;infact,theyseemtotakeacertain r satisfactioninshocktreatmentssupposedly @  unknownmodeofaction....Thetruthis, ! however,thatelectroshockworksbya p" Аmechanismthatissimple,straightforward,and ># understoodmymanyofthosewhohaveunder $ goneitandanyoneelsewhotrulywantedtofind n% out.Unfortunately,theadvocatesofelectro <& shock(particularlythosewhoadministerit) ' refusetorecognizewhatitdoes,becausetodo l( sowouldmakethemfeelbad.Electroshock :) worksbydamagingthebrain.Proponentsinsist * thatthisdamageisnegligibleandtransient"a j+ contentionthatisdisputedbymanywhohave  8, beensubjectedtotheprocedure.Furthermore,  - itsadvocateswanttoseethisdamageasaside h!. effect.Infact,thechangesoneseeswhen "6/ electroshockisadministeredarecompletely "0 consistentwithanyacutebraininjury,suchasa f# 1 blowtotheheadfromahammer.Inessence, $4!2 whathappensisthattheindividualisdazed, $!3 confused,anddisoriented,andthereforecannot d%"4 rememberorappreciatecurrentproblems.The  shocksarethencontinuedforafewweeks  (sometimesseveraltimesaday)tomakethe 0T proceduretake,thatis,todamagethebrain  sufficientlysothattheindividualwillnot  Аremember,atleastforseveralmonths,the .R Аproblemsthatledtohisbeingshockedinthefirst  place.Thegreaterthebraindamage,themore  likelythatcertainmemoriesandabilitieswill ,P neverreturn.Thusmemorylossandconfusion   secondarytobraininjuryarenotsideeffectsof    electroshock;theyarethemeansbywhich * N  families(perhapsunwittingly)andpsychiatrists    sometimeschoosetodealwithtroubledand ~   troublesomepersons.Manyofuswould ( L  Аquestionsuchadubiousmeansofobliterating,   ratherthandealingwith,emotionaldistress |  (FromtheIntroduction,TheHistoryofShock &J  Treatment,editedbyL.R.Frank,p.xiii.)    ` AdvocatesofECTfalselyclaimthereis z  noevidenceofbraindamagefrom_ECT._ԀFor $H  example,inhisbookOvercomingDepression,   Dr.Andrew_Stanway_,aBritishphysician,says x  PeopleoftenworrythatECTmightbe "F Аdamagingtheirbraininsomewaybutthereisno  evidenceofthis(p.184). v Ѐ ` Infact,itdidnttakelongafterECTwas  D inventedin1938forautopsystudiesrevealing  ECTcausedbraindamagetobeginappearingin t medicaljournals.Thisbraindamageincludes B cerebralhemorrhages(abnormalbleeding),  edema(excessiveaccumulationoffluid),cortical r atrophy(shrinkageofthecerebralcortex,or @  outerlayersofthebrain),dilated_perivascular_ ! spacesinthebrain,fibrosis(thickeningand p" scarring),_gliosis_Ԁ(growthofabnormaltissue), ># andrarefiedandpartiallydestroyedbraintissue. $ (SeePeterR._Breggin_,M.D.,Electroshock:Its n% BrainDisablingEffectsforreferences.)Com <& mentingontheextentofphysicalbraindamage ' causedbyelectroconvulsive therapy,Karl l( _Pribram_,Ph.D.,headofStanfordUniversitys :) АNeuropsychologyLaboratory,oncesaid: Id * ratherhaveasmalllobotomythanaseriesof j+ electroconvulsiveshock....Ijustknowwhat  8, thebrainlookslikeafteraseriesofshocks,and  - itsnotverypleasanttolookat(APAMonitor, h!. Sept.Oct.1974,pp.910).Dr.Sidney_Sament_, "6/ aneurologist,describesECTthisway: "0  Electroconvulsivetherapyineffectmaybe f# 1 definedasacontrolledtypeofbraindamage $4!2 producedbyelectricalmeans.Nodoubtsome $!3 psychiatricsymptomsareeliminated...butthisis d%"4  TR[,'ALegal Landscape[,'A 'ALegal Landscape 'ALegal LandscapeT   attheexpenseofbraindamage(Clinical  АPsychiatryNews,March1983,p.4).Although  heisadefenderofECT,DukeUniversitypsy 0T chiatryprofessorRichardD.Weiner,M.D.,  Ph.D.,hasadmittedthat thedataasawhole  mustbeconsideredconsistentwiththeoccur .R renceoffrontalatrophyfollowingECT(Behav  ioral&BrainSciences,March1984,p.8).By   frontalatrophyhemeansatrophy(reduced ,P size)ofthefrontallobesofthebrain,thefrontal   lobesbeingthepartsbelievedtoberesponsible    forhighermentalfunctions.Thefrontallobes * N  getmostoftheelectricityin_ECT._ԀDr.Weiner    alsoadmits _Breggin_sstatementthatECT ~   alwaysproducesanacuteorganicbrainsyn ( L  dromeiscorrect(ibid.,p.42).Organicbrain   syndromeisorganicbraindisease. |   ` Psychologicaltestingofthosewhohave &J  hadECTalsoindicatesECTcausespermanent   braindamage.Forexample,inanarticleinthe z  BritishJournalofPsychiatry,threepsychologists $H  said TheECTpatientsperformancewasalso   foundtobeinferiorontheWAIS[Wechsler x AdultIntelligenceScale]and TheECT "F АpatientsinferiorBenderGestaltperformance  doessuggestthatECTcausespermanentbrain v damage(DonaldI._Templer_,Ph.D.,etal.,  D  CognitiveFunctioningandDegreeofPsychosis  inSchizophrenicsgivenmanyElectroconvulsive t TreatmentsBrit.J.Psychiatry,Vol.123 B А(1973),p.441atpp.442,443).   ` In1989inhisbookTheExercisePre r scriptionforDepressionandAnxiety,psychology @  professorKeithW._Hohnsgrd_,Ph.D.,says !  SomewhoreceiveECTappeartosufferboth p" seriousandpermanentmemoryloss(p.88, ># emphasisadded).AwomanwhohadECT $ describedtheseeffectsECThadonhermemory: n%  IdontrememberthingsIneverwantedto <& forget"importantthings"likemyweddingday ' andwhowasthere.Afriendtookmebackto l( thechurchwhereIhadmywedding,andithad :) nomeaningtome(quotedin:PeterR._Breggin_, * M.D.,Electroshock:ItsBrainDisablingEf j+ fects,p.36).Professionalpeoplewhohave  8, soughttreatmentfordepressionandhadECT  - havelostalifetimeofprofessionalknowledge h!. andskilltothissocalledtherapy.(See,for "6/ example,_Berton_Ԁ_Rouch_sarticleinSuggested "0 Reading,below).Inonestate,Texas,astate f# 1 lawrequiresthoseconsideringECTbewarned $4!2 aboutECTcausedmemoryloss.Butinmost $!3 statesthoseundergoingECTvoluntarilydoso d%"4 withoutanywarningofthebraindamageand  associatedmemorylossandintellectualimpair  menttowhichtheyareabouttobesub 0T jected"thepsychiatristsuggestingECTusually  beingthepersonleastlikelytogivethiswarning.   ` ECTadvocatessometimesclaimthe .R additionofanesthesia,amuscleparalyzingdrug,  andoxygenation(makingthe patientbreathair  or100%oxygen)preventECTcausedbrain ,P damage.Butneitheranesthesianormuscle   paralyzingdrugsnorbreathingoxygenstopwhat    theelectricitydoestothebrain.Autopsystudy, * N  _EEGs_,andobservationofthosewhohavere    ceivedECTindicatethosegivenECTwith ~   anesthesia,amuscleparalyzingdrug,andforced ( L  breathingofairoroxygenexperiencethesame   braindamage,memoryloss,andintellectual |  impairmentasthosegivenECTwithoutthese &J  modifications.    ` SomeECTadvocatessaythenewerbrief z  pulseECTdevicescauselessharmthanthesine $H  waveECTdevicesthatpredominateduntilthe   1980s.Incontrast,oneprominentECTsup x porter,psychiatryprofessorRichardD.Weiner, "F M.D.,Ph.D.,citesstudiesthat demonstrated  sinewaveandbidirectionalpulsestimulipro v ducedequivalentamnesticchanges(Behavioral  D &BrainSciences,March1984,p.18).Accord  ingtoChicagoMedicalSchool_psychiatry_Ԁpro t fessorRichardAbrams,M.D.,inhistextbook B ElectroconvulsiveTherapy,400voltsisatypical  peakvoltageproducedbythenewerbriefpulse r ECTdevices(p.113).Thisismorethandouble @  thehighestvoltagesproducedbytheoldersine ! wavemachines,suggestingthenewerbriefpulse p" ECTdevicesdogreaterharm. >#  ` Claimsthatthenew unilateralECTin $ whichtheelectricityisrunthroughonlyoneside n% oftheheadislessdamagingarealsofalse.The <& ideaistosparethepartsofthebrainresponsible ' forverbalandmathematicalskills(nonemo l( tional,computerlikeintellectualfunctions). :) Thesefunctionsarebelievedtobelocatedin * whatismisleadinglycalledthedominantsideof j+ thebrain.Oneproblemisthedifficultyof  8, determiningwhichsideofthebrainthisisinany  - particularindividual.Sometimespsychiatrists h!. inadvertentlyshockthesideofthebraintheyare "6/ tryingtospare.Thesideofthebrainintendedto "0 gettheelectricityinunilateralECTisdecep f# 1 tivelycalledthenondominantside.Thissup $4!2 posedlynondominantsideofthebrainisprimar $!3 ilyresponsibleforouremotionalityandsexual d%"4 ity,artistic,creative,andmusicalability,visual  andspatialperception,athleticability,uncon  sciousmentalfunctions,andsomeaspectsof 0T memory.Inthewordsofneurologyprofessor  OliverSacks,itis ofthemostfundamental  importancebecauseitprovides thephysical .R foundationsofthepersona,theselfwithout  which webecomecomputerlike(TheMan  WhoMistookHisWifeforaHatandOther ,P ClinicalTales,pp.5,20).Thesideofthebrain   _electroshocked_Ԁinsupposedlynondominant    hemisphereunilateralECTisatleastas * N  Аimportanttousastheotherpartsofourbrains.     ` PsychiatristswhouseECTareviolating ~   theirHippocraticoathtonotharmpatientsand ( L  areguiltyofaformofhealthcarequackery.   Unfortunately,mostpsychiatristshaveadminis |  teredECT,andgovernmenthasfailedtoliveup &J  toitsresponsibilitytoprotectusfromthisharm   fulandirrational treatment.Itisthereforeleft z  toyoutoprotectyourselfandyourlovedones $H  fromquackerysuchasECTbykeepingyourself   andyourlovedonesawayfrompractitioners x whouseit. "F , 45u@ " SuggestedReading   D PeterR._Breggin_,M.D.,Electroshock:ItsBrainDisablingEffects : (SpringerPublishingCo.,NewYork,1979).  PeterR._Breggin_,M.D.,ToxicPsychiatry:WhyTherapy,Empa  thy,andLoveMustReplacetheDrugs,Electroshock,andBio &  chemicalTheoriesofthe NewPsychiatry(St.MartinsPress, }! NewYork,1991). " LeonardRoyFrank(editor),TheHistoryofShockTreatment(self $ published,SanFrancisco,1978).Availabledirectlyfromthe i% authorfor$12postpaid:2300WebsterSt.,SanFrancisco, & California94115. _' John_Friedberg_,M.D., ElectroshockTherapy:LetsStopBlasting Uy) theBrain,PsychologyTodaymagazine,August1975,p.18. * John_Friedberg_,M.D.,ShockTreatmentIsNotGoodForYour , Brain:ANeurologistChallengesthePsychiatricMyth(Glide Ae- Publications,SanFrancisco,1976). . John_Friedberg_,M.D., ShockTreatment,BrainDamage,and 0 MemoryLoss:ANeurologicalPerspective,AmericanJournalof -Q1 Psychiatry,Vol.134,No.9(September1977),p.1010. 2 & q _Berton_Ԁ_Rouch_, AnnalsofMedicineAsEmptyasEve,New  4 Yorkermagazine,September9,1974,p.84.Thisbiographical !=5 article'q lԀdescribesinhorrifyingdetailtheextentandpermanenceof !6 memorylosscausedbyelectroshock therapy. "37 LawrenceStevensisalawyerwhosepracticehasincluded #!; representingpsychiatric patients.Hispamphletsarepublished v$!< ontheInternetatwww.antipsychiatry.organdotherwebsites. $"= Theyarenotcopyrighted.Youareinvitedtomakecopiesforthose l%"> youthinkwillbenefit.  % #? A\    5u4 , @VV"PsychiatrysElectroconvulsive { @ll "SHOCKTREATMENT  @"ACrimeAgainstHumanity  y @"byLawrenceStevens,J.D.  Whatusedtobecalledelectroshockorelectric b!  shocktreatment(EST)isnowusuallycalled     electroconvulsivetherapy,oftenabbreviated u  _ECT._ԀThetermismisleading,becauseECTis `   notaformoftherapy,despitetheclaimsofits    supporters.ECTcausesbraindamage,memory  s  loss,anddiminishedintelligence.Anarticlein ^   theMarch25,1993NewEnglandJournalof   Medicinesays Electroconvulsivetherapyis  q  widelyusedtotreatcertainpsychiatricdisorders, \   particularlymajordepression(p.839).The   March26,1990issueofNewsweekmagazine o  reportsthat electroconvulsivetherapy(ECT) Z ...isenjoyingaresurgence....anestimated  30,000to50,000Americansnowreceiveshock m therapyeachyear(p.44).Otherrecentesti X matesgoashighas100,000peryear.   ` InhistextbookPsychiatryforMedical k Students,publishedin1984,RobertJ. V А_Waldinger_,M.D.,says ECTsmechanismof  actionisnotknown....Aswiththeother i somatictherapiesinpsychiatry,wedonotknow T themechanismbywhichECTexertsitsthera  peuticeffects(pp.120&389).Psychiatrists g  claimunhappinessorsocalleddepressionis R! sometimescausedbyunknownbiologicalabnor " malitiesinthebrain.Theysaybysomeun e# knownmodeofactionECTcurestheseunknown P$ biologicalabnormalities.Thereisnogood % evidencefortheseclaims.Otherthanbycausing c& mentaldisorientationandmemoryloss,ECT N ' doesnothelpeliminatetheunhappyfeeling ( calleddepression.Thisistrueeventhough a) currentlyunhappinessor depressionistheonly L * А conditionforwhichECTisarecognized +  therapy.Indeed,ratherthaneliminating _, depression,thememorylossandlostmental J - abilitycausedbyECThascausedsomesubjected . toECTsomuchanguishtheyhavecommitted  ]/ suicideafterreceivingthe treatment. H! 0 A  ECTconsistsofelectricitybeingpassed ! 1 throughthebrainwithaforceoffrom70to400 "[!2 voltsandanamperageoffrom200milliamperes F#"3 to1.6amperes(1600milliamperes).The #"4 electricshockisadministeredforaslittleasa $Y#5 fractionofasecondtoaslongasseveralsec D%$6 onds.Theelectrodesareplacedoneachside