FORTY PERCENT of ECT patients (excluding those in Harold Sackeim’s research studies) in the state of New York receive ECT under court orders, according to a new survey released by the state.

Thanks to the hard work of NY Assemblyman Marty Luster, the state of New York took some action after last year’s public relations disaster and the awareness raised over New York’s increasing use of forced electroshock.

He held hearings, and following those hearings, Assemblyman Luster requested that the state Commission on Quality of Care study electroshock in New York.

The result of that is a new study, “Commission on the Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled.” In August 2001, the Commission conducted a survey. They were not mandated to look at efficacy, but they were supposed to look at the legal issues involved.

During the time studied, two patients in five were given ECT via a court order, says the survey. (Similar to the cases that caught the attention of Assemblyman Luster after they fought back….most people don’t fight back, having few support systems and a fear that there’s no chance of winning the fight.)

However, at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, 70 percent of ECT patients received ECT under court order.

Read the results of the survey

Added: Jul 22, 2006 12:18 pm | Trackback URI |  Email This Post  | Print