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State records show improper, excessive use
of electroshock therapy in
hospitals
03/18/97
1997 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
FORT WORTH (AP) - Electroshock therapy to ease depression was improperly
used by some hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to a
published report.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in Tuesday's editions that hospitals
gave some patients too many treatments, administered the therapy despite
patient refusals and performed inadequate medical screenings.
The violations, which occurred in late 1995 and last year, were uncovered by
a random audit of hospital records by the state Health Department and have
been corrected, officials said.
Doctor's Hospital in Dallas gave two elderly, terminally ill patients
electroconvulsive therapy even though they were medically unstable or would
not benefit from the treatment, according to Health Department records. Both
died of medical complications within two weeks of their last ECT.
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