Ontario Coalition To Stop Electroshock
Organization profile published 1984
Year Published: 1984
Resource Type: Organization
Cx Number: CX2984
Abstract:
The ONTARIO COALITION TO STOP ELECTROSHOCK is working to abolish the procedure knwon as "Electroconvulsive Therapy," which it characterizes as a form of torture against psychiatric inmates. They cite evidence that Electroshock causes brain damage, memory loss, and disorientation. The COALITION notes that the death rate from Electroshock is one death per 1,000 people shocked. They note that women and the elderly are the prime candidates for this procedure.
In Ontario in 1982, at least 16,000 shock treatments were administered to 2,000 people in community and general hospitals and outpatient clinins. Many more were administered in the province's ten public psychiatric institutions.
The COALITION has assisted in one woman's legal battle to avoid having electroshock applied to her against her will. (She was successful, but the legal decision re-confirmed the right of the institution to shock patients without their consent. The woman now has to pay $1,000 in legal bills.)
The coaltion also wants input into a committee set up by Ontario's Minister of Health to evolve guidelines for electroshock use. To date, there has been no suggestion that the committee will hold public herarings or indeed consult with anyone.
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1984.
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