Trending...
- Advanced TeleSensors Appoints AgeTech Innovator Tiffany Wey, MBA as Vice President of Sales & Marketing
- Most Americans Choose Their Water Brand Because of Its Natural Source — Yet Fewer Than 3 in 10 Understand What Spring Water Actually Is
- Project Pretzel Introduces a New System for Running Renovation Projects with Built In Contracts and Real Time Execution
Mental health industry watchdog, CCHR, calls for increased legal action to protect vulnerable youth from abuses in psychiatric facilities.
LOS ANGELES - ncarol.com -- Citizens Commission on Human Rights International, a mental health industry watchdog, welcomes the increasing numbers of attorneys representing survivors of the troubled teen treatment system, seeking justice for the abuse many have suffered in behavioral hospitals. On August 27, three Alabama law firms filed a lawsuit against a for-profit behavioral hospital for youths, detailing the severe physical and emotional abuse inflicted on a 17-year-old boy, identified as "M.C.," while he was a resident there in 2023.[1]
"What M.C. endured is a betrayal of trust, and we are committed to seeking justice on his behalf," attorney Tommy James said, adding, "No child should endure what this child and others have faced at this facility. The conditions and treatment are horrendous, and those responsible must be held accountable. It is heartbreaking and enraging to see children subjected to such inhumane treatment."
A recent U.S. Senate Finance Committee report "Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities" (RTFs) noted: "Children, entrusted to the care of behavioral health providers, are routinely subjected to the risk of abuse…." Further, children at RTFs suffer "sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional abuse at the hands of staff. Mistreatment is endemic to the conditions at RTFs."[2]
As testimony to this, since the report's release, a behavioral health associate at an Arkansas facility was arrested and charged with sexual indecency with a child patient. A lawsuit was filed against an Illinois RTF alleging that a staff member repeatedly sexually assaulted a 24-year-old patient. Moreover, one major behavioral hospital chain is paying a $400 million settlement in New Mexico related to children placed in a foster care setting where they were repeatedly sexually abused.[3]
CCHR says the abuses may be far greater. While the Senate report does not specify how many adolescents are subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), it's known that several of the investigated hospital chains deliver it. For instance, at least three psychiatric hospitals downplay the risks of ECT while promoting unproven and potentially deceptive theories. As of 2018, one such facility in Florida conducted 900-1,000 ECT treatments annually and claims that the 460 volts of electricity delivered through the body is safe.
More on ncarol.com
Such claims of "safety" are particularly concerning when considering the financial incentives tied to ECT. The adverse effects of ECT can prolong the length of a hospital stay; thus, its delivery can increase profits.[4] The Senate report addresses how "At its core, the RTF model typically optimizes profit over the wellbeing and safety of children. The rampant civil rights violations that children experience in RTFs are a direct consequence of the industry's model."
ECT continues to be administered despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending it be banned for use in children and be considered torture if given without consent. A Tennessee RTF misleadingly claims on its website that ECT induces a "minor seizure that can help the brain reset itself…." and "modifies the neural circuitry and chemistry of the brain." However, no clinical trials exist to substantiate these claims.
Furthermore, the site falsely claims that ECT does not erase memories and blames any "brief memory impairment" on the anesthesia used to administer ECT, which "often returns over time." However, experts clearly link the memory loss to the electroshock.
John Read, Ph.D., who has researched the impact of ECT in many studies, points out that in 2023, the WHO and United Nations said, "ECT is not recommended for children, and this should be prohibited through legislation." Yet, he adds, "ECT is still being used on children and adolescents" and it is "probable that developing brains are particularly susceptible to the memory loss caused by ECT." Among ECT's many adverse effects, he wrote, "is the long-term memory loss found in between 12 and 55 percent of patients. The American Psychiatric Association admits that 'ECT can result in persistent or permanent memory loss.'"[5]
In a recent landmark decision, the California Supreme Court says there are serious risks from ECT like memory loss and brain damage. The court's decision emphasized that patients have the right to be fully informed about the risks of their treatments, and ECT device manufacturers can be held accountable for failing to disclose these risks.[6]
The troubling association between ECT and brain damage is further compounded by dozens of lawsuits that have been filed across the United States by survivors harmed by electroshock devices. ECT and brain damage have been inextricably linked since their inception, according to one Los Angeles law firm.[7]
More on ncarol.com
CCHR says more lawsuits are needed to help protect troubled youths from not only sexual and physical abuse in RTFS and youth "wilderness camps," but also the prescribed treatments they are given.
CCHR is calling for urgent and comprehensive action to protect vulnerable youth from pervasive abuses within psychiatric facilities. It urges increased legal scrutiny and accountability for institutions that administer harmful treatments, such as ECT and psychotropic drugs.
For those affected, CCHR offers a reporting form on its website where patients can confidentially REPORT ABUSE.
About CCHR: Established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and eminent professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, CCHR has helped achieve hundreds of laws that empower patients with informed consent rights and ban damaging treatments.
Sources:
[1] "Alabama youth home staff instigated fights, gambled with residents as teen was brutalized, lawsuit claims," AOL.com, 27 Aug 2024, www.al.com/news/2024/08/alabama-youth-home-staff-instigated-fights-gambled-with-residents-as-teen-was-brutalized-lawsuit-claims.html
[2] Senate Finance Committee Staff Report, "Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities," 12 June 2024, p. 11
[3] "Dem Candidate Lobbies For Healthcare Company Found to 'Put Profits Ahead of Children's Safety'" Nevada Globe, 12 Aug 2024
[4] Draper B, Luscombe G. Quantification of factors contributing to length of stay in an acute psychogeriatric ward. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 1998; 13:1–7
[5] John Read, Ph.D., "Is It Time to Ban Electroconvulsive Therapy for Children?" Psychology Today, 17 Nov. 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-through-the-looking-glass/202311/is-it-time-to-ban-electroconvulsive-therapy-for
[6] "Wisner Baum Prevails in Landmark Win for Patient Autonomy in CA Supreme Court Ruling," Wisner Baum, 20 June 2024, www.wisnerbaum.com/blog/2024/june/wisner-baum-prevails-in-landmark-win-for-patient/
[7] www.wisnerbaum.com/defective-medical-device-injuries/ect/
"What M.C. endured is a betrayal of trust, and we are committed to seeking justice on his behalf," attorney Tommy James said, adding, "No child should endure what this child and others have faced at this facility. The conditions and treatment are horrendous, and those responsible must be held accountable. It is heartbreaking and enraging to see children subjected to such inhumane treatment."
A recent U.S. Senate Finance Committee report "Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities" (RTFs) noted: "Children, entrusted to the care of behavioral health providers, are routinely subjected to the risk of abuse…." Further, children at RTFs suffer "sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional abuse at the hands of staff. Mistreatment is endemic to the conditions at RTFs."[2]
As testimony to this, since the report's release, a behavioral health associate at an Arkansas facility was arrested and charged with sexual indecency with a child patient. A lawsuit was filed against an Illinois RTF alleging that a staff member repeatedly sexually assaulted a 24-year-old patient. Moreover, one major behavioral hospital chain is paying a $400 million settlement in New Mexico related to children placed in a foster care setting where they were repeatedly sexually abused.[3]
CCHR says the abuses may be far greater. While the Senate report does not specify how many adolescents are subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), it's known that several of the investigated hospital chains deliver it. For instance, at least three psychiatric hospitals downplay the risks of ECT while promoting unproven and potentially deceptive theories. As of 2018, one such facility in Florida conducted 900-1,000 ECT treatments annually and claims that the 460 volts of electricity delivered through the body is safe.
More on ncarol.com
- New from Regal House Publishing, The Meaning of Fear, a psychological crime drama
- New plusOne Research Finds the Orgasm Gap Is a 30-Point Chasm — and Confirms It Isn't Biology
- CCHR Report Links 145 Violent Incidents to Psychiatric Drug Exposure, Urges National Oversight and Action
- Food Journal Magazine Unveils Its Latest 'Best of Los Angeles' Culinary Discoveries
- Boston Industrial Solutions Launches Natron® 717S Series: A New Flexible UV LED Ink for Ricoh GH2220 Printheads
Such claims of "safety" are particularly concerning when considering the financial incentives tied to ECT. The adverse effects of ECT can prolong the length of a hospital stay; thus, its delivery can increase profits.[4] The Senate report addresses how "At its core, the RTF model typically optimizes profit over the wellbeing and safety of children. The rampant civil rights violations that children experience in RTFs are a direct consequence of the industry's model."
ECT continues to be administered despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending it be banned for use in children and be considered torture if given without consent. A Tennessee RTF misleadingly claims on its website that ECT induces a "minor seizure that can help the brain reset itself…." and "modifies the neural circuitry and chemistry of the brain." However, no clinical trials exist to substantiate these claims.
Furthermore, the site falsely claims that ECT does not erase memories and blames any "brief memory impairment" on the anesthesia used to administer ECT, which "often returns over time." However, experts clearly link the memory loss to the electroshock.
John Read, Ph.D., who has researched the impact of ECT in many studies, points out that in 2023, the WHO and United Nations said, "ECT is not recommended for children, and this should be prohibited through legislation." Yet, he adds, "ECT is still being used on children and adolescents" and it is "probable that developing brains are particularly susceptible to the memory loss caused by ECT." Among ECT's many adverse effects, he wrote, "is the long-term memory loss found in between 12 and 55 percent of patients. The American Psychiatric Association admits that 'ECT can result in persistent or permanent memory loss.'"[5]
In a recent landmark decision, the California Supreme Court says there are serious risks from ECT like memory loss and brain damage. The court's decision emphasized that patients have the right to be fully informed about the risks of their treatments, and ECT device manufacturers can be held accountable for failing to disclose these risks.[6]
The troubling association between ECT and brain damage is further compounded by dozens of lawsuits that have been filed across the United States by survivors harmed by electroshock devices. ECT and brain damage have been inextricably linked since their inception, according to one Los Angeles law firm.[7]
More on ncarol.com
- ZionSphere Launches Volunteer Program Opens Remote & Local Opportunities for Faith-Minded America
- 5 Things NYC Courier Services Won't Tell You About How Same-Day Delivery Actually Works
- Tropidelic Links Up With International Reggae Star Collie Buddz and Eli Mac for Feel-Good Breakthrough Single "Follow Your Nature"
- Save 15 Percent on Florida Keys Accommodations with KeysCaribbean's 'Advance Purchase Rate Discount'
- Atelier 411 Studios and Columbus Fashion Council Present Red Carpet Experience at Gateway Film Center for The Devil Wears Prada 2
CCHR says more lawsuits are needed to help protect troubled youths from not only sexual and physical abuse in RTFS and youth "wilderness camps," but also the prescribed treatments they are given.
CCHR is calling for urgent and comprehensive action to protect vulnerable youth from pervasive abuses within psychiatric facilities. It urges increased legal scrutiny and accountability for institutions that administer harmful treatments, such as ECT and psychotropic drugs.
For those affected, CCHR offers a reporting form on its website where patients can confidentially REPORT ABUSE.
About CCHR: Established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and eminent professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, CCHR has helped achieve hundreds of laws that empower patients with informed consent rights and ban damaging treatments.
Sources:
[1] "Alabama youth home staff instigated fights, gambled with residents as teen was brutalized, lawsuit claims," AOL.com, 27 Aug 2024, www.al.com/news/2024/08/alabama-youth-home-staff-instigated-fights-gambled-with-residents-as-teen-was-brutalized-lawsuit-claims.html
[2] Senate Finance Committee Staff Report, "Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities," 12 June 2024, p. 11
[3] "Dem Candidate Lobbies For Healthcare Company Found to 'Put Profits Ahead of Children's Safety'" Nevada Globe, 12 Aug 2024
[4] Draper B, Luscombe G. Quantification of factors contributing to length of stay in an acute psychogeriatric ward. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 1998; 13:1–7
[5] John Read, Ph.D., "Is It Time to Ban Electroconvulsive Therapy for Children?" Psychology Today, 17 Nov. 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-through-the-looking-glass/202311/is-it-time-to-ban-electroconvulsive-therapy-for
[6] "Wisner Baum Prevails in Landmark Win for Patient Autonomy in CA Supreme Court Ruling," Wisner Baum, 20 June 2024, www.wisnerbaum.com/blog/2024/june/wisner-baum-prevails-in-landmark-win-for-patient/
[7] www.wisnerbaum.com/defective-medical-device-injuries/ect/
Source: Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Filed Under: Health
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- Five-star Review for Berklee School of Music Textbook
- ZionSphere Launches Multi-Platform Virtual Reality Faith Experience Built from Rocky Mount, NC
- Rocky Mount Founder Builds Virtual Reality Bible Experiences After Receiving Divine Directive
- Advanced TeleSensors Appoints AgeTech Innovator Tiffany Wey, MBA as Vice President of Sales & Marketing
- Daniel Kaufman Real Estate Venture LoneStar Kaufman Development Partners Expands
- Brian D Chase Selected to the 2026 Nation's Top One Percent Personal Injury Lawyers
- Most Americans Choose Their Water Brand Because of Its Natural Source — Yet Fewer Than 3 in 10 Understand What Spring Water Actually Is
- Unlocking Multi-Sector Growth; Graphite Acquisition Powers EV Entry While Streamlined Consumer Snack Business Fuels Growth: (N A S D A Q: SOWG)
- Permian Museum Adds Carbonaceous Chondrite Reference Photos
- L2 Aviation Receives FAA STC and PMA for Klatt Works SAVED™ Smoke Vision System
- Axencis Launches Performance Partnership for Brand Protection
- CCHR Says New OIG Report Raises Concerns about Drugging Elderly with Antipsychotics
- Project Pretzel Introduces a New System for Running Renovation Projects with Built In Contracts and Real Time Execution
- Plated Possibilities Launches Luxury Culinary Series Celebrating Black Women Chefs In Charlotte
- Generous Anonymous Gift Brings New Life to Piedmont Crossing Dog Park
- Freedomtech Solutions creates 'Global Data Centre Network (IDCN)'
- Dual-Engine Growth Strategy Ignited: AI Infrastructure Breakout Meets Scalable Circular Economy Expansion: Marwynn Holdings, Inc. (N A S D A Q: MWYN)
- Super Bowl Champion Marvel Smith Inspires Launch of MVP-IQ Platform to Help Football Players Develop and Get Recruited Like the Pros
- The Glass Guru comes to North Raleigh -- we're bringing clarity to the Carolinas!
- The Future of Classic Cars in a World Moving Beyond Gasoline: How Electric Conversion Is Saving America's Automotive Heritage