Latest news with #ECT
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cumbrian woman remembers lobotomy hospital fear
From a dispute with her parents over her choice of boyfriend, a woman found herself in a mental health hospital and undergoing a "ruthless" psychiatric sleep treatment without her consent. Decades later, and having spent 50 years with that same partner, she revealed how the fear of a lobotomy gave her the strength to bring her ordeal to an end. Mary Thornton was 21 when she was admitted to The Royal Waterloo Hospital in London in 1970, under the care of Dr William was there that Mrs Thornton was kept asleep for months at a time and was given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) - also known as shock therapy."ECT is horrible - it destroys your memory temporarily and can do so permanently," she said. Mrs Thornton, who now lives in Brampton near Carlisle, was working as a nurse when she met her boyfriend John, but her parents "completely disapproved" of the relationship and tried to stop had a nervous breakdown at that time and her parents took her to the psychiatric ward at the NHS hospital. Barbaric procedures The facility treated almost exclusively female patients who were kept in an induced slumber for months at a Sargant did not believe in talking therapy and mocked people who believed in it, Mrs Thornton used a mixture of drugs and ECT, moving on to lobotomy "if nothing else worked".She described the way in which the procedure was performed, with the aim to destroy the part of the brain that affects emotions and memory."You're lying in bed all the time, you don't get exercise. I leave it to your imagination to what happens to your insides."Although Dr Sargent's methods were not illegal at the time, they have now been discredited and victims, including Mrs Thornton, have since received an apology from the said while ECT is still used today in some circumstances, the way it was performed and the amount people were given was "ruthless", and was known for it."We used to talk about the possibility of lobotomies and I now know that's because William Sargant was famous for them," she said."I got quite scared and worried and thought 'this might happen to me, I need to get out of here'." 'Utterly obsessed' Prof Linda Gask, a consultant psychiatrist from Manchester University, said ECT was still used today for patients with very severe depression, particularly in older people and in post-natal she said: "It's not used in the way Sargant was using it, it's not used with the frequency he used it."The professor was a medical student in the 1970s, at the time when Dr Sargant was operating, but she did not see the types of treatment he used."I think he was at the extreme end of a particular approach to care," she said."He was utterly obsessed with physical treatments."He took absolutely no interest in women's psycho-social wellbeing and what was going on in their lives."For Mrs Thornton, the treatment made her temporarily forget John."[My boyfriend] was really upset, thought that that was it, that he would never see me again," she when her memories returned, she contacted him and the couple continued where they had left left her nursing job to work at Harrods, later becoming a teacher working with children with special she and John got married and moved to Cumbria where they had four couple were together for 50 years until John died a couple of years ago. 'Emotional mountain' Life was good and she put the ordeal of the Waterloo clinic out of her mind, until she saw Dr Sargant on TV in the late 80s or early said she "cracked up", as though she had had a then read a book with the testimony of a woman working as a doctor in the Caribbean who had had the same treatment and set out to find her."That was another big move towards getting over it," said Mrs Thornton of her meeting and friendship with a fellow effects of that treatment affected her friend throughout her life, including needing many operations to her back."I've had an unusual amount of bad health, I think it affected my health generally," Mrs Thornton her rehabilitation, she revisited the hospital as part of a documentary a number of years ago."That was a really emotional mountain that I climbed," she said."Even my husband cried."Now, Mrs Thornton features in a new book called Sleep Room: A Very British Scandal, by author and journalist Jon is one of six women offering her testimony of what it was like to be a patient at the facility."This whole thing has been the real drawing the line under it - it's been wonderful."It's completed the circle, is how I see it." 'Reset troubled minds' Mr Stock spent two and a half years researching what happened at the Royal Waterloo said Dr Sargant was the first "to flick a switch" on an ECT machine and "championed lobotomies". The psychiatrist had discovered that by keeping people asleep for months, patients could be given treatments they would not be otherwise able to tolerate, Mr Stock would carry out ECT three times a week, to "reset troubled minds" and "reprogram" them with more positive Stock said: "He believed in a very physical approach to problems of the mind."He said if you've broken your leg it should be splinted, if there's a problem with the brain it should be splinted too."Since Dr Sargant's practices came to light, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, which was responsible for the clinic, has issued an apology to his patients. A spokesman said: "Due to the historic nature of this service we unfortunately do not hold any records from this time, but we fully acknowledge the impact these treatments may have had on patients and families." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC seeks report on MRI and CT scan machines in SCB med college
1 2 3 Cuttack: Orissa high court has fixed June 19 to take further stock of progress in installation of an MRI and two CT scan machines among other high-end equipment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) had provided Rs 46.34 crore under its CSR initiative for procurement of the MRI machine for the neurosurgery department and CT scan machines for the radiodiagnosis department in Dec last year. The HC was hearing a PIL on the problems in SCB on Friday. Informing about the status of procurement of equipment, senior advocate Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, representing the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSMCL), informed the court that the purchase order for 3T MRI machine and two slice CT scan machines was issued on Jan 29. "Timeline for supply of the machines to SCB is by the end of May," Tripathy said. Taking it on record, the two-judge bench of Justices Sangam Kumar Sahoo and V Narasingh directed the superintendent of SCB to file an affidavit "regarding status of operation" of the MRI and CT scan machines when the matter is taken up for next hearing on June 19. The bench also directed the SCB superintendent to file by then an affidavit "regarding status of operation" of visual perimeter machine for the ophthalmology department. Though the ophthalmology department has received the recognition of Regional Eye Institute, the visual perimeter machine has not been functioning for the past five years as it needs repair or replacement. It is an essential tool for assessing the visual field of patients, particularly for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as glaucoma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health: This unbreakable military watch is making seniors happy this year Indestructible Smartwatch Undo Dr Goutam Satapathy, superintendent of SCB, who was present in virtual mode, stated that the purchase order for procurement of visual perimeter was issued on Jan 29 and the machine has already been supplied. "The machine has not only reached, but also has been made functional," Dr Satapathy added. On the court's query about procurement of computerised ultra-brief electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) machines for the Mental Health Institute, it was stated that the purchase order for 14 such machines will be issued by May 17 and timeline for supply will be third week of Aug. ECT is a treatment for severe mental health conditions that involves passing an electrical current through the brain to induce a controlled seizure Managing director of OSMCL, Dr Poma Tudu, who was present through virtual mode assured the court that "the procurement of such machines will be expedited". The bench further directed Tudu to file by the next date "an affidavit relating to the status of procurement of two echo machines" for department of cardiology "for patient care".
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
CCHR Exposes Invasive Brain Treatments: Mental Health Patients Pay the Price
LOS ANGELES, Calif., April 15, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), a leading mental health industry watchdog, has released a damning report detailing how psychiatry is blaming patients—rather than failed treatments—to justify a surge in brain stimulation interventions. 'When psychiatric drugs and therapy don't work, psychiatry rarely blames the treatment—it blames the patient, saying they are 'treatment-resistant,'' said Jan Eastgate, President of CCHR International. ''Treatment-resistant' isn't a diagnosis—it's a deflection. And it's being used to push invasive procedures like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).' These brain stimulation devices were 'cleared' by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or approved under Humanitarian Device Exemptions (HDEs), bypassing the rigorous testing normally required of most medical devices. Many were greenlighted based on the device delivering ECT—a practice known for causing brain damage, memory loss, and even death.[1] Even industry insiders acknowledge concerns. 'The precise physiological mechanisms of DBS are not yet fully understood,' admits one clinical review.[2] A professor of psychiatry at Brown University's Alpert Medical School, put it more starkly: 'This really is a kind of mind control.'[3] The term 'treatment-resistant' is a psychiatric sleight of hand, now used to justify a global neurostimulation industry projected to hit $51 billion by 2030. Labeling up to 60% of psychiatric patients as 'resistant' creates a false pretext for experimental interventions.[4] Meanwhile, 25% of patients develop drug tolerance within weeks, prompting ever-riskier 'solutions.'[5] Electroshock: Psychiatry's Recycled Blunder ECT involves sending up to 460 volts through the brain to trigger seizures. Contrary to PR spin, Eastgate says, experts report modern ECT is no safer—voltage levels are higher than when broken bones were common due to convulsions.[6] Attorney Jonathan Emord, who has challenged the FDA's approval processes, stated: 'All patients who receive ECT suffer memory loss and cognitive impairment… many forgetting much of their lives before treatment.' A 2020 peer-reviewed review concluded ECT has 'no place in evidence-based medicine.'[12] Brain-Altering Experiments in Disguise Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Electrodes are surgically implanted into the brain, powered by a device in the chest. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): Electrical stimulation delivered via electrodes wrapped around the vagus nerve near the heart. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Magnetic pulses are aimed at the brain over six weeks. New variants—rTMS, iTBS, cTBS—deliver hundreds of brain pulses per session with unknown long-term risks. No Proof of Disease, No Justification for Devices Despite the sophistication of these procedures, there is still no objective medical test to diagnose any psychiatric disorder. No blood test. No brain scan. No biomarker.[19] Dr. Thomas Insel, former director of the National Institute for Mental Health advised: 'Unlike our definitions of ischemic heart disease, lymphoma, or AIDS, the DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders] diagnoses are based on a consensus… not any objective laboratory measure.'[20] 'It's not the patient that's resistant—it's the system that's resistant to accountability,' Eastgate said. 'In any other field, if the intervention failed, the treatment would be reevaluated. But psychiatry doubles down, pushing more dangerous interventions instead.' CCHR urges policymakers to: CCHR, established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz has a record of reforms that include banning lethal Deep Sleep Treatment, outlawing ECT use on children in several U.S. states, and securing global recognition for patient rights. Today, the United Nations and WHO echo what CCHR has long fought for: coercion has no place in mental health care. To learn more, visit: Sources: [1] FDA, Final Rule on Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices, Federal Register, Dec. 26, 2018; WHO-OHCHR, 'Guidance on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation,' 9 Oct. 2023, p. 58, [2] Lavanya P. Sharma, et al., 'Deep brain stimulation – A primer for psychiatrists,' Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 104, Feb. 2025 [3] Lavanya P. Sharma, et al., 'Deep brain stimulation – A primer for psychiatrists,' Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 104, Feb. 2025 [4] 'Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions,' Mol Psychiatry, July 2021, [5] [6] Douglas G. Cameron, 'ECT: Sham Statistics, the Myth of Convulsive Therapy, and the Case for Consumer Misinformation,' The Journal of Mind and Behavior, Vol 15, Winter-Spring 1994, pp 177-198, [7] WHO- OHCHR, 'Guidance on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation,' 9 Oct. 2023, pp. 15, 58 and 59; [8] 'Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy Lawsuit – What You Should Know About ECT,' [9] Peter Simons, 'ECT Does Not Seem to Prevent Suicide,' Mad In America, 17 Feb. 2023, [10] Based on Freedom of Information Requests to 27 states [11] Tricare Encounter Data (TED) Non-Institutional (Outpatient) for Purchased Care claims, Data Extract as of 10/21/2016, Data received from CCHR International Freedom of Information Request, 2016 [12] Jonathon Emord, 'FDA unjustified in downgrading shock therapy brain injury risks,' The Washington Times, 12 Oct. 2016, [13] 'Brain Stimulation Therapies,' NIMH, accessed 21 Feb. 2011; Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD, 'Deep Brain Stimulation Side Effects,' News Medical Life Sciences, 22 July 2023, [14] Danielle Egan, 'Adverse Effects: The Perils of Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression,' Mad in America, 24 Sept. 2015 [15] [16] Natasha Tracy, 'Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for Treating Depression,' Healthy Place, 11 Jan. 2022, [17] FDA MAUDE report, Neurostar TMS, 07/14/2021, [18] [19] [20] MULTIMEDIA: Image link for media: Image caption: 'It's not the patient that's resistant—it's the system that's resistant to accountability. In any other field, if the intervention failed, the treatment would be reevaluated. But psychiatry doubles down, pushing more dangerous interventions instead.' – Jan Eastgate, President CCHR International. NEWS SOURCE: Citizens Commission on Human Rights Keywords: Religion and Churches, The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International CCHR, mental health industry watchdog, brain stimulation interventions, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Citizens Commission on Human Rights) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P125512 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
