End shock therapy

THE recent report for 2002 by the inspector of mental hospitals makes disturbing reading in one respect in particular — 1,021 psychiatric patients have been ‘treated’ with so-called electro-convulsive therapy (ECT).

How passing an electrical current through someone’s brain can be described as therapeutic or helpful in treating the symptoms of ‘mental illness’ is anyone’s guess.

This inhuman and demeaning ‘treatment’ should be ended. It does not work and is known to cause brain damage. It is mind disabling and debilitating. Psychiatric nurses should refuse to be involved in administering ECT.