Comments on: Forced ECT is Wrong in Minnesota, World

By: David Fox

David Fox — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:07:22 +0000

Even though I blasted him publicly at the time. He understands the dangers of neuraleptic medication. I sure he is better now. I had forced ect from dr. silver. But, it does not make him a bad doctor. He has the right idea but when I had him he was just starting out. He only had 2 years experience. Even though I blasted him publicly at the time. He understands the dangers of neuraleptic medication. Ect is the future and it has gotten better. But. he did give me too many. Howvever, he had my best inetrests in mind. He did not come from privalege like most doctors in america. He was in the Army in Isreal. Every one there has to go for a period of time. It is alot tougher to live in the middle east then it is in our country. He is an good doctor and he is only going to get better with experience. I have no idea how he veiws ect today. I have not spoken to him in two years. But, I do know he cares about his patiebts. The brain is very hard to undersand but we are getting better. He just needs to analylize patients better after each ect and maybe he is doing it today. Neuraleptic medication is the real danger. I realize`that today.

By: David Fox

David Fox — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:17:08 +0000

If I am a coward at least I put my real name up

By: Jason D

Jason D — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:13:21 +0000

Booooooo Hooo
ECT helps, your just a crazy coward off his meds.

By: klynn

klynn — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:08:43 +0000

OOOOOMMMMMGGGG!!!!!
You guys in MINN. need to LEAVE the STATE ASAP!!
Other states will auto send you to an overflowing animal psych ward for a few days MAYBE. Not enough beds usu. Then you can get out. In Mich., you can refuse meds and treatment, except in the STATE PSYCH wards, which you would’nt get in prob. if you tried. Other states are probably similar.
All I can say is PLEASE look at Dr. BREGGIN ESP. web site as ECT PERMANTLY DAMAGES YOUR BRAIN< and their is NO EVIDENCE IT WORKS!!!!! SO DO ALL PSYCH DRUGS< EVEN IF THE "SEEM" TO WORK FOR A FEW MONTHS< THEY WILL ALL EVENTUALLY STOP< AND IN THE MEAN TIME THE ALSO PERMANTLY DAMAGE YOU BRAIN & PERSONALLITY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BEYOND BELIEF!!

By: Denise

Denise — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:54:34 +0000

It’s surprising to me that there is not more of a public outcry about this. Having the police come and pick up a woman for forced ECT? Really? To help depression? Do they stop and think about the impact of the use of force on this individual’s psyche? Probably not.

It’s a reminder that people need to really research the mental health professionals they entrust themselves with. Not all support forced ECT, and I wouldn’t go to one who did.

By: AA

AA — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:43:25 +0000

Thanks Denise for posting that.

As I am sure you are well aware, Ms. Elizabeth Ellis, the subject of the forced ECT, has been forcibly committed to a psych hospital to have inpatient ECT because she didn’t show up for an outpatient session.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/ellis/ee-3

We called it torture in when it took place in Communist Russia. But in the US, we call it treatment for someone’s own good even if they vehemently protest.

John, please do a story on this like you did with Ray Sanford.

Thanks!

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:17:53 +0000

They’re at it again in Minnesota. I can’t believe they are doing this to people against their will. Terrorizing people to treat depression. Brilliant.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/ellis-ect/support-elizabeth

By: David Fox

David Fox — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:20:35 +0000

Shock treatments are evil. Especially, when they are forced on you. Three years ago I was at a state hospital without hope. A doctor approached me and said shock treatments would help and I would be free faster. I signed an agreement that would protect the hospital if anything bad happened. They started with Bilateral treatments. I was a zombie. For those that don’t know bilateral is, Its when they shock you on both sides of the brain. I would ask to speak to the doctor in order to slow down the treatments with no luck. A year later a I took them to court. They offered to drop the Jarvis order, if I agreed to another year of treatments. I stupidly agreed and they started giving me 3 ECT treatments a week. Even though they were giving me unilateral treatments, I was still a lot slower and memories were lost. They would bring me down in restraints to the operating room yelling and screaming. I asked to speak to the doctor in charge with no luck. They would say that it was out of their hands. Meanwhile, they were making a large sum of money off my medical insurance. The treatments made me worse and they increased my medicine as I was locked up every other month. In Jan 2010, I was assigned a new doctor and social worker. They took pity on me after 78 shock treatments and stopped them. Today, I have slight brain damage and no short term memory at all. I am hoping my brain heals completely. What I want all people to know is be careful if you choose ECT as a treatment. Make sure there is a overall limit to them and that they are low. Maybe 5 to 10 treatments total. I am convinced the hospital that did this to me was looking for some quick money. As I walk the city streets, people come up to me all of the time and I have no memory of them. I called Medicare to find out how much they were making of my insurance. The phone agent from Medicare told me that they made thousands of dollars per treatment. Nobody, can argue that money was not a factor. I just hope nobody goes through what I went through ever again.

By: David Fox

David Fox — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:48:14 +0000

I need help. There is a court order to adminster ECT against my will. It’s been over a year now that I have been getting this horrid treatment every week and if I end up in the hospital I get it three times a week. I took a deal that I should not have taken when they went to renew the Price Sheppard. They offered to drop the Jarvis but they said that I would get a limited amount of treatments. Since August 09 when I took the deal they have given me so many I can’t even count that high. Last time I was in the hospital (HCMC) in Oct 09 they gave me three in a week. The first time that week they had to put me in restraints to bring me down to the room where they perform the procedure. Dr. Silver is the Doctor that is doing this to me at HCMC in Minneapolis. After my third course that week my brain was so fried that they got scared and stop giving me the procedure for four weeks. However, on November 12, 2009 they are starting them up again against my will. Dr. Silver will not talk to me and he has been doing this for a year and a half. I do not get any benefit from the procedure and since I have been off the ECT for a month I have been fine and mentally stable. I get a high dose of haldol in shot form and have not missed a shot in 7 years. That should be enough. I do not understand why the give me so many ECT treatments with no benefit. I have lost memories of my past and cannot function in life with this over my head. Why is doctor Silver and HCMC do this to me ? What benefit do they get torturing me like this? Please help me if you can?
I can’t go on like this for the rest of my life. I should have a idea of when this is going to end. The haldol shot is all I need. If they want to give me more meds I would be willing to take them just to have this nightmare end.

Sincerely Yours,
David Joseph Fox
612 840 7981

By: What if Ray Sandford Were Your Brother? | Mental Health Blogs

What if Ray Sandford Were Your Brother? | Mental Health Blogs — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:03:51 +0000

[...] here on World of Psychology, nor is this the first time we’ve discussed the unusual case of Ray Sandford. What did Mr. Sandford do [...]

By: What if Ray Sandford Were Your Brother? | Momscreed - Pregnancy & Parenting Guide

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:40:40 +0000

[...] here on World of Psychology, nor is this the first time we’ve discussed the unusual case of Ray Sandford. What did Mr. Sandford do [...]

By: John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

John M. Grohol, Psy.D. — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:39:15 +0000

Yes, if people’s lives were a game, your score may indeed be correct.

But I don’t think people’s lives are a game for others to play with, especially when it comes to unwanted ECT treatments being given them against their will.

I agree that *all* currently allowed depression treatments can and should be OFFERED. But as you noted, that’s the key differentiation — offered. Not forced.

As for ECT itself, it’s always an option. But one that one should get all the information about its pros and cons before undergoing the procedure. I surely hope no one is making a decision about ECT based upon something they read on a single blog…

By: Mangry

Mangry — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:57:32 +0000

I know this is an old post, but I feel strongly enough about my opinion to post anyways
From the looks of it, John M. , Psy.D. has absolutely no concept of sever depression.
‘gardener’ is correct in saying that he has trivialized the matter significantly.
Additionally, I feel that in the case of severe depression, ECT should be OFFERED if other treatments have failed. If your depression is actually severe, memory loss is a very small price to pay. (When I was severely depressed, i asked about ECT because I was willing to sacrifice ALL my memories to get rid of the depression)
BTW, gardener: 1, Grohol: 0

By: What if Ray Sandford Were Your Brother? | World of Psychology

What if Ray Sandford Were Your Brother? | World of Psychology — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:04:09 +0000

[...] here on World of Psychology, nor is this the first time we’ve discussed the unusual case of Ray Sandford. What did Mr. Sandford do [...]

By: John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

John M. Grohol, Psy.D. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:19:59 +0000

You’re taking my words out of context of the larger argument — our understanding of why ECT works on the brain is akin to our understanding of why amputation (or leeches) “worked” for wounds or illness 200 years ago. It’s a procedure that I believe, with more knowledge and time, will eventually go the way of these other procedures, because while it “works,” it does so in a only the most generalized manner possible.

Indeed, it takes courage (and risk) to seek out any type of psychiatric treatment today, regardless of the type. And I said nothing of such courage, related to this or any other type of treatment. I also said nothing of shame. These are all things you appear to be reading into an entry about forced ECT treatment on a patient who doesn’t want it!

Sorry, but forced ECT is wrong and that’s primarily what this entry is about. I’m not going to argue any further about ECT’s benefits and drawbacks, which I think are pretty clear from this exchange already.