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Page 4 of 4
The consumer?
The shock "consumer" does not exist; "consumer" implies choice. Patients need to be able to get information from survivors before having shock, not after when it is too late. Educational materials developed by survivors must be available to patients who are incarcerated as well as outpatients. All currently available "educational" material such as videos was made by shock machine companies and/or doctors who make a living doing shock; such materials should clearly be labeled as shock advertisements and should in no case be used to obtain legal consent.
The family of the patient?
The only answer to that is "that depends". Families can be extremely toxic, extremely supportive, or anything in between. In some cases, such as when the patient objects, families should not be involved at all. In no case should hospital staff employ families to coerce or threaten patients or otherwise fraudulently obtain their signature on the consent form; however, the experience of our members suggests this practice is widespread. When the patient agrees, the family should have access to survivor-written materials or survivor videos. Informed consent for family members should include consideration of the possible ways the entire family may be affected if the patient has shock. Sometimes the patients agenda and the agenda of other family members are irreconcilable.
Which experts do you feel are crucial to a full examination of ECT?
Survivors, and survivor groups which are independent of industry influence and funding, are the experts on shock.
The current situation with respect to shock doctor "experts" is unethical and perhaps illegal. It is impossible to name one of these self-selected "experts"--- Fink, Weiner, Sackeim, Abrams, Kellner, Coffey, Welch, etc.---who does not own a shock machine company, receive "research" money from shock machine companies, make videos for shock machine companies, "consult" or work for these companies, make money defending shock doctors and shock machine companies in court, and/or make money directly from giving shock.
It is crucial that these "experts" not be included in a full examination of ECT.
next: Electroconvulsive Therapy Background Paper
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