The proceeding marked the first time Darrow could cross-examine Kalani, who was testifying for Assistant Attorney General Laurie Gatto on Monday.

Gatto had made the case then that Thomas was perceived to be much more manageable during the periods when he was receiving shock treatments.

If Pilgrim officials are successful, they will be able to administer the treatment to Thomas, who is also on mood stabilizing drugs, despite his wishes.

The facility seeks authorization for 40 more shock treatments.

It would be the fourth time they have obtained court approval for the procedure on him. Thomas has already received at least 57 treatments over a two-year span without his consent.

Under questioning by Darrow, Kalani also admitted that on Feb. 1, he signed a form for a court order for additional treatments without first examining Thomas, an act that Darrow said was a violation of state rules regarding treatment of mental illness.

Darrow also said the affidavit submitted to the court for additional shock treatments was only a stock form with spaces for the date, patient's name, name of the doctor and the disorder. It had no specific details concerning the patient.

Darrow asked Kalani how he could sign off on such a form, but Kalani said he based his decision partly on a conversation he had with Thomas' physician.

Testimony ended with Darrow asking Kalani, given that Thomas has called the procedure "torture" and "evil," how has it improved his life.

"Do you think you have improved the quality of life for Mr. Thomas?"

"I think we have," Kalani answered.

The hearing will continue next week.

March 28, 2001

Man Says More Rights Violated

by Zachary R. Dowdy
Staff Writer

In recent weeks, Paul Henri Thomas has become Long Island's most visible and vocal opponent to electroshock treatment, a procedure he has undergone at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center nearly 60 times against his will since he was confined there in May 1999.

His fight against the treatment has spilled into public forums, including news media and the Internet, but most notably state Supreme Court in Central Islip, as he challenges the state's application to give him 40 more shocks.

He has called the procedure a form of "torture," claiming doctors at Pilgrim are violating his constitutional right to refuse the treatment.

Now, Thomas, 49, and his attorneys say Pilgrim officials are violating another basic right-freedom to speak his mind about electroshock treatment-by monitoring his conversations with people who visit him at Pilgrim in Central Islip. And, they say, the restrictions that have been imposed on Thomas are in retaliation for his efforts to publicize his plight.

"Under the guise of seeing whether he is competent to do such things as sign papers or have a conversation, they are providing obstacles for his free communication to the public about his views on what's happening to him," said Dennis Feld, deputy chief attorney for the state Mental Hygiene Legal Service, which is representing Thomas.

Jill Daniels, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Mental Health in Albany, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Feld, whose agency filed the lawsuit Friday in Federal Court, said Pilgrim officials have placed Thomas under so-called one-to-one observation. That designation means Thomas cannot sign papers or have a conversation with anyone outside of his family or attorneys without a Pilgrim staff member present.

Thomas, who Feld said receives visitors almost daily, seeks a declaration from the court that his rights were violated, an order barring the restrictions, in addition to attorney fees and monetary damages.

The one-to-one designation, Feld said, is normally applied to patients who have been "acting out," or who do not have the mental capacity to sign papers.

The lawsuit comes as State Supreme Court Justice W. Bromley Hall tries to decide whether Thomas has the capacity to refuse the treatment and whether shock treatment is appropriate therapy for him.

April 17, 2001

Judge Continues Electroshock

Saying that expert witnesses for Paul Henri Thomas were "simply not credible," a State Supreme Court justice yesterday gave Pilgrim Psychiatric Center the green light to resume the electroshock treatments Thomas had hoped to stop.