www.MindFreedom.org DENDRITE -- August 23, 2000
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SIXTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MOTHER IS BEING ELECTROSHOCKED **RIGHT NOW** AGAINST HER WILL!

SHE RECEIVED FORCED ELECTROSHOCK MONDAY, AND TODAY. "TEN TO TWELVE MORE PROCEDURES ARE PLANNED."

YOU CAN E-MAIL TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL TO FIGHT FOR KATHLEEN GARRETT'S HUMAN RIGHTS!

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI -- A 66-year-old woman is currently undergoing forced electroshock, against her own wishes and those of her family. Kathleen Garrett received involuntary electroshock on Monday, August 21, 2000 and today, August 23, 2000. Between ten to twelve more forced shocks are planned.

Kathleen Garrett has endured a lot in the last year -- two cancer surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Depressed, she voluntarily checked herself into Southpoint Hospital in St. Louis, where her doctor, Ricky Mofsen, informed her he would be performing "electroshock therapy."

She refused the electroconvulsive therapy treatments, having undergone shock in the past. The doctor immediately took her case to a judge, who ruled he could perform the treatments against her will.

Steve Vance, the woman's son and primary care giver, brought an attorney to the hearing. Vance said his mother was heavily drugged and deliberately unkempt as they wheeled her in on a gurney to meet the judge. The judge ruled the woman was competent, but that the forced electroshock could go on as planned.

"She's gone through so much in the last year," Vance said. "I'm so afraid this latest is going to just do her in and ruin her mind completely. I tried discussing this all with her doctor, but he avoids me. In fact, they weren't going to tell me she was having the shock treatments at all. My mother has repeatedly insisted she does not want these treatments."

Vance is a licensed social worker and says the doctor has refused to meet with him to discuss his mother's treatment. He added that during the first shock, a few days ago, the machine broke, and they transferred his mother to DesPeres Hospital. At the time of this news release, she has had two treatments and is scheduled for ten to twelve more.

"When are they going to stop?" asked Vance. "When they've totally fried her mind?"

"People like to say forced electroshock doesn't happen in the United States," said ect activist Juli Lawrence, also of St. Louis. "It happens much more than we'd like to believe. In the last year, I've stepped in on several forced electroshock cases. In every case, the patient was perfectly competent, aware, and able to make an informed decision. But because these doctors made up their minds to forge ahead, they weren't allowed to have a choice."

The federal Center for Mental Health Services and the President's National Council on Disability (NCD) have both released reports admitting that, from time to time, some individuals in the USA do receive the controversial electroshock procedure *against* their expressed wishes. Earlier this year, the NCD issued a call to end electroshock all together. Lawrence said that people are encouraged to contact her organization via her website, http://www.ect.org or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"How about the many people out there who don't have access to the Internet, or don't have a family member or friend who is willing to do everything possible in the way that Steve Vance has? Forced electroshock is real. It is happening across America. And it's got to stop," Lawrence said.

ACTION *** ACTION *** ACTION

Here's an easy way you can help now:

Email, call and/or fax to the CEO of the hospital that is giving this woman forced electroshock:

Michele Meyer, CEO
DesPeres Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: (314) 966-9135
Fax: (314) 966-9274

Please keep your message civil.
Please COPY your message to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

To: Michele Meyer
Copy:

"Stop forced electroshock in DesPeres Hospital! Stop the forced electroshock of Kathleen Garrett! Even her son and caretaker is against this forced electroshock! I request an immediate response."

Optional: Include your name, address, phone, e-mail.