www.MindFreedom.org DENDRITE -- August 23, 2000
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FORCED ELECTROSHOCK *HALTED* FOR KATHLEEN GARRETT

HOSPITAL SPOKESPERSON SAYS DUE TO A "DENDRITE" ALERT ISSUED LAST NIGHT, THEY WERE "DELUGED" BY PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER INVOLUNTARY ELECTROSHOCK

LITERALLY OVERNIGHT -- IN 16 HOURS -- THE HOSPITAL THAT WAS FORCIBLY ELECTROSHOCKING KATHLEEN GARRETT SUDDENLY ANNOUNCED THEY ARE DISCHARGING HER

THE 66-YEAR-OLD MOM IS SPARED THE PLANNED "TEN TO TWELVE MORE ELECTROSHOCKS"

CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER JULI LAWRENCE THANKS PUBLIC FOR SUPPORT: "I'M MOVED TO TEARS OF AWE."

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI -- After a hospital that has been forcibly electroshocking a 66-year-old mom was "deluged" with public comments, they suddenly reversed themselves. The hospital announced today they are discharging Kathleen Garrett tomorrow.

Earlier this week, DesPeres Hospital had administered two electroshocks to Kathleen Garrett against her will. The hospital had planned ten to twelve more forced electroshocks, but she will apparently be spared. Kathleen's son, Steve, said his mom is "very happy to hear she is going home."

The organizer of the campaign to save Kathleen Garrett was Juli Lawrence of the group "ect.org," one of 88 Sponsoring Groups in Support Coaltion International. Juli said that, "I'm moved to tears of awe. I'm so humbled by the outpouring and the concern of everyone. Mere words cannot express the emotion I feel. The best I can do is say thank you so very much, and Steve -- her son -- thanks you."

DesPeres Hospital spokesperson John Shelton told DENDRITE today that the hospital was "deluged" overnight by public comment opposing the electroshock. Shelton attributed the flood to the DENDRITE Internet alert sent out yesterday evening by Support Coalition International. Sixteen hours after the alert was issued, the hospital told Kathleen Garrett's son they were stopping the forced electroshock and discharging her at 2 pm tomorrow. When asked why, the hospital gave Steve no explanation.

Juli received copies of many of the public comments where were sent to Michele Meyer, the CEO DesPeres Hospital. "I cannot even begin to count how many there were in my e-mailbox. And I'm reading every last one!"

This corporate chain has a history of abuse and neglect. Tenet Health Care owns DesPeres Hospital. Under its former name, National Medical Enterprises, Tenet was convicted in the largest case of fraud, bribery and conspiracy, in U.S history, on June 28, 1994, largely because of psychiatric human rights violations. In addition to the record $379.mil. fine they are enjoined from owning or operating psychiatric or rehab. hospitals. This does not enjoin them from owning general hospitals that provide psych. services, such as DesPeres Hospital. You can thank Juli Lawrence for her work, and find out more about electroshock by contacting 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 .

"Kathleen Garrett and her son had lost in a court of law. But this family won in the court of public opinion," said Ted Chabasinksi, a survivor of forced electroshock at the age of six, who is now an attorney and is president of the Support Coalition International board of directors. "This is all about strength in numbers."

To find out more about Support Coalition, and to join, you can request a free sample copy of the award-winning paper newsjournal, _Dendron_. The summer issue has 64 pages of news about campaigns to win human rights in psychiatry, including resisting electroshock. For a sample, e-mail your postal mailing address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The theme of the next issue is "Youth Resistance to Psychiatric Oppression," with a deadline for material of September 30. You can now join Support Coalition on the web, via a secure web server at http://www.MindFreedom.org. For details, see below.

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.