Stop the Forced Electroshock of Ray Sandford

3:45 pm PDT, Aug 15, Tiffany Light, Pennsylvania
How can this be happening to people in the "land of the free" forced electroshock therapy is cruel and unusual.

Words cannot express the damage this does to someone.

5:29 pm PDT, Aug 14, Melissa Hollander, New York
I'm 26 years old and had my first hospitalization at 17, which led to me being diagnosed as depressed...over the next 9 years, I've also received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (which I currently have). I've been on more meds than I can count, from Lithium which led to me shaking like someone who has Parkinson's disease, to Risperdal which caused me to lactate. I CANNOT possibly imagine what someone who experiences ECT goes thru. To me, it's extremely inhumane!!!

I would feel angry, betrayed, and hopeless.

4:02 pm PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Utah

9:48 am PDT, Aug 11, Marty Evans, Illinois

9:31 am PDT, Aug 11, Rebeckah Neer, Illinois
I Suffer From Biploar Disorder II And Depression And I Sympathize Deeply With Mr. Sandford. I Have Had My Own Mistreatment From A Psychiatrist And It Should Never Be Tolerated! Just Because We May Have A Mental Disorder Does NOT Mean We Cannot Have Control Of Our Rights! A Person Has The Right To Their Own Medical Advocacy And If Not Then A Proper, Trustworthy Licensed Medical Advocate Or Family Member Or Friend Should Have Partial Shared Control So Abuse Does Not Happen Anymore!

This Has Happened To My Grandmother Many, Many Years Ago, Shock Therapy, Etc. And To Learn It Is Still Going On Sickens Me To No End! We Are Not Guinea Pigs Nor Experiments! We Are Not Just Another Case File And Number! We Are Human Beings With Thoughts And Feelings And Emotions And RIGHTS! Trees Have More Rights Than We Do, Ridiculous!

8:03 am PDT, Aug 10, Name not displayed, New York
Every patient deserves a second opinion regarding his care, his medicine, and his treatments. One can't take away recourse for change and individual rights without destroying the individual and the nation that he inhabits.

11:47 am PDT, Jul 27, Name not displayed, Illinois

6:46 pm PDT, Jul 26, Ron Stemetzki, New Jersey

3:45 pm PDT, Jul 19, David Oaks, Oregon
See more info about the Ray Sandford campaign at www.mindfreedom.org/ray

9:38 pm PDT, Jul 15, Name not displayed, Tennessee

6:40 pm PDT, Jul 13, Nebiahlia Anderson, New Mexico

8:34 pm PDT, Jul 10, Tim Harris, New York
The people is the system have proved themselves many times over to be too ignorant and ill and corrupt to have the power to do this to anyone. That's the sad truth. Shouldn't you fight for basic human rights for all and fight against Americans being sold like sheep at a slaughter house? Because that's what's happening. Now, what are you going to do about it?

2:31 pm PDT, Jul 10, Lynne Jones, Virginia
Forced " Electroshock Therapy" is a crime against humanity!

If this happened to me or one of my family members I would be devistated.

12:17 pm PDT, Jul 10, Michael Haan, Washington
Up to the point that a national consensus was formed regarding recovery from mental illness, it might have been somewhat understandable that forced treatment of any kind was "reasonable". However, since we have now discovered that recovery and resiliency work best outside of forced treatment and with the implementation of "self-direction" it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to be forcing anyone on any kind of treatment against their will. The shocking of Mr. Sandford's brain is unnecessary, damaging, and needs to stop.

An Assistant Attorney General named Malcolm Ross in the State of Washington has essentially hijacked the judiciary with his idea of forced treatment. I have not seen my former wife for almost seven years so that they can continue to force her on the very neuroleptics which have already damaged without my objecting presence. The extent of this is so profound that the Courts go along with anything this guy says even if her life is going to be cut by 25 years and she would have been more likely to recover if they had helped her come off the toxic drugs. Having someone's loved one taken to be put to death in a chemical environment is so horrible I will probably never get over it.

10:07 am PDT, Jul 10, Cheryl Richard, California
Forced electroshock and forced drugging are human rights abuses, the people involved in this should be criminally prosecuted.

The thought of this happening to me or a loved one is nightmarish.

9:52 pm PDT, Jun 29, Deya Harney, Canada

9:12 am PDT, Jun 29, Suzanne Puckett, Ohio

7:33 am PDT, Jun 29, Yusuf AHmed, Denmark
free Ray Sandford

free Ray Sandford

8:47 pm PDT, Jun 21, Tatiana Costa, Brazil

8:20 pm PDT, Jun 20, Name not displayed, Colorado
Freedom and justice for all??? Involuntary ECT is not personal freedom; ECT is not justice, it is punishment. Why has this barbaric practice not been condemned and relegated to the ranks of other out-dated modes of controlling other peoples' behavior? If a person is not a danger to themself or society-at-large, then leave them alone and let them decide what "treatment" they want, if any. Who let the people in the middle of the bell curve get to decide what to do to the people at the ends of the spectrum?

5:05 pm PDT, Jun 8, Alek Shapiro, Massachusetts

8:45 pm PDT, Jun 2, Latifa Ring, Texas
This is happening because of Adult Guardianships in America that can strip a human being of all of their civil rights ! They cannot even deny getting electro shock therapy !!! What have we come to in this Country where you can lose all you rights and be shocked against your will ??? Shame on America for deny people their civil and constitutional rights in guardianship. Sign our Petition to stop Guardianship Abuse and Elder Abuse ! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stop-elder-abuse-and-guardianship-abuse-in-our-courts

5:27 pm PDT, May 19, Ahmed M, United Kingdom
Stop this... maybe is Ray today but 2morrow is you or your family members.

man it didt happen already in 1999, visit freeabdulle.info

4:30 pm PDT, May 18, Michael Terkelsen, Denmark

5:12 am PDT, May 11, Lucienne Lane, New York

4:44 am PDT, May 11, Chelsea Habighorst, Florida
Government control, dont let them do this! inhumane!

3:42 am PDT, May 9, Name not displayed, Tennessee
I have known Ray for many years. I have never known him to be harmful to himself or others.

If they did it to me it would probably kill me. If I had no way to increase my health through treatment I would rather die. If no one could help me die, I feel I would help myself die. At $25000 a treatment there must be thousands of alternatives which would cost less and work as well. Yhe issue isn't that ther eis no money to help Ray . . .The issue is who gets it. What benifit is his doctors saying he receives from the treatment? Do his Records show him to be "getting better"? or worse?

6:54 pm PDT, May 8, Susan Weimer, New York
I am a retired Liscened Social Worker employed by the NYS OMH. I have witnessed the devestaing effects of psychotropic drugs and electo shock therapy. I have gone as far as testyfying in court on behalf of a patient refusing ECT. I was severely reprimanded by administration for doing so and told that MHLS "is our adversary. In the future you will refrain from assisting this adversary in any way shape or manner". I simply responded that human rights as a whole is an "ethical" issue. I am bound by the ethics of my profession to advocate for and protect the human rights of my patients. I continued as a strong and, at times, "powerful" advocate though out my NYS OMH years of employment, dispite ongoing attempts to "break my spirit". When I accepted the PROVIDER-RECOVERY AWARD, I acknowleged that, "Yes I am a rebel, a rebel with a cause. My spirit will never be broken!" ECT must be abolished. The "medical Model" itself promotes and condones "cruel and unuusal punishment"....the ultimate corrupt "conspiracy of silence".

2:27 pm PDT, May 8, Dorothy Caruso, California
Ray Sanford is living a nightmare close to what the Jews in the Holocaust did under Josef Mengele, who tortured innocent people who had committed no crime but carried out the torture because it benefited the doctor.

5:59 pm PDT, May 7, George Davis, New York

10:44 am PDT, May 7, Karen Sasaki, Utah
This is outrageous... NO (O$) ONE should harm or be making a profit with enforced electroshock. Where are the human rights here?

This occurred in my family as a result of a doctor's advice... with disastrous results -- lifelong drug habits (to avoid the recurring side effects) and they were NEVER restored to a state of good health! Mankind needs relief not punishment.

7:14 pm PDT, May 6, Donna Gillman, Wisconsin
Stop this now!

11:03 pm PDT, Apr 27, Hans Lisowski, Germany

6:13 am PDT, Apr 26, Name not displayed, Washington
For more impact, add a personal comment here

How would you feel if this happened to you or a loved one?

3:49 am PDT, Apr 26, Ari R. Kolman, Canada
Electroshock is not safe hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY IS THIS STILL HAPPENING!!! What’s wrong with the Government allowing this to happen here.. … I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. . I Beg all Intelligent and Responsible People to Please Stop Letting This Happen STILL.. How can you when your kids and your friend’s kids and your kids kids and your kids friends kids and so forth; Need you to stand up and take action daily for their own safety.. WE’VE GOT TO STOP THE MADNESS AND IT STARTS WITH GOVERNMENTS ALLOWING THESE TERRIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN!! .. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted.

Give the Electroshock treatments to Ex President Bush and his administration, as well as all the other Corrupt Polititions, and Animal Abusers out there... LEAVE THE GOOD PEOPLE ALONE ALREADY!!!! I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted. I’m sickened and disgusted.

6:40 am PDT, Apr 17, Birgit Bratseth, Norway

12:43 pm PDT, Apr 14, Name not displayed, Canada
No one should be administered any sort of medical attention against their will. Human determinancy over one`s selfhood is very important.

Terrible and I am really glad there is a group standing up against this.

2:00 am PDT, Apr 14, Yana Yatkovskaya, California
Yana Yatkovskaya

Electroshock kills!

1:51 am PDT, Apr 14, April Keel, California

11:45 pm PDT, Apr 10, Nadene Rehnby, Canada

7:06 pm PDT, Apr 10, Chris Dubey, Connecticut

11:23 pm PDT, Apr 9, Jerry Gillman, Illinois

10:33 pm PDT, Apr 9, Karen Wagner, Tennessee
I am a registered nurse and moved to Tennessee over a year ago--I lived in Texas for 18 years and worked in several psychiatric units part-time over those years. One facility did a few ECT treatments. I the mid-90's I went to Austin and received some research material on ECT from one of the legislative offices. Texas had some legislative monitoring at that time. When I took a job in the psychiatric unit of a large downtown Nashville hospital almost a year ago- May, 2008, I was shocked at the number of ECT treatments that were being done in that facility. The people who worked there were hardened and unemotional to the people who had this procedure done. It was all I could do to work the time period that I did in that place. Please read my personal account below.

I know how I would feel because it happened to me over 30years ago. I was in my early 30's and my experience was spiritually based. I became a Christian with very little knowledge of the scriptures and spiritual warfare. I had a pastor who had been in a denominational church for many years but was new to some spiritual things. My husband had grown up in church but had very little knowledge at that time. Because they were not equipped to help me spiritually, I was taken to the psychiatric unit of the hospital I worked in. Because I was in a battle in my mind, very fearful and talking about God, the devil and demonic things, I was diagnosed as psychotic and given a choice of being tied down or taking a shot of Haldol, the wonderful antipsychotic of that day. After taking that medication, I had a most horrible experience in my soul and finally went to sleep. When I woke up I was no longer in a battle but became very sad and withdrawn having not even those closest to me for me. I was at the mercy of an ungodly system and with several medications to control me, fell into the trap of the ECT being the suggested treatment when the load of medications did not help my depression. I can tell much more of what I have learned over the years, but that is for further writing. I was spiritually set free from this "depression" approximately 7 months after being "locked up". It was over Easter weekend that God in his mercy showed us in a small prayer group that I had unforgiveness toward a brother for something he had done to me in my childhood. And when that was dealt on that good Friday, 3 days later on the Monday morning after Easter I awoke with the "dark cloud" over me gone . In a very short time I went back to my part-time job at the hospital and have worked for many more years in the profession. I did not have the permanent cognitive impairments that some people have, and I give thanks to the mercy of God and the power of prayer over me to for healing and recovery. I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE TO SEVERELY LIMIIT OR STOP THIS PRACTICE IN MY LIFETIME. You must get to the root of depression and a very high percentage of people have bitterness and unforgiveness--even the doctors who are doing their ECT treatments will agree but do not try to get them the spiritual-emotional help they need. They just give them the medications and the shock treatments because the insurance companies pay for it and it good money for them. Sincerely, Karen Wagner

9:36 pm PDT, Apr 8, Shara Rabich, Georgia

12:59 pm PDT, Apr 7, Melissa Hudson, South Carolina
I didnt know this was still done!

6:54 am PDT, Apr 7, Charlotte Murton, United Kingdom

10:01 pm PDT, Apr 6, Name not displayed, Canada
Even if there is a need to occasionally enforce people with some psychiatric conditions to take their medication because they might be a danger to themselves or others, it seems like there is a greater need for second and even third opinions of independent third parties. Given that Ray Sanford's Mother is opposed to his ongoing maintenance electro-convulsive therapy and she has worked in the field, there seems to be something wrong with the checks and balances that need to be in place. An aside -- this has nothing to do with R. Sanford's case as I think he is being done wrong. I could not find unbiased information on the procedure when I looked for it. I could only find information either from the companies selling the machines or from groups who were trying to get the treatment stopped. How can one make a decision about whether someone should be getting this treatment without unbiased information? I did not know that I could 100% trust the information from the people who were wanting it banned... likewise I could not 100% trust the manufacturer. Normally I would post my name in the open, but to do so might lead to problems of a professional nature. IE being judged for things that have not happened or taken place.

I worry because I know of folk who might be candidates for such a treatment regime. For all I know, at some time I might be and without someone to speak for me with authority, who could I turn to? The politicians can not "practise medicine without a license" and determine medical care procedures and even with health care professionals, there needs to be checks and balances.

1:24 pm PDT, Apr 6, Viktoria Johansson, Sweden

11:26 am PDT, Apr 6, Michael Gable, California
Electric brain shock is torture. Anyone who believes otherwise should volunteer for himself or herself for "treatment." Not even an advocate will volunteer for such a hideous procedure even while vehemently touting its use on others. Any such person who would advocate it is a deviant or an idiot. We are not an Orwellian society. Yet. But anyone comparing the practice of forced electric shock to the structure of society in the novel "1984" would be hard pressed to make a distinction. Government: Stop fooling around with citizen liberties, stop taking bribes from drug companies and Psychiatric interests and stop blithely passing secret legislation to the detriment of this and future generations. Your position is one of good faith. Act on it.

Electric brain shock is torture. Anyone who believes otherwise should volunteer for himself or herself for "treatment." Not even an advocate will volunteer for such a hideous procedure even while vehemently touting its use on others. Any such person who would advocate it is a deviant or an idiot. We are not an Orwellian society. Yet. But anyone comparing the practice of forced electric shock to the structure of society in the novel "1984" would be hard pressed to make a distinction. Government: Stop fooling around with citizen liberties, stop taking bribes from drug companies and Psychiatric interests and stop blithely passing secret legislation to the detriment of this and future generations. Your position is one of good faith. Act on it.

2:05 pm PDT, Apr 5, William Hammond, New Mexico

10:11 pm PDT, Apr 4, Sue Whitney, California
It is barbaric and disgusting. This kills, leaves permanent brain damage and does no one any good except make psychiatry richer! It is extremely painful and belongs in the dark ages. Should be banned permanently!

7:19 pm PDT, Apr 4, Constant Wanham, Massachusetts

4:20 pm PDT, Apr 4, Lourdes Marlene Patino, Mexico

3:09 am PDT, Apr 4, Will Hall, Oregon
I am against forced electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and also in favor of abolishing ECT. People interested in this issue should read Linda Andre's book and visit www.ect.org.

6:07 pm PDT, Apr 3, Name not displayed, California
I am writing to let you know that I disagree with the forced electroshock of any human being for whatever reason. This action is suppressive and criminal.

I would never allow this to happen to a loved one. I would block it and actually never let it get to that point in my family. Electroshock is brutal and criminal and needs to be banned.

3:06 pm PDT, Apr 3, Mikhail Mentschukoff, Illinois

10:40 am PDT, Apr 3, Gayle Rego, California
This is a travesty that people are forced to receive electric shock which has been proven to cause great harm to the patient. This is not help - it is criminal - people should have the right to deny being electroshocked!

1:07 am PDT, Apr 3, Graham Joy, Florida
This proceedure has been proven not to work all over the world. I know I worked in one of the so called best psychiatric hospitals (Maudsley Hospital/Institute of Psychiarty, London)and saw a young male teen being carried out of an ECT room by two male nurses foaming at the mouth. To force a person to have such treatment again his consent is not only wrong but barbaric and is a terrible statement about our culture.

I would not be happy at all if this were to happen to one of my family.

11:27 pm PDT, Apr 2, Albert Paul Shroyer, Jr., California
This brutal torture must stop!

8:47 pm PDT, Apr 2, Charles Mears, California
Involuntary psychiatric treatment is a form of barbarism. It is time to stop it now.

6:22 pm PDT, Apr 2, Gary Jordan, California
This practice is barbaric. Blood letting was less cruel. How can any rational person believe that passing high voltage through living tissue is going to help? Ever get a shock from an AC outlet? Did you feel better? Of course not! This practice should be banned internationally and the criminals using it jailed. They are monsters praying on helpless and confused people. Lastly, a state that forces a person into this bogus "treatment" has already attained "police state" status. Does 1984 ring a bell?

1:14 pm PDT, Apr 2, RoAnne Chaney, Michigan

1:06 pm PDT, Apr 2, Name not displayed, California

12:13 pm PDT, Apr 2, Name not displayed, California
A) No one should be "forced" into a treatment. B) Has sending electricity through someones brain been proved to be useful in any way? Except to turn someone into a mindless drone?

I would rather die than have this happen to me. Honestly, I would rather take a bullet in the head than go through a slow numbing torture like this, regardless of any crime. It would be less destructive to that person on a spiritual level to just put a bullet in their head. Anyone who supports this is an animal or is themselves a horrid criminal. The person ordering this and administering this shoud try getting 100s of "treatments".

12:07 pm PDT, Apr 2, Name not displayed, Florida
No one should be forced to take medication or endure cruel mistreatment (electroshock, lobotomies), or even undergo mandatory mental "health" screenings. This is a violation of human and civil rights.

11:33 am PDT, Apr 2, Linda Mears, California

11:08 am PDT, Apr 2, Name not displayed, Colorado

11:04 am PDT, Apr 2, Keith Jarvis, California
ECT is barbaric, destruction and is a punishment more than a therapy. Destroying the human mind to heal it a ridiculous rationale and should be banned altogether.

10:29 am PDT, Apr 2, Rick Harlow, North Carolina
THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS, BUT ARE FROM THE JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY The Cognitive Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Community Settings NIMH-funded research study published in the January 2007 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology Author and primary investigator: Harold Sackeim Funding: NIMH grants #35636, Affective and Cognitive Consequences of ECT, funded since 1981 for a total of approximately ten million dollars so far (grant has been renewed through 2009) #59069, ECT Practices in Community Settings—Evaluating Outcomes, funded since 1999 for a total of approximately 3.5 million dollars so far Summary: After 25 years and millions of dollars of federal funding to research the adverse cognitive effects of ECT—25 years in which not one single longterm followup study was ever published—self-proclaimed “world expert” on ECT Harold Sackeim has now reversed his position, admitting that ECT routinely causes permanent memory loss and deficits in cognitive abilities. His new study—the first to be published in which he followed patients as long as six months, and one of his only studies to use controls—validates a generation of patient reports of permanent iatrogenic disability, and disproves Sackeim’s previously published claims that these reports were simply symptoms of mental illness. Other findings: there is no evidence that ECT increases intelligence, as Sackeim has previously claimed; and women are much more likely than men to experience severe permanent amnesia. Significance: Harold Sackeim has been called the Pope of ECT, and for good reason. He’s published more on ECT than anyone in the world, has received more money to research it than anyone in the world, and is the author of the American Psychiatric Association’s patient information statement and consent forms, which are used by most hospitals in America. Through his writing, teaching, testimony—and positions on peer review, editorial, and funding boards, including NIMH grant review panels—he has more influence on what the profession and the public believe about ECT than anyone in the world. What Harold says goes. Conclusion: This study could have been done at any point in the past 25 years. If it had, a generation of patients could have been warned of the likelihood of permanent significant memory and cognitive deficits before, instead of finding out after, ECT. In fact, there is evidence—from Harold’s own statements—that over the years he has in fact conducted studies following up ECT patients for a long as five years…but never published the results. Why not? Why did it take 25 years and over ten million dollars to validate what patients have been saying all along? In other words: What did Harold know, when did he know it, and why wasn’t it revealed? Quotable quote from the study: This study provides the first evidence in a large, prospective sample that the adverse cognitive effects can persist for an extended period, and that they characterize routine treatment with ECT in community settings.

How would you feel if this happened to you or a loved one?

9:44 am PDT, Apr 2, Name not displayed, California
Electroconvulsive "therapy" must be banned absolutely and completely. It matters not whether it is voluntary or involuntary, although the barbarism of involuntary application matches the Dark Ages in its rank obscenity.

10:29 am PDT, Apr 1, Tim Brown, Kentucky