Informtion About ECT

Electroconvulsive therapy consists of passing an electric current of up to 400 volts for up to 8 seconds through the brain with the intention of producing an epileptic fit purportedly to relieve ‘mental illness’. Mainly given to women and the elderly, sometimes to children and often without consent. ECT machines have never been independently inspected or approved for medical safety. The USA regulator, the ‘Food and Drug Administration’ (FDA) has placed ECT machines in its most dangerous medical device category “class III” hazardous and unsafe. The UK regulator, the ‘Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’ (MHRA) has never tested ECT machines for safety.

ECT may cause brain damage, permanent memory loss, learning disabilities and other intellectual impairments and even death. ECT often causes fear in patients and can aggravate or trigger depression and suicide attempts. Patients are often not fully informed about the procedure's potential harmful effects.

Abolish ECT!

Useful Resources

• MindFreedom
  MindFreedom International: Activism for Human Rights in Mental Health
• PsychRights
• Law Project for Psychiatric Rights
• Rethinking Psychiatry
  Rethinking Psychiatry is a project of the Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church.
• MentalHealthRightsYes
  Education, Advocacy, Support and Empowerment for Mental Health Rights and Re-Inventing the Village
• ISEPP
  The International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry
• Citizens Commission on Human Rights
  Watchdog Investigation & Exposing Psychiatric Human Rights Violations
• National Alliance on Mental Illness - Oregon