Ray Sandford: out patient forced ECT treatment against his wishes, gets a new psychiatrist

Ray Sandford has been the recipient of involuntary ECT --against his wishes, he is verbal, and able to speak which is a really big deal in mental health arenas, he can speak for himself and without representation should, in my opinion be able to say what he wants for his psychiatric care. But, this has not happened and I have written about him for nearly one year.

Finally, a glimmer of hope.

Ray Sandford has a new psychiatrist and the new psychiatrist opposes ECT.

Ray telephoned MindFreedom offices to tell them of the news, and MindFreedom is how Ray was first "found" when he called for help. Though the advocacy group was not directly able to help him last fall, Ray's plight became one that we, as mental health advocates and bloggers took on as we would someone we knew and loved, because no one deserves what Ray had been given.

Ray has received over 40 involuntary ECT (electroshocks) of the brain, as treatment in an out patient setting, on Wednesdays, Ray would be driven from his residential care facility in Minnesota to receive a treatment he has said he did not want.

MindFreedom says, "Today, Ray said because of his campaign his new psychiatrist -- who opposes forced electroshock -- has been officially approved by the mental health system.

Ray already has a new attorney, who is moving toward changing Ray's guardianship.

Meanwhile, because of the campaign the Minnesota state legislature has scheduled a hearing this Monday, 10 August, on the subject of electroshock of committed Minnesota residents."

The state of Minnesota must rise to the occasion, and stand up and speak for those people like Ray Sandford. His legal guardian was unable to stop the treatments and the new attorney will hopefully change the direction of care for Ray.

Ray Sandford, is your neighbor, your friend, your spouse, your brother, he is you and he is me....if we don't watch out for each other who will?

This psychiatric system is harsh and cruel and full of legal red tape. I fought long and hard to gain my daughter's freedom from a doomed state institution discharge by an inpatient doctor. I was up against the worst case scenario, and by the grace of God, my daughter is free.

Ray is depending on advocates now!
via Something not quite right, Stan's blog