NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RIGHTS PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY
Assemblyman Martin A. Luster (D-125th), Chair of the
NYS Assembly Mental Health Committee, has announced a statewide Assembly hearing on
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) scheduled for Friday, May 18, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. in New
York City. ECT, also known as electroshock, is a procedure that applies an electrical
stimulus to the brain, resulting in a seizure similar to an epileptic seizure. While
this therapy has been long recognized in the field of mental health as a viable treatment
for certain mental illnesses, its use continues to remain controversial.
According to Luster, "Historically, ECT has been utilized as
a treatment of last resort. However, its use appears to be on the rise in New York
State. Accordingly, the Assembly intends to thoroughly review the efficacy of this
treatment, the frequency of its use statewide and the effectiveness of existing legal
safeguards designed to protect patients' rights."
In a letter dated March 12, 2001 to Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver, State Office of Mental Health Commissioner James Stone stated, "The efficacy
of ECT has been well documented by national and international psychiatric and medical
organizations. It is a treatment which is judiciously used in New York State, in a
manner consistent with contemporary standards of clinical practice and employing the legal
safeguards of informed consent." However, Luster notes that the New York State
Mental Hygiene Legal Services has indicated that applications for court-ordered, forced
ECT has increased by over 73% since 1999. This information, coupled with an ongoing
court battle waged by a patient at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center fighting the use of forced
ECT, have, according to Luster, highlighted this issue.
"It is our hope that by providing an objective public forum
to comprehensively address issues associated with electroshock therapy, the legislature
and the public will become better informed as to the current state of the use of ECT, its
appropriateness with regard to a variety of mental illnesses, its risks, benefits and side
effects, both short-and long-term ," said Luster. "Such evaluation will
also enable the Assembly to ensure that appropriate legal safeguards are in place to
sufficiently protect patients who receive such treatment," concluded Luster (italics
by NYAPRS).
To inquire into presenting written present testimony, contact:
Assembly Program and Counsel, Room 522 Capitol, Albany, NY 12248. The phone is:
(518) 455- 4371.
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH,
MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
PURPOSE: To determine the impact on patient care
NEW YORK CITY
Friday
May 18, 2001
10:00 AM
Assembly Hearing Room
250 Broadway
Room 1923 - 19th Floor
New York, New York
Electrconvulsive Therapy (ECT), also known as shock treatment, has been a recognized, yet
controversial treatment for certain types of mental illness. There are differing opinions
as to the appropriateness of ECT and, historically, ECT has been used as a treatment of
last resort.
While, New York State does not now require reporting of the use of ECT within the state,
it appears that the use of this treatment option is increasing. Patient advocates are
concerned that the legal safeguards for informed consent need to be strengthened.
The issue of legal safeguards is a particular concern in the case of involuntary, or
forced, application of ECT
Recent events regarding patients at the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center have highlighted
this issue. According to the New York State Mental Hygiene Legal Services,
applications for court ordered ECT increased 73% between 1999 and 2000.
Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their
testimony, and for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing
should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is
important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be
notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of
witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at
particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the
attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the
absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are
postmarked.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration
desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and
organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance
with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to
all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations
will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission
to Assembly facilities and activities.
MARTIN A. LUSTER
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities
SELECTED RECENT PROBLEMS TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:
1. What is the efficacy of the use of ECT to treat mental illness?
2. What are the adverse effects of the use of ECT?
3. What legal safeguards need to be implemented regarding informed consent and court
ordered ECT?
4. What is the incidence of use of ECT in New York State?
5. What alternative treatment modalities are available?
Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Electroconvulsive Therapy
(ECT) are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:
Carl Letson
Legislative Associate
Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities
Room 522 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
(518) 455-4371
(518) 455-4693 (fax)
---- I plan to attend the following public hearing on Electroconvulsive
Therapy (ECT) to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities on May 18, 2001.
---- I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My
statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise.
I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
---- I will address my remarks to the following subjects:
_____ _____________________________________
_____ _____________________________________
_____ _____________________________________
---- I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
---- I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices
and reports.
---- I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.
---- I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility
information. Please specify the type of assistance required:
_________________________________________________________
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NAME: ______________________________________________________
TITLE: ____________________________________________________
ORGANIZATION: ______________________________________________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________
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