Christmas Eve 2008 What Would Jesus Do About Forced Electroshock?

An Open Letter to the Lutheran Church [ELCA] from MindFreedomInternational [MFI]

by David W. Oaks, Executive Director, MFI

I just spoke to Ray Sandford of Minnesota who already received another involuntary electroshock. As you know, your agency Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota(LSSMN) is charged with being General Guardian for Ray. This is a reply to your recent misleading public statement about the MindFreedom Campaign to End Ray Sandford's Forced Electroshock(copied at bottom).

Regularly for months -- presently every other week -- attendants wake Ray up early in his group home, Victory House. He is escorted the few miles to a hospital. Under court order and against his repeated and clear objections, Ray is put under anesthesia, electricity is run through his brain, and he is given another electroshock, also known as electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.

Ray has received about 35 so far.

Ray calls our office most days, and it's always good to hear from him. He told me yesterday, "It's a painful, awful experience. Everytime. It takes away memory viciously. It is scary as hell every timeI go."

Ray says he always objects. "I say, 'I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this,' which I've known since the first time. Everyone figures I'm totally nuts."

One day Ray asked his local library about groups working on human rights in mental health, and Ray contacted MindFreedom International.Ray asked us to start a public campaign to support his right to say "no" to electroshock.

I had hoped your church would be an ally in Ray's campaign. Instead, I have found you to stand by silently with arms folded, or even worse your spokespeople appear to at times oppose Ray's campaign.

In my 32 years of human rights activism, Ray is one of the most focused individuals I've ever encountered in his persistent and reasonable requests to end his forced electroshock. The fact that his forced shock is outpatient and ongoing is especially outrageous.

Ray's heroism has moved me and many others. Countless people have responded to support the Ray Campaign, and Ray reached millions of people on National Public Radio.

On 16 December 2008, the "Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica" [ELCA] issued a reply to a number of people who have expressed concern about Ray as a result of MindFreedom's human rights alerts. (See below.)

It is significant for ELCA to issue a public statement about aMindFreedom International campaign. With more more than four million baptized members, ELCA is the largest Lutheran denomination and one of the largest Christian denominations in the USA. We at MindFreedomare eager for dialogue with ELCA.

Unfortunately, Miriam L. Woolbert of ELCA's Communication Servicesreplied to those contacting ELCA that groups like MindFreedom are "misdirecting you and many other people."

Ms. Woolbert did not provide any example or quote of such "misdirecting." Her main points appear to be that ELCA is not a "participant" in any involuntary electroshock, and that ELCA cannot speak about Ray because of confidentiality.

MindFreedom's alerts never claimed that ELCA is in charge of the involuntary electroshock of Ray. MindFreedom International encouragespeople to contact ELCA to ask you "to stand with Ray."

Even if ELCA representatives feel you cannot speak specifically aboutRay, we ask ELCA to stand shoulder to shoulder with all their agency clients, like Ray, who are receiving involuntary electroshock. ELCA could at least begin by expressing concern or joining in dialogue.

We continue to encourage all people who care to contact ELCA, and ELCA's local congregations, with strong but civil messages.

Because of ELCA's misleading statement about the Ray Campaign this action is especially urgent, including for those who have alreadycontacted you.

Most importantly, Ray is asking us all to take this action.

Please share any thoughts or ideas on this story, maybe we can get something done.

I know ect is quite scarry, I personally wouldn't want it, however if I was depressed enough and I was many years ago I had a suicide attempt, but if someone told me that ect could help me, I would try it, if it would prevent me from taking my own life.

I thought that ect was only used rarely.There must be some special reason why They would use it on Ray.

I thought they use it for people who are chronically depressed, and meds don't help. I also think that they use it in some severe cases of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? Not sure, as well with Ray there may be some court issues not sure though?

Bill mentioned: "but if someone told me that ect could help me, I would try it, if it would prevent me from taking my own life"

This is exactly the issue. The so-called experts on this, besides not having any difinitive answers on what sets this condition up for anyone, and not being able to successfully dope one up enough to shut down how their body is reacting to what is going on, rather than spend time actually helping one unravel what they are doing to themselves, and exploring options....then, out of their ignorance and need to be an authority on what another is doing thought wise, and experiencing emotionally, (fear of appearing dumb,) preach that ECT is the cadillac of treatment, and can only help. The scene is one of ignorance and expediency in cutting off one's mental abilities that they were unsuccessful in doing with drug-lobotomy, so that they can get on with feeling safe, secure, and superior.

This is not charitable, holistic or helpful. It is barbaric and expedient.

People who are distraught as a result of their thoughts and how they experience life are vulnerable.
More protection is required for such people ailing with thinking difficulties from lobotomization by drugs or electroshock transgressions. Larry