Uncovering the Truth
Publics view on lake alice abuse
So what happened?
It all started back in 1997 when a ex patients brother said to him we need to do something about the terrible things that happened to you in that place and I believe the brother who is a lawyer took on the case. But as time went by it got to big for him and he contacted Grant Cameron Asst.
To sum things up in 2001 Helen Clark sent a letter to the patients to say 'Sorry'! I must say the letter is pretty pathetic.
Who received payouts? Out of about 300, 150 did. These were ONLY people who where in the adolescent unit during the dates of 1972- 1978, the unit closed in 1978. not all ex patients wanted to be involved in the court case therefore have not received any money.
This is not to say that other patients in LA during those dates did not receive ECT or where sexually abused. It is very hypocritical of the NZ government to pay out money to patients for a medical treatment that is still practiced today and causes serious long term damage too the mussels and brain while also burn's the tissue, to name a few side affects. Guess they don't think so huh!
The government said they first put aside $100 Million for the Lake Alice compensation. when the lawyers Grant Cameron decided to do a out of court settlement with the government this meant the patients would receive less money and lawyers would still cash in large. So much has changed since we started this site, feedback has been so positive, so thank you everyone for your support.
I must say people look at me side ways when I say I run a website on lake alice. Most people either go quiet from this point or make some remark about shock treatment but lake alice was more then just ECT.
BREAK DOWN
Depending on the time & abuse you spent in LA was how much
money you would receive,
Example=
This seemed to be the trend =
>Less then a year $40-60,000
>1 Year + $100,000 ( 1 patient spent 4+ years there and only received $120,000)
These figures EXCLUDE lawyers fees
which for a payout of $100,000 were around half
Lawyers made over $2 Million for there ''effort'' not bad considering they settled out of court so they could get the better deal.
ECT explained
ECT involves passing an electrical current through the brain for a short period of time over several sessions. It sends the patient into convulsions and muscle relaxants are often administered prior to treatment.
Originally developed as a treatment for schizophrenia in 1938, ECT was found to be ineffective in reducing psychotic symptoms. It is now used exclusively as a treatment for severe depression for which it has been found to be effective, and is usually only administered when drug treatment has failed.
The exact mode of action of ECT is uncertain. However, the most plausible account of ECT's effectiveness is that it produces various biochemical changes in the brain, which are greater than those produced by anti-depressant drugs. Since many physiological changes occur when ECT is administered it is difficult to establish which of these are significant. It is likely that the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and adrenaline are affected as research indicates these are strongly implicated in the disorder.
Source: Making the Modern World UK
The New Zealand Ministry of Healths website defines Electroconvulsive therapy as:
Treatment used mainly for severe depressive episodes. It involves the passage of an electric current across the head of a person to produce a convulsion. The treatment is painless, as the individual is given general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant before and during ECT. It is used when antidepressant medication has not been effective, the severity of symptoms means it is not possible to wait for the effects of such medication to become apparent, or the side-effects to or risks associated with medication make ECT the most appropriate treatment option.
There ''Independent review'' of ECT:
The independent review of the medical evidence for ECT concluded that its use is appropriate for treating some serious mental disorders, and banning its use would deprive some seriously ill patients of a potentially effective and sometimes lifesaving means of treatment. The review group considered the current regulatory controls for ECT needed to change. They recommend that where possible ECT use should only be administered with the patient’s consent, noting that patients should be able to refuse treatment in advance when regarded as competent to make this decision.
This is a treatment still used today in New Zealand.
Government abandonment against appeals decision on Patients case
Ex-patient Paul Zentveld overwhelming evidence shows the government willingness to not pay the remaining 30% compensation and legal fees that is still owed. From the second round of claimants the government held back around 30% of each patients money to try and match up with the first round’s legal fees. The first round paid claimants, some paid $30-53 thousand dollars of fees to Mr Grant Cameron & associates.
Mr Zentveld paved the way for other patients whom had been mislead by the Labour government and now the crown are prepared to offer a ex-Gratia to the second round claimants
As it stands second round claimants paid no legal fees and first round paid massive legal fees.
Check out the relating document below,
Compensation Links...
Psych Watch
Dedicated to documenting psychiatrists behaving badly.
Money withheld from patients
Do the right thing labour
Probe on shock doctor claims
Making the Modern World
Award winning story on a past adolescent patient of the 70's.
Letters from the Government
June Update.
Since Nationals win in Government we have asked them for there response on the Lake Alice compensation and justice. National has sent the letter to the left to me, not very promising
November update.
December update,
SHAME ON YOU COLEMAN FOR USING LA... How about a dose of ECT FOR HIM!
Please note those opinions expressed on Lakealicehospital.com are not those of the Ministry of Health or the New Zealand government.