No consent for 12pc of electric shock treatment - Ireland

[Guest guest]

http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/no-consent-for-12pc-of-electric-shock-care-2581131.html

Almost one in eight patients who were given electric shock treatment over the course of a year were either unable or unwilling to give consent to the controversial procedure.

A higher number of women (62.5pc) than men were given the electroconsvulsive treatment (ECT) without consent, the 2009 monitoring report from the Mental Health Commission watchdog revealed.

The majority of the 373 treatments were given to patients who gave their agreement -- but the law does allow for it to be given in cases where a person is "unwilling or unable to do so".

However, where ECT is given without the permission of the patient, the treating doctor has to ensure he or she gets a second opinion from another psychiatrist who must agree it is the best course. They do not need to get the consent of family members.

The report, which looked at 66 mental health centres, found that there were 34 fewer programmes of ECT administered in 2009 compared to 2008.

St 's Hospital in Dublin, the largest of the centres, had the highest number of ECT treatments (126) and accounted for one third of all cases.

St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe had the second highest number followed by the Department of Psychiatry in Waterford Regional Hospital.

The patients were mostly suffering from depression while others had schizophrenia and mania.

The main reason for resorting to electric shock treatment was the patient's lack of response to medication.

Other reasons included risk of suicide and physical deterioration and where a "rapid response" was deemed necessary in a significant number of the patients.

An improvement was seen in the vast majority of patients but no improvement was seen in 5.4pc of those treated. It was stopped in a small number of cases due to complications.

Irish psychiatrists have differing views on the merits of the treatment with some saying it should be stopped because of complications such as risk of memory loss.

Seizure

If ECT is recommended, the patient is given a general anaesthetic and medication to relax their muscles. Electrodes are then placed on the person's head and a pulse of electricity passed through the brain which will set off a fit or seizure.

The patient normally has around six to 12 sessions with two administered a week. Electricity changes the chemical composition of the patient's brain and lifts them out of their low mood.

'Coronation Street' actress Beverly Callard credits ECT with rescuing her from severe depression after she was unresponsive to medication.

The College of Psychiatry in Ireland has proposed changes in selecting a doctor asked for a second opinion. The doctor should be part of a panel set up by the Mental Health Commission and would also have to consult with others treating the patient.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Irish Independent

> >> > But what constitutes 'the capacity to make such an informed choice?'> What if> > two doctors decide patient A doesn't have the capacity?> >> > Gold> > Berkeley, CA> >> > "...misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Shakespeare> >> >> >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM, jeremy9282> > jeremybryce1953@...:> >> > The College of Psychiatry supports the right of any patient to refuse> to> > > have ECT if they have the capacity to make such an informed choice.> >>

[Guest guest]

http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/no-consent-for-12pc-of-electric-shock-care-2581131.html

Almost one in eight patients who were given electric shock treatment over the course of a year were either unable or unwilling to give consent to the controversial procedure.

A higher number of women (62.5pc) than men were given the electroconsvulsive treatment (ECT) without consent, the 2009 monitoring report from the Mental Health Commission watchdog revealed.

The majority of the 373 treatments were given to patients who gave their agreement -- but the law does allow for it to be given in cases where a person is "unwilling or unable to do so".

However, where ECT is given without the permission of the patient, the treating doctor has to ensure he or she gets a second opinion from another psychiatrist who must agree it is the best course. They do not need to get the consent of family members.

The report, which looked at 66 mental health centres, found that there were 34 fewer programmes of ECT administered in 2009 compared to 2008.

St 's Hospital in Dublin, the largest of the centres, had the highest number of ECT treatments (126) and accounted for one third of all cases.

St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe had the second highest number followed by the Department of Psychiatry in Waterford Regional Hospital.

The patients were mostly suffering from depression while others had schizophrenia and mania.

The main reason for resorting to electric shock treatment was the patient's lack of response to medication.

Other reasons included risk of suicide and physical deterioration and where a "rapid response" was deemed necessary in a significant number of the patients.

An improvement was seen in the vast majority of patients but no improvement was seen in 5.4pc of those treated. It was stopped in a small number of cases due to complications.

Irish psychiatrists have differing views on the merits of the treatment with some saying it should be stopped because of complications such as risk of memory loss.

Seizure

If ECT is recommended, the patient is given a general anaesthetic and medication to relax their muscles. Electrodes are then placed on the person's head and a pulse of electricity passed through the brain which will set off a fit or seizure.

The patient normally has around six to 12 sessions with two administered a week. Electricity changes the chemical composition of the patient's brain and lifts them out of their low mood.

'Coronation Street' actress Beverly Callard credits ECT with rescuing her from severe depression after she was unresponsive to medication.

The College of Psychiatry in Ireland has proposed changes in selecting a doctor asked for a second opinion. The doctor should be part of a panel set up by the Mental Health Commission and would also have to consult with others treating the patient.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Irish Independent

> >> > But what constitutes 'the capacity to make such an informed choice?'> What if> > two doctors decide patient A doesn't have the capacity?> >> > Gold> > Berkeley, CA> >> > "...misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Shakespeare> >> >> >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM, jeremy9282> > jeremybryce1953@...:> >> > The College of Psychiatry supports the right of any patient to refuse> to> > > have ECT if they have the capacity to make such an informed choice.> >>

[Guest guest]

http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/no-consent-for-12pc-of-electric-shock-care-2581131.html

Almost one in eight patients who were given electric shock treatment over the course of a year were either unable or unwilling to give consent to the controversial procedure.

A higher number of women (62.5pc) than men were given the electroconsvulsive treatment (ECT) without consent, the 2009 monitoring report from the Mental Health Commission watchdog revealed.

The majority of the 373 treatments were given to patients who gave their agreement -- but the law does allow for it to be given in cases where a person is "unwilling or unable to do so".

However, where ECT is given without the permission of the patient, the treating doctor has to ensure he or she gets a second opinion from another psychiatrist who must agree it is the best course. They do not need to get the consent of family members.

The report, which looked at 66 mental health centres, found that there were 34 fewer programmes of ECT administered in 2009 compared to 2008.

St 's Hospital in Dublin, the largest of the centres, had the highest number of ECT treatments (126) and accounted for one third of all cases.

St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe had the second highest number followed by the Department of Psychiatry in Waterford Regional Hospital.

The patients were mostly suffering from depression while others had schizophrenia and mania.

The main reason for resorting to electric shock treatment was the patient's lack of response to medication.

Other reasons included risk of suicide and physical deterioration and where a "rapid response" was deemed necessary in a significant number of the patients.

An improvement was seen in the vast majority of patients but no improvement was seen in 5.4pc of those treated. It was stopped in a small number of cases due to complications.

Irish psychiatrists have differing views on the merits of the treatment with some saying it should be stopped because of complications such as risk of memory loss.

Seizure

If ECT is recommended, the patient is given a general anaesthetic and medication to relax their muscles. Electrodes are then placed on the person's head and a pulse of electricity passed through the brain which will set off a fit or seizure.

The patient normally has around six to 12 sessions with two administered a week. Electricity changes the chemical composition of the patient's brain and lifts them out of their low mood.

'Coronation Street' actress Beverly Callard credits ECT with rescuing her from severe depression after she was unresponsive to medication.

The College of Psychiatry in Ireland has proposed changes in selecting a doctor asked for a second opinion. The doctor should be part of a panel set up by the Mental Health Commission and would also have to consult with others treating the patient.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Irish Independent

> >> > But what constitutes 'the capacity to make such an informed choice?'> What if> > two doctors decide patient A doesn't have the capacity?> >> > Gold> > Berkeley, CA> >> > "...misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Shakespeare> >> >> >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM, jeremy9282> > jeremybryce1953@...:> >> > The College of Psychiatry supports the right of any patient to refuse> to> > > have ECT if they have the capacity to make such an informed choice.> >>

[Guest guest]

http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/no-consent-for-12pc-of-electric-shock-care-2581131.html

Almost one in eight patients who were given electric shock treatment over the course of a year were either unable or unwilling to give consent to the controversial procedure.

A higher number of women (62.5pc) than men were given the electroconsvulsive treatment (ECT) without consent, the 2009 monitoring report from the Mental Health Commission watchdog revealed.

The majority of the 373 treatments were given to patients who gave their agreement -- but the law does allow for it to be given in cases where a person is "unwilling or unable to do so".

However, where ECT is given without the permission of the patient, the treating doctor has to ensure he or she gets a second opinion from another psychiatrist who must agree it is the best course. They do not need to get the consent of family members.

The report, which looked at 66 mental health centres, found that there were 34 fewer programmes of ECT administered in 2009 compared to 2008.

St 's Hospital in Dublin, the largest of the centres, had the highest number of ECT treatments (126) and accounted for one third of all cases.

St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe had the second highest number followed by the Department of Psychiatry in Waterford Regional Hospital.

The patients were mostly suffering from depression while others had schizophrenia and mania.

The main reason for resorting to electric shock treatment was the patient's lack of response to medication.

Other reasons included risk of suicide and physical deterioration and where a "rapid response" was deemed necessary in a significant number of the patients.

An improvement was seen in the vast majority of patients but no improvement was seen in 5.4pc of those treated. It was stopped in a small number of cases due to complications.

Irish psychiatrists have differing views on the merits of the treatment with some saying it should be stopped because of complications such as risk of memory loss.

Seizure

If ECT is recommended, the patient is given a general anaesthetic and medication to relax their muscles. Electrodes are then placed on the person's head and a pulse of electricity passed through the brain which will set off a fit or seizure.

The patient normally has around six to 12 sessions with two administered a week. Electricity changes the chemical composition of the patient's brain and lifts them out of their low mood.

'Coronation Street' actress Beverly Callard credits ECT with rescuing her from severe depression after she was unresponsive to medication.

The College of Psychiatry in Ireland has proposed changes in selecting a doctor asked for a second opinion. The doctor should be part of a panel set up by the Mental Health Commission and would also have to consult with others treating the patient.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Irish Independent

> >> > But what constitutes 'the capacity to make such an informed choice?'> What if> > two doctors decide patient A doesn't have the capacity?> >> > Gold> > Berkeley, CA> >> > "...misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Shakespeare> >> >> >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM, jeremy9282> > jeremybryce1953@...:> >> > The College of Psychiatry supports the right of any patient to refuse> to> > > have ECT if they have the capacity to make such an informed choice.> >>