[Norwegian]

Debate, article: How long will the well-intentioned guardian state continue legitimizing torture in psychiatry?

Sorry for poor quality of this Google translation:

Walter Keim
Almbergskleiva 64
NO-6657 Rindal, 31. January 2017

Letter to Professor Jan Ivar Røssberg, University Oslo

Copy: Robert Whitaker, Jaakko Seikkula, Humania STIFTELSEN, Medisinfrie Tilbud, Knowledge centre (Kunnskapssenteret), Experience expertise (Erfaringskompetanse), Health institute (Helsedirektoratet), Drug administration (Legemiddelverket)

Patients Perspective on Wards without Medication: Knowledge of Evidence and Human Rights

I refer to the contribution of Jan Ivar Røssberg: «Psychiatric wards without medication: Why is it a bad idea?» conference at Litteraturhuset 8. February kl 17-21 about What is the scientific basis of treatment with or without neuroleptics? of the Humania STIFTELSEN.

As part of the realisation of "patients health service" the ministry of health gave the assignment for «Medication free treatment for psychiatric patients».

Norwegian psychiatric association has not taken position but some psychiatrists criticised the offer as unethical, without evidence an experiment and call it a "gigantic mistake" (see Health minister makes totally wrong choices).

Patients meet the following reality:

From a patients perspective questions are:

Attachment: Experience expertise 2012:3 (Erfaringskompetanse.no 2012:3). Force in Health care. Personnel and dissatisfied patients have different opinions (Tvang i psykisk helsevern. Ansatte og misfornøyde brukeres ulike oppfatninger): http://www.erfaringskompetanse.no/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tvang-i-psykisk-helsevern.pdf

UN committees the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture strongly support the patients perspective. Real world experience shows that it is possible to abolish forced treatment. Survivors arguments are supported by the CRPD Committees answer.

Recommendations of UN committees

5 UN committees (5), Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC), Ombud against discrimination (LDO), Directorate of Health, Disability organisation support reduction and removal of coercion.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recommends 2013. " that the State party incorporate into the law the abolition of the use of restraint and the enforced administration of intrusive and irreversible treatments such as neuroleptic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy"

Committee against Torture 13 December 2012 CAT/C/NOR/CO/6-7:

(T)he State party should provide systematic, thorough and practical training in the application of the Istanbul Protocol (Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) to all relevant health personnel.

The UN Committee against Torture (CAT/C/NOR/QPR/8) asks Norway 2015 preparing Norway’s report for 2016:

(a) “Whether the use of restraints and the enforced administration of intrusive and irreversible treatments such as neuroleptic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy has been abolished in law...

(b) Ensuring that every competent patient, whether voluntary or involuntary, is fully informed about the treatment to be prescribed and given the opportunity to refuse treatment or any other medical intervention... ”

In General Comment 1 premise 42 the CRPD-committee states about force in psychiatry:

As has been stated by the Committee in several concluding observations, forced treatment by psychiatric and other health and medical professionals is a violation of the right to equal recognition before the law and an infringement of the rights to personal integrity (art. 17); freedom from torture (art. 15); and freedom from violence, exploitation and abuse (art. 16).”

Special Rapporteur on torture banned forced psychiatric treatment

It is possible to ban forced treatment

«Germany without Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry—A 15 Month Real World Experience»1 shows that considerable improvements are possible. The rate of inpatients under coercive medication fall under 0.5 %. In Norway approx. 10% of inpatients where under coercive medication (SINTEF A26086, ISBN 978-82-14-05679-2)2

Survivors arguments and CRPD Committees answer

The survivors of psychiatry “Bundesverband Psychiatrie-BPE-Germany” asked the UN CRPD committee 19. February 2015: «Please condemn Germany as a human rights criminal. Norway uses approx. 20 times more forced medication compared to Germany. UN CRPD Committee gave concluding observations about the Federal Republic of Germany. Quotes from the States Report of the UN CRPD Committee CRPD/C/DEU/CO/1 on 17/04/2015: 3

«30. The Committee recommends that the State party take all the immediate necessary legislative, administrative and judicial measures to:

(a) Amend legislation to prohibit involuntary placement and promote alternative measures that are in keeping with articles 14, 19 and 22 of the Convention;»

33. The Committee is deeply concerned that the State party does not recognize the use
of physical and chemical restraints, solitary confinement and other harmful practices as acts of torture.”


Attachments:

Documentation of harm of antipsykotic medication and human rights issues:

4.1. Council of Evidence-based Psychiatry:http://cepuk.org/http://cepuk.org/unrecognised-facts/long-lasting-negative-effects/

4.2. Psykofarmaka på kort og lang sikt: Tidsskrift for Norsk

Psykologforening, Vol 52, nummer 2, 2015, side 126-131:

https://psykologtidsskriftet.no/intervju/2015/02/psykofarmaka-pa-kort-og-lang-sikt

4.3. PETER C. GØTZSCHE, professor, dr.med., Rigshospitalet: KRONIKEN

5. AUG. 2015 summarises in newspaper Politikken: Tvang i psykiatrien bør forbydes:

http://politiken.dk/debat/kroniken/ECE2781368/tvang-i-psykiatrien-boer-forbydes/

4.4. PETER C. GØTZSCHE, professor, dr.med., Rigshospitalet i Politikken:

'Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial' (2015):

http://politiken.dk/forbrugogliv/sundhedogmotion/sygdom/ECE2814922/uddrag-af-doedelig-psykiatri-og-organiseret-benaegtelse/

4.5. The public mental health system is creating a huge class of chronic

mental patients through forcing them to take ineffective, yet extremely

harmful drugs. http://psychrights.org/Research/Digest/NLPs/neuroleptics.htm

4.6. Effective Non-Neuroleptic Treatment

http://psychrights.org/research/Digest/Effective/effective.htm

4.7 Harrow + Wunderink + Open Dialogue = An Evidence-based Mandate for A New Standard of Care:

http://www.madinamerica.com/2013/07/harrow-wunkerlink-open-dialogue-an-evidence-based-mandate-for-a-new-standard-of-care/

4.8. Psych-Drugs Harm - One: Robert Whitaker - A History - September 16, 2015 – CPH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd3_Iq8P3Fo

4.9. Jung, E., Wiesjahn, M., Wendt, H., Bock, T., Rief, W. and Lincoln, T.M., 2016. «Symptoms, functioning and coping strategies in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who do not take antipsychotic medication: a comparative interview study»

http://www.madinamerica.com/2016/07/study-finds-improved-functioning-for-schizophrenia-without-antipsychotics/

  1. Letter to Norwegian Authorities: Norway violates it's human rights obligation to reduce and remove coercion in psychiatry: http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/UN_coercion.html

  2. 16. July 2015: Shadow report: What can be done about NORWAY ranking highest in Europe in use of coercion in psychiatry including human rights breach forced drugging?http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/150716mdac.html

  3. 16. June 2015: Letter to Prime minister Erna Solberg of Norway to respect human rights of people with disabilities and remove coercion in psychiatry http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/150614pm.html

  4. Legemiddelverket oppfordres å slutte å legitimere helseskadelig langtidsmedisinering med antipsykotika: http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/150916helsedir.html

  5. Kjetil Lund: 23.JUN.2016 : At all tvangsmedisinering må forbys, slik også FN-komiteen under Konvensjonen om funksjonshemmedes rettigheter og andre FN-organer går inn for, er et nødvendig neste skritt. http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/debatt/Psykiatri-Uhyggelig-klokkertro-pa-tvangsmedisinering--Ketil-Lund-580997b.html  Replikk.

  6. Martin Zinkler: Germany without Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry—A 15 Month Real World Experience: http://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/5/1/15/htm



Harrow-recovery

Harrow-anxiety

1Martin Zinkler. Laws 2016, 5(1), 15; doi:10.3390/laws5010015. Germany without Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry—A 15 Month Real World Experience: http://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/5/1/15/htm

2Døgnpasienter i psykisk helsevern for voksne (PHV) 20. november 2012, SINTEF. https://www.sintef.no/contentassets/f98d2810156e4dd6b8b7aa1da8174334/endeligrapport_sintef-a26086_2.pdf

3CRPD/C/DEU/CO/1: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD/C/DEU/CO/1&Lang=en