Written evidence from Mr Jeremy Bryce
I am the moderator (web master) of four Internet
based groups seeking to bring awareness of Iatrogenic illnesses
caused by psychiatric treatment. Not only do we make people aware
of Iatrogenis but in one of our groups we assist persons to withdraw
and recover from un-needed psychiatric drugs. I am also a member
of an adhoc Northern Ireland group comprising psychiatric patients
(and their careers), former psychiatric patients, former members
of staff at psychiatric hospitals, potential offenders and offenders
exonerated upon appeal.
We have no affiliation with Scientology and
none of us are members of the CCHR.
I would ask the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
to make themselves aware of the detail differences between the
Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland)
1986. In particular I draw attention to the legality or otherwise
of detaining and treating persons in Northern Ireland diagnosed
with Personality Disorders and who are not displaying any signs
of co-morbid mental illnesses.
NOTE—lack
of co-morbidity has been established by accessing PsyMon data
bases.
The Committee should also avail themselves of
the unique attempt to define Mental Illness under the 1986 Order
( NI ) which is something not done under the 1983 Mental Health
Act.
Perhaps Dr Alisdair McDonnell MP could further
amplify my claim that doctors more often than not believe ...
"The cornerstone of treating such patients is maintaining
a limited relationship ..." ...
In our various group meetings we have become
aware of a pervasive pattern of treatment being carried out to
Northern Ireland patients who had been thought to possess persistent
and enduring mental health needs. Such patients include those
with endochrine disease such as Graves Disease, those who suffered
manic reaction to antidepressant drug treatment ( for what ever
reason first given), those who suffered suicidal ideation upon
dose titration of antidepressants, the abused, the neglected,
the self-harmers and the general revolving door patient ie those
who for what ever reason have all been diagnosed, rightly or wrongly
with Personality Disorders.
NOTE—lack
of co-morbidity has been established by accessing PsyMon data
bases.
Such treatment in Northern Ireland is unlawful
(Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 ... treatability
test).
Further the treatment carried out is barbaric
in that said patients have been subjected to Electroconvulsive
Therapy and is further an abuse of their Human Rights, in that
the treatment has been carried out without Lawful consent.
It has been established beyond dispute that
several Northern Ireland Psychiatric Hospitals are:
(a) not informing patients of the true scope
and nature of the treatment;
(b) not atesting (in the notes and records)
if patients have either capacity to grant or withold consent;
(c) failing to show that they have properly
tried to obtain consent ... ie Doctors junior or senior are failing
to sign consent forms; and
(d) failing to meet the standards of their
UK peers as set out in the RCPh "electroconvulsive therapy
handbook".
Following courses of treatment and upon close
questioning of Trusts, The Mental Health Commission and The Health
Boards under the Freedom of Information Act it has been established
beyond dispute that:
(a) failing to create or retain documents
such as "prescriptions for ECT";
(b) failing to retain or actively seek to
destroy hospital records such as TMA books;
(c) failing to record who actually carries
out the ECT treatment;
(d) failing to assess patients suitability
for, or risk from, anesthesia;
(e) failing to record such basics as say
who administers general anesthesia;
(f) co-admistering seizure enhancing drugs
with the ECT contrary to the B.N.F; and
(g) failing to properly update the H.E.S.
... Hospital Episode Statistics.
Not only do I submit that such patients are
the subject of assault and battery, the matter is further compounded
by a cynical cover up in that the perpetrators do their utmost
not to leave an auditable trail in the patients notes and records.
(Where proformas exist they are knowingly being left uncompleted).
Add to this if you will the situation of the
"non compliant" patient who for whatever reason resists
or refuses treatment. We are aware now of cases where patients
were abandoned by the healthcare professionals and engineered
into conflict with the Police and the Criminal Justice System.
Some former patients were criminalised, subjected
to Court proceedings only to get exonhourated upon appeal when
it became clear that such action was in breech of Home Office
Circular 66/90.
In short Chairman; persons with Personality
Disorders in Northern Ireland are yo-yoing between a Hospital
System that fails to meet their legitamate needs, treats them
in a barbaric way, unlawfully assaults them or abandons them to
the Criminal Justice System contrary the the express wishes of
the Home Office to divert them from the C.J.S. As per Circular
66/90.
No wonder such vulnerable persons commit suicide
...
..."Behavioural dyscontrol in borderline
patients treated with amitriptyline".
...a permanent solution for Northern Ireland's
disposable personality disordered ???
Jeremy Bryce
March 2007
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