The oxford dictionary defines the word abuse as such; use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse. I firmly believe that the doctors and nurses in these institutions "misuse" their power over psychiatric patients. At first, I was hesitant to write about this subject. But once I began doing research, I realized that the abuse I suffered under the care of these individuals who were supposed to help me was very real.
The online testimonies about this type of abuse were strikingly similar to that of situations I had experienced and that of situations I had witnessed. Particular stories that overlapped were that of solitary confinement, restraints, and forcible injections. So as not to break the anonymity of the people who wrote these accounts, I will provide stories of my own.
Solitary Confinement
Story #1: It was December 2008, my first manic episode. I had been heavily sedated and woke up in a small hospital room. There was a window on the door where I could see the back of a security guards head. I had to go to the bathroom very badly. I was pleading with the security guard to let me out of the room so I could do so. No one acknowledge my existence. I became very agitated and peed in the garbage can, instead of the floor. I checked my hospital psych records and in between the hours of 9 and 10 pm there is no record of any of this it just says "becoming increasingly agitated and in room urinating over garbage can." No one mentions that I asked numerous times to be allowed to use the restroom. (When I tell "normal" people this story some are shocked that I even used the garbage can)
Story #2: My second manic episode happened in December of 2009. And I was placed in solitary confinement for an unknown period of time. Again, was not aloud to use the restroom. Was forced to urinate on my mattress. It felt like torture. It was torture. Unfortunately, I do not possess the records for that specific time period.
Restraints
I have witnessed my roommate - and 80 year old woman - be put in restraints for hours on end. I have also witnessed numerous other patients undergo the same type of treatment.
There is also the example of Jeffrey James where "physical restraints triggered the “pulmonary thromboembolism” (blot clot in lungs that traveled from James’ leg) that killed Jeffrey James. A young 34-year old black man, Jeffrey died a horrible death in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto’s notorious psychoprison, on July 13, 2005." (source:http://rickpdx.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/stories-from-mental-hell-treatment/)
Forcible Injection
This is perhaps one of the most horrific experiences for me. If you go through the records I attained from my hospital, it clearly states that I have a "needle phobia". One day, I refused medication. I learned the hard way never to question or refuse medication. I was escorted to my room by security, as it states in my records. What they fail to mention in the records is that once they mentioned a needle I agreed to take a handful of pills. I was then told I was needed to be "taught a lesson". Two large male security guards began ripping off my pants. I have been a victim of sexual assault in the past, so naturally I was attempting to fight them off. The nurses who had gathered were laughing and telling me that the more I fought the more it was going to hurt. It was dehumanizing. The records state that the injection was "effective as patient is more settled." If by settled they meant sobbing uncontrollably due to shame and humiliation, then yes, I was indeed "settled." I still have nightmares to this day.
On March 4th 2013, Mr. Juan E Mendez -the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of punishment - made a speech at the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council focusing on the "abuse in health-care settings." He also "emphasizes how certain treatments run afoul the prohibition on torture and ill-treatment". He goes on by demonstrating "how abusing practices in health-care setting meet the definition of torture"
I highly recommend checking out what he had to say:
The first step towards addressing issues of human rights is acknowledgement, which many of us have never received from our governments. The UN holds no real power, only the power of suggestion. What the UN did do however is set a foundation for people like me to make an argument that this type abuse is in fact a gross violation of human rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment