The Royal College of Psychiatrists beat the American Psychiatric Association in publishing an "update" to their patient information leaflet on ECT.
The leaflet begins well intentioned, stating "You – and your doctors – need to be sure that you are fully informed when making a decision about whether to have ECT or not." After outlining what the pamphlet will discuss, the Royal College placed a HUGE disclaimer which states in part "Although we make reasonable efforts to compile accurate information in our resources and to update the information in our resources, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in this resource is accurate, complete or up to date."
In other words, the Royal College of Psychiatry is publishing a leaflet which they do not feel confident in and don't want patients, family members or caregivers to assume the information provided therein is "accurate, complete or up to date."
We've discovered this consistently when discussing ECT. It would seem that more and more doctors providing ECT (and those who support them) provide false information not only to the patients, but also to the press.
Today's article in the UK states that "Supporters of ECT point out that modern treatments use lower voltages and are better targeted to areas of the brain."
In fact, modern ECT machines use 4-6 times more electrical power than original ECT. The explanation is quite simple: when doctors began using anesthesia in "modern ECT" way back in the late 1960's, it raises seizure threshold. That means a body will not have a seizure unless more electricity is uses. Old machines used between 90-110 volts/150-200 milliamps. "Modern ECT" machines use between 250-450 volts/750-900 milliamps electricity.
The notion that Modern ECT is "better targeted to areas of the brain" is absolutely baseless (in both forms of the word). There is no way to "target" up to 450 volts of electricity when ramming it through a substance comprosed of 72% water. Just like the wayward fingers of a lightning bolt, electricity will simply take the path of least resistance through the water.
That's why people getting ECT frequently experience visual spatial perception problems (Parietal Lobe). Additionally, the 1978 taskforce on ECT by the APA declared the focal point of the charge in modern bilateral electrode placement is the brainstem. Neither the parietal lobe nor the brain stem are recognized for targeted theraputic treatment of psychiatric disorders.
The American Psychiatric Association hasn't updated their ECT Handbook since 2001. When they finally do, will they have a similar disclaimer on their book that "[makes] no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in this resource is accurate, complete or up to date" that contents therein can be guaranteed?
Hospitals in the UK use the Royal College of Psychiatrists patient information leaflet for informed consenting purposes, as do hospitals in the US use APA information on ECT for informed consent purposes.
It looks like psychiatry doesn't understand what informed consent means, nor are they willing to provide it.
Please sign this petition to update informed consent worldwide.