[MF-NYS-NEWS] Speak Out in NY State on Forced Electroshock! 4 Events in 2 Weeks!

Thu Jul 19 16:25:38 CDT 2007

MindFreedom New York Alert - 19 July 2007
http://www.mindfreedom.org - important: please forward!

    Concerned about forced electroshock in New York State by the  
Office of Mental Health (OMH)?

    Here's how you can speak out!

    Go to one or all of these four (4) OMH public events in the next  
two weeks!

As you may know, the New York Office of mental health is aggressively  
pursuing involuntary (forced) electroshock over the expressed wishes  
of some of their clients, such as "Simone D."

Now you can speak out peacefully but forcefully face to face with OMH  
officials at four (4) OMH public briefings and hearings in the next  
two weeks.

One event is on the subject of "recipient affairs," and the other  
three on their "Comprehensive Plan" will include OMH Commissioner Hogan.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brief Background about Forced Shock in NY State:

Courageous attorneys Kim Darrow and Dennis Feld have fought hard for  
clients facing forced electroshock, also known as electroconvulsive  
therapy or ECT.

Unfortunately, in the case of Simone D., they lost.

Now Simone's right to say "no" to forced electroshock is in the court  
of public opinion.

For a news release about this campaign including how to lobby about  
Simone D. by e-mail go to:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-abuse/electroshock

Now New York State residents can speak out directly face-to-face at  
OMH public events in July 2007!

The Office of Mental Health has announced a number of public events  
where *YOU* can speak out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are four (4) known OMH public events left in July!

**** RECIPIENT MEETING

An OMH Recipient Advisory Committee will be held on Monday, 23 July  
23 2007, at 3 pm, and will continue on Tuesday. We hear these are  
fairly large events. Just show up early, fill out your own name tag,  
and join in! Location: Comfort Inn, 99 Miller Road, East Greenbush,  
New York. Phone for Comfort In: (518) 479-3217.

For more info and directions to this Recipient Affairs meeting on 23  
July go to:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/new-york-state/recipient-affairs

**** COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETINGS

Three (3) briefings and public hearings will also be held with OMH  
Commissioner Hogan about their "Comprehensive Plan" in these next two  
weeks!

These three (3) public meetings are on the 20th (Syracuse), 30th (New  
York City), and 31st (at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Long Island).  
Each of these "Comprehensive Plan" meetings has a 10 am briefing  
followed by a 2 pm public hearing.

You can find the exact date, time and locations for the three  
"Comprehensive Plan" hearings here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/new-york-state/omh-meetings

Or go directly to the OMH web page here:

http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/News/ 
Briefing_Hearing_Announcement.html

Or use: http://tinyurl.com/ywae4t

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHY SPEAK OUT ABOUT FORCED ELECTROSHOCK IN NEW YORK STATE?

OMH Commissioner Hogan intends to be at these hearings asking about  
their "Comprehensive Plan." In OMH's own words he will ask, "Are  
services consumer and family centered and consumer and family driven?"

Even one single forced electroshock means the answer is: "No, No, No!"

You are encourage to attend all or any of these four events and speak  
out!

While of course you may want to sign up early for the public hearing,  
given the urgency of the situation some individuals may want to  
consider nonviolent creative ways to make their concerns known at  
other times during the event including the "briefing": banner, sign,  
symbol, hand-outs, etc.

Perhaps you can find out some answers.

For instance, at the recipient meetings especially, you can ask why  
did John Allen, director of OMH Recipient Affairs, claimed to  
MindFreedom recently that "less than a dozen" New York State citizens  
received court-ordered electroshock without their consent last year  
at OMH facilities, and that the number of forced shocks is going down?

What is his data based on? What are the exact numbers?

Why has just one region of NY State, the few counties served by  
Darrow & Feld, had more than 15 OMH applications for forced shock in  
just the past six months for 2007, alone? And that's just one region?

Why does OMH claim that Commissioner Hogan's hands are tied by the  
courts, when John Allen at the same time also claims OMH has been  
able to take pro-active steps to lower the amount of forced shock in  
the past few years?

Whether or not OMH actually did lower the number of forced shock in  
the last few years, by his statement then of course OMH admits to  
having discretion.

At the very least Commissioner Hogan can make a public announcement  
of a goal to end forced shock! Commissioner Hogan spoke out during  
the President's New Freedom Commission that he supported empowerment  
and self-determination.

Now is his chance to show it!

And isn't it true that each and every court-ordered involuntary  
electroshock must begin with a REQUEST initiated by OMH to the courts?

Stand up... speak out... spread the word!

Stop Forced Electroshock in New York State!!

~~~~~~~~~

THIS JUST IN!

MindFreedom Free Live Internet Radio will have a special call-in show  
about forced electroshock in New York State with one or both lawyers  
for Simone D.! Listen and call-in live by clicking on http:// 
prncomm.net this Wednesday, 25 July 2007, at 4 pm ET.

Info on MindFreedom Internet radio here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/radio

~~~~~~~~~~

And remember, no matter what, keep up the peaceful pressure on the  
five New York State officials listed in the human rights alert. It  
takes you just a moment to e-mail in your concern... about the same  
time it takes to administer a forced electroshock!

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-abuse/electroshock

~~~~~~~~~~

The above alert is on the web at:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/new-york-state/speak-out-july-2007

or go to:

http://tinyurl.com/2o7cdx

More information about NY State, including getting on this news list:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/new-york-state

More info about MindFreedom, including how to join as a member and  
get on NY State discussion list:

http://www.mindfreedom.org

URGENT: Please forward this to others who care about human rights in  
New York State!