[Greens-Media] ECT pushed through

[Manderson, Roland]

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey Media Release

Friday 26 Aug 2005 

================
ECT pushed through
===============

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey today moved to refer to Assembly Committee the Government's Bill to speed up the emergency administration of involuntary Electro-Convulsive Treatment (ECT) in the ACT, but was opposed by both the Government and the Opposition.

"The Bill reduced from three days to one the time needed for the emergency administration of involuntary ECT. The Greens are concerned that over a holiday or a weekend the Public Advocate might not be able to attend the Mental Health Tribunal hearing that is authorising the treatment; nor might carers or family" Dr Foskey said today.

"There are real issues with the involuntary administration of any treatment which can permanently affect patients; and the Government had to withdraw this Bill once already because of how it treated the human rights of patients.  We still can't be sure that all the  safeguards are in place and I had hoped to refer this Bill to the Assembly's Health Committee to look at that issue."  

"I think we should remember that some people are legitimately opposed to ECT under any circumstances, and where possible we should respect their position."

"The report on the implementing the ACT Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan, tabled yesterday in the Assembly, includes a commitment to developing advance agreements with Mental Health Service clients. Such agreements are an important way people, and their carers and doctors, can agree to the kind of treatments they are prepared - and not prepared - to accept when they are unwell." 

"In referring the Bill to the committee, I was also asking it to look at the progress of this advance agreement project, as such agreements give the patient a voice in the use of involuntary treatment."  

"Unfortunately both the Government and the Opposition seem wedded to the notion that the Bill before us is good enough" Dr Foskey said. 

 
================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged.
If you are not the intended recipient:
Please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately.
You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------