The 57th Maudsley Debate : “This house believes that ECT has no place in modern medicine.” : 19th September 2018 : Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF

[Julia Evans]

From University of East Anglia’s media statement :

UEL Psychology Professor to condemn the use of ECT in forthcoming Maudsley debate.
“This house believes that ECT has no place in modern medicine.”

 

The Institute of Psychiatry presents a debate about one of the most controversial areas

in modern psychology - electro-convulsive therapy.

For the 57^th Maudsley Debate Psychology Professor John Read will propose the motion

"This house believes that ECT has no place in modern medicine."

 

The seconder is Dr Sue Cunliffe, who was a paediatrician until being incapacitated by ECT. 

 

Arguing against are psychiatrists Professor Declan McLoughlin and Dr Sameer Jauhar. 

 

Professor John Read, of the University of East London, commented:

“I have published several reviews of the ECT research. No study has ever found that ECT is more effective than

placebo at follow up. The general anaesthetic alone works just as well as following it with the electric shock.”

 

“Given the brain damage inevitably caused by 150 volts through the brain, the cost-benefit analysis for ECT

is so poor that it should be abandoned.”

 

“The use of ECT in England has fallen from 50,000 people a year in the 1970s to about 2,500 now.

Hopefully, we will soon be able to add ECT to the list of bizarre treatments we don’t use any more,

such as lobotomies, rotating chairs, and standing people next to cannons.”

 

Dr Cunliffe added:

“I feel lucky to be in a position to represent the thousands of people who like me have had their lives destroyed by ECT.”

“We have all endured similar fates and been left unsupported and traumatised by the denial of our devastating injuries,

including memory loss. We have lost our jobs and financial security. It has damaged our families.”

 

The debate takes place at Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF on September 19^th at  6pm.

____________________________________________________________________
Julia Evans 
Mail to: je.la...@icloud.com

Website: www.LacanianWorks.net
Practicing Lacanian Psychoanalyst, 

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