FDA Advisory Committee On Electro Shock

Please Forward


US Federal Committee To Have Meeting About Electroshock Devices

Electroshock Survivors Invited to Speak Out


On January 27 and 28, 2011, an US Food & Drug Administration committee
will "discuss and make recommendations regarding the possible
reclassification of devices indicated for use in electroconvulsive
therapy."

More info:

http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ucm234979.htm

Background:

~~~~~

The FDA has appointed an advisory committee to assist it to determine
if ECT devices will be moved from Class III to Class II, or as many
have proposed, to require the manufacturers to submit a "Pre-Market
Application" which they should have been required to do 35 years ago.

If the Committee agrees to downgrade the risk of ECT to Class II, it
will be more readily available, and the manufacturers will never have
been required to prove either that it is safe, nor that it is effective.

ECT survivors may briefly speak to the committee in this public
meeting to provide their story or perspective on the harms caused to
them by ECT. Communication of long term harms is especially
important, as the manufacturuers and ECT advocates all claim that ECT
has no long term ill effects - no long term memory loss - no long term
effect of reducing ability to learn and remember new information.

Persons wishing to speak at this important meeting may contact James
Engles at James.Engles@fda.hhs.gov. There will certainly be
psychistrists and manufacturers representatives and others claiming
ECT is a life saving treatment. The Committee needs to hear from mean
people who know that is not true.

~~~~~

Please forward.