Human Rights Commission
Media Release
16 May 2007

Commissioners seek ban on ECT for children

The Human Rights Commission and the Health and Disability Commissioner say the use of ECT (electro convulsive treatment) should be banned for children and never used without informed consent in other cases unless it is the only option.

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan and the Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson were speaking before the Health Select Committee hearing evidence on a petition asking Parliament to create tighter restrictions on the use of ECT.

"We are seeing an increasing number of people who feel they have suffered serious and sometimes permanent damage from the treatment", said Ms Noonan.

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson said under current legislation a competent person could be ordered to undergo the treatment by a psychiatrist even if they did not want it. "No competent individual or anyone who has given a clear advance refusal should be forced to have ECT against their will", said Mr Paterson.

In all other cases, non consensual ECT should be a treatment of last resort where an independent psychiatrist certifies that it is necessary in the patient's best interests.

The therapy is used to treat cases of severe depression and has been the subject of a review by the Ministry of Health. The petition to the Select Committee has been organised to reinforce the need for urgent action to restrict the use of ECT.

ENDS

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