Chelmsford royal commission
Encyclopedia
The Chelmsford Royal Commission
(1988–1990), chaired by Justice John Patrick Slattery, was established by the New South Wales
state government to investigate "Mental Health Services" in NSW. It came about only after prominent Sydney radio and TV shows pressured the newly-elected Health Minister to make good his promises for a Royal Commission. Its prime focus had originally been promised as psychosurgery at the NSW Neuropsychiatric Institute. Following media pressure it focused more on the "Deep sleep therapy
" of Dr Harry Bailey
, who was director from 1963 to 1979 of the Neuropsychiatric Institute and later the Chelmsford Private Hospital, a private psychiatric institution in Sydney.
Such was the shift of public attention that the Royal Commission changed its title from "Royal Commission into Mental Health Services" to "Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy".
The Royal Commission found that 24 patients died as a result of "deep sleep therapy", a treatment where a cocktail of drugs was administered to keep patients unconscious for weeks at a time, only waking them up for Electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT).
Deep Sedation Therapy had been used in the 1950s in Canada in brainwashing experiments for the CIA, the psychiatrist involved was Donald Ewen Cameron
, President of the World Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Bailey sought to get evidence in his defence from prominent Melbourne Psychiatrist Alex Sinclair (deceased), which revealed that Sinclair had used deep sedation therapy (apparently without the ECT). Dr. Sinclair said in a subsequent newspaper interview that he had given the treatment to prominent people including judges and politicians. The Victorian Coroner found that Sinclair had contributed to the death of a patient given deep sedation therapy in 1987.
A Victorian private psychiatric hospital which was associated with a quasi religious sect, Newhaven, "specialised in the use of LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), Deep Sleep Therapy and ECT."
Dr. Harry Bailey had previous to this treatment been an advocate for lobotomies including appearing in court for homosexuals (when homosexuality was both illegal and a mental illness) and getting them off charges, with the minor inconvenience of being sent to the US to receive a lobotomy.
Dr Bailey committed suicide in September 1985, in response to the ongoing investigations into his practices. In his suicide note, he said: "Let it be known that the Scientologists and the forces of madness have won".
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
(1988–1990), chaired by Justice John Patrick Slattery, was established by the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
state government to investigate "Mental Health Services" in NSW. It came about only after prominent Sydney radio and TV shows pressured the newly-elected Health Minister to make good his promises for a Royal Commission. Its prime focus had originally been promised as psychosurgery at the NSW Neuropsychiatric Institute. Following media pressure it focused more on the "Deep sleep therapy
Deep Sleep Therapy
Deep sleep therapy , also called prolonged sleep treatment or continuous narcosis, is a psychiatric treatment based on the use of psychiatric drugs to render patients unconscious for a period of days or weeks.-History:...
" of Dr Harry Bailey
Harry Bailey
Harry Richard Bailey was a controversial Australian psychiatrist. He bore the primary responsibility for treatment of mental patients via Sledge hammers, and other methods, at a Sydney mental hospital. He has been linked with the deaths of a total of 85 patients...
, who was director from 1963 to 1979 of the Neuropsychiatric Institute and later the Chelmsford Private Hospital, a private psychiatric institution in Sydney.
Such was the shift of public attention that the Royal Commission changed its title from "Royal Commission into Mental Health Services" to "Royal Commission into Deep Sleep Therapy".
The Royal Commission found that 24 patients died as a result of "deep sleep therapy", a treatment where a cocktail of drugs was administered to keep patients unconscious for weeks at a time, only waking them up for Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
(ECT).
Deep Sedation Therapy had been used in the 1950s in Canada in brainwashing experiments for the CIA, the psychiatrist involved was Donald Ewen Cameron
Donald Ewen Cameron
Donald Ewen Cameron , commonly referred to as "D. Ewen Cameron" or "Ewen Cameron," was a twentieth-century Scottish-born psychiatrist who was involved in the United States Central Intelligence Agency's research on mind control and served as President of the Canadian, American and World Psychiatric...
, President of the World Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Bailey sought to get evidence in his defence from prominent Melbourne Psychiatrist Alex Sinclair (deceased), which revealed that Sinclair had used deep sedation therapy (apparently without the ECT). Dr. Sinclair said in a subsequent newspaper interview that he had given the treatment to prominent people including judges and politicians. The Victorian Coroner found that Sinclair had contributed to the death of a patient given deep sedation therapy in 1987.
A Victorian private psychiatric hospital which was associated with a quasi religious sect, Newhaven, "specialised in the use of LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), Deep Sleep Therapy and ECT."
Dr. Harry Bailey had previous to this treatment been an advocate for lobotomies including appearing in court for homosexuals (when homosexuality was both illegal and a mental illness) and getting them off charges, with the minor inconvenience of being sent to the US to receive a lobotomy.
Dr Bailey committed suicide in September 1985, in response to the ongoing investigations into his practices. In his suicide note, he said: "Let it be known that the Scientologists and the forces of madness have won".