Treatment Advocacy Center Retraction
June 6, 2002 -- URGENT
To:
Mary Zdanowicz, Director
Treatment Advocacy Center
Board of Directors
Treatment Advocacy Center
Board of Directors
Stanely Foundation
From:
David Oaks, Director, Support Coalition International
Re:
Your misstatement today on the radio about important medical information:
request for public apology and retraction
Just now on the radio show Public Interest, the moderator Kojo Nnamdi read this
question from me, to you:
"The Treatment Advocacy Center web site has information on it that the main
psychiatric drugs used during forced treatment -- neuroleptics -- are linked to
structural brain changes. Why doesn't Mary ever talk about that when she
discussed forced treatment?"
You responded that my claim about the the TAC web site was untrue, and that your
web site information was "quite the contrary."
However, here is the web page where TAC plainly admits that neuroleptic drugs
(also called anti-psychotics) "produce structural brain changes":
http://www.psychlaws.org/BriefingPapers/BP1.htm
You instead referred on the air to totally different information that some
neuroleptic-naive people (that is, people who have never taken neuroleptic
drugs) sometimes already have some brain differences from the "average" before
starting to take neuroleptics.
You answered my question about apples, by talking about oranges.
There's no wiggle room on this.
Mary, you are apparently behind the times on the medical research and even your
own web site, or you are purposely putting up a smoke screen to hide this
serious issue. Once more, TAC has done a disservice to the nation.
Human and animal studies about neuroleptic-induced structural brain changes show
changes that cannot be accounted for by initial brain differences among
neuroleptic- naive subjects.
Some studies about neuroleptic-induced structural brain changes even link these
brain changes to the length and level of dosages. One is even a CT longitudinal
study showing progressive changes during the course of treatment.
Some changes are so severe in humans they include actual shrinkage and swelling
of areas of the brain visible under brain scans, such as MRI.
For more information about some of the many well-established studies that raise
warning flags about neuroleptic-induced structural brain changes see:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/ioc/scan.shtml
Yes, these are complex issues. But there's no excuse for covering-up fundamental
information that your own web site even admits.
The bottom line is: Your web site admits neuroleptics produce structural brain
changes. And you denied that on the air.
Mary, on behalf of Support Coalition International we request that you issue a
public apology and retraction of this misstatement.
I am copying this to the radio show moderator, Kojo Nnamdi.
This kind of apparently intentional medical misinformation could potentially
lead to severe harm by misleading many individuals. This creates a moral and
legal liability for the board of directors of TAC and your funding organization.
You referred to how there are several mental health consumers and psychiatric
survivors on your board of directors. I would like to know whether or not your
misstatement -- which amounts to an intentional or unintentional error on key
medical information to the public -- accurately represents the intent of your
board.
Finally, I would like to know if your primary funder -- the Stanley Foundation
-- also stands behind your misstatement? The Stanley Foundation is supposed to
be a major funder of brain research. Would they agree to such a cover-up?
Therefore, I am copying this to the Stanley Foundation, and request that their
board of directors also be informed.
Sincerely,
--
David Oaks, Director
Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216
PO Box 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org
web: http://mindfreedom.org
phone: (541) 345-9106
toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE
fax: (541) 345-3737
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 16:40:50 -0400
From: "Mary Zdanowicz" <maryz@psychlaws.org>
To: <oaks@mindfreedom.org>
Cc: <pi@wamu.org>
Dear David:
Thanks for pointing this out. You are right, I misheard the question. I took it
to mean that all brain changes are caused by medications. This issue is
clarified in the briefing paper on our website at http://www.psychlaws.org/BriefingPapers/BP1.htm
I would have no problem if Kojo Nnamdi wishes to clarify my point on a future
show. And you can feel free to make this message as public as you want.
All the best,
Mary
To: "Mary Zdanowicz" <maryz@psychlaws.org>
From: David Oaks - Support Coalition International/MindFreedom
<oaks@mindfreedom.org>
Subject: Thanks, potential for dialogue -- but a public statement is
called for.
Cc: <pi@wamu.org>
Bcc:
X-Attachments:
Dear Mary,
Thanks much for your prompt reply and for acknowledging your error. I know
acknowledging an error can be challenging; and given our opposition to each
other's views, I personally appreciate the response.
Mary, I still do believe that due to the seriousness of the subject, and the way
it was broadcast to many thousands of people, that a public statement that
included some kind of retraction and apology to the public would be much
appreciated, and far more appropriate.
I appreciate Kojo holding this show. This is a unique chance to have the
beginning of a dialogue. Let me try:
Kojo read my question to you. While I cannot question the intent of someone
else, I do believe the long-term silence by TAC about this troubling question of
neuroleptic-induced structural brain changes is the key problem, not a simple
misunderstanding about the wording of a very clear question. TAC as an
organization is ignoring this unintended consequence of neuroleptics.
And I think I know why you made the error. E. Fuller Torrey has a new paper
about neuroleptic-naive people diagnosed schizophrenic. But he is issuing that
as a challenge to a totally different subtle debate, namely: Breggin et al.
questioned the neurobiological root of what is called "schizophrenia" by
claiming that brain differences could be explained because of neuroleptics. (By
the way, since none of Dr. Torrey's citations are for any approach that is
reliably diagnostic, it is still not a full refutation of Dr. Breggin's main
claim that there is no proof of a neurobiological cause of what is called
schizophrenia.")
E. Fuller Torrey needs to make it more clear with you and others this above
argument is still consistent with the fact that neuroleptics produce structural
brain change.
I notice TAC has been eager to talk about brain damage in another way, in a
highly speculative way. I have heard a TAC representative claim that forced
neuroleptics will *prevent* brain damage because frequently quitting and
starting neuroleptics may stress the brain. So I notice TAC will talk about a
highly-speculative theory about neuroleptics and brain damage, but has not
openly discussed the dilemma of neuroleptic-induced brain damage in debates on
this subject.
This is like refusing to talk about plutonium's risks in discussing nuclear
power. I was in the peace/environmental movement, and know how often scientists
would distort information about basic issues involving radiation.
Clearly, science in the public interest takes everyone -- not just a tiny group
of primarily upper income scientists. Because I have seen time and again their
own self-interest cloud their actions and statements in ways they seem unable to
perceive. No, we all need each other -- everyone -- to do the best we can, with
science.
Democracy clearly needs an introduction to the mental health system.
Kojo has opened a window on that process. Please hear us:
Mary, so many times you have equated involuntary treatment of someone diagnosed
schizophrenic as "taking medication." Like many other members, many
psychiatrists diagnosed me as schizophrenic. I was told I needed to take
neuroleptics the rest of my life -- and that was in the mid-1970's.
My family supported my decision to "try freedom" as my mother put it, and I was
able to quit all psychiatric drugs in 1977.
My family's psychosocial support, the peer mutual support I found with Judi
Chamberlin and other psychiatric survivors at the time, changes in nutrition and
exercise, and my personal activism in our social change movement all played a
role in my recovery.
Similar factors also assisted John Nash.
Shouldn't others who want to choose a non-drug option have that choice?
Mary, no offense, but during your serious error on national radio, it was you
who displayed "lack of insight." That's totally human. But why would you and
psychiatrists have more understanding of what I need, then me? You talk about
the history of violence of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.
What about the history of violence by psychiatry against our sisters and
brothers? Doesn't this display that psychiatry itself has experienced
a long-term lack of insight, too?
John Nash, Dan Fisher, me and a lot of other people diagnosed "schizophrenic"
apparently knew more than the psychiatric industry about what we needed -- We
showed more "insight" than the industry. We chose non-drug alternatives. Other
Americans deserve that choice, but forced procedures -- including forced
drugging -- robs them of that.
Nicotine addiction robs many people's lives, and some argue that addiction robs
them of their ability to quit. Does that mean we should then force people, in
order to save their lives? It just doesn't work.
Basic American values of freedom, empowerment, self-determination, equality do
not end when someone experiences severe mental and emotional problems. Even
someone in the criminal justice system deserves to be free of "cruel and unusual
punishment." I say today that a procedure that can change the very shape of the
brain -- that can literally shrink the frontal lobes and swell other parts of
the brain -- is one of the cruelest and most unusual punishments I could
imagine.
Many of our members choose to take neuroleptics. At one point, I chose
psychiatric drugs. Do not describe us as simply being "anti."
You have a few token individuals who had psychiatric diagnoses on your board.
But you are not listening to why every single group led by mental health
consumers and psychiatric survivors opposes your divisive approach because it is
dangerous to others. You are not hearing us. And isn't that, basically, a
profound type of disability in and of itself? Aren't all human beings "disabled"
in this way? Isn't this why we all need each other, why we need humility, why we
need to strive for nonviolence with each other? And that nonviolence includes
opposing something so profound, so intrusive, so potentially irreversible as
forcing neuroleptics into me and others.
TAC has focused so much on individuals who have committed horrible acts of
violence. But what about those of us diagnosed schizophrenic who are nonviolent?
Your sweeping call for massive forced drugging targets us too.
I am also saddened that I've heard Treatment Advocacy Center representatives
claim that the newer neuroleptics make forced drugging okay because there
appears to be less tardive dyskinesia (which can, as you know, result in
permanent twitching). However, there are many indications that the newer
neuroleptics may be causing an even more profound alteration of the higher level
parts of the brain than the older types of neuroleptics. In any case, these are
fairly recent drugs. Sweeping generalizations that the development of atypicals
frees us from the ethical quandary of neuroleptic hazards are counterproductive
and, frankly, immoral.
I appreciate Kojo's show, because it has led to at least some dialogue. It is
time to hear from the many people -- including John Nash and hundreds of others
-- about what really helped them recover. Why is there such a lack of curiosity
from society and the mental health profession, and Treatment Advocacy Center,
about how these voluntary noncoercive approaches helped so much, and how we can
all make them more widely available?
Please, a step in this direction would be issuing a public retraction and
apology. I know that may be difficult. But many of our members struggling with
tardive dyskinesia, or heartbreaks because of other severe problems associated
with involuntary neuroleptics of them and loved ones, are also struggling.
Our members have reported feeling emotionally frightened by the Treatment
Advocacy Center's activities. Our people have been through a lot and they
deserve more. And they have survived so very much abuse and neglect, they will
survive TAC's attack on their human rights, and continue to peacefully do one of
the most powerful things: tell the truth.
And thank you Kojo for opening the window to a dialogue about an issue that all
Americans deserve to be involved in. Just as Americans now discuss energy
policy, urban sprawl and race issues, Americans need to become familiar with
subjects like neuroleptic-induced structural brain changes, electroshock, the
harm of coercion, and alternatives that help lead to full recovery. Thanks for
helping that process.
Sincerely,
- David Oaks, Director, Support Coalition International
