Help Alicia Pointon Escape Psychiatric Imprisonment and Forced Drugging in the UK
Update – November 22, 2025: Alicia is still locked up at Priory Hospital in Norwich, England. She has a hearing coming up which we may be able to attend. We’ll keep you posted.
Alicia Pointon is locked up at Priory Hospital in Norwich, England. She is being forcibly drugged with an antipsychotic. Alicia has been “sectioned” as they call it in the United Kingdom. Adding to her desperation is the fact that the hospital refuses to treat her for a traumatic brain injury she has suffered, evidence of which she has shared with us in medical records.
She has had at least one tribunal in which her detention has been confirmed by the court.
According to the United Kingdom Mental Health Act, in order to detain a person the following two conditions must be met:
- The patient is suffering from a mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to receive medical treatment.
- It is necessary for his health or safety or for the protection of other persons that he should receive such treatment.
In Alicia’s case, there does not appear to be sufficient evidence that, were she not in hospital, her safety and health or the safety and health of other persons would be jeopardized.
Therefore, we are asking Shield members to take the following actions:
Call the hospital and ask to speak with Dr. Buffton, Alicia’s psychiatrist. Ask Dr. Buffton to do what he can do to release Alicia from the hospital. If you are unable to speak with Dr. Buffton, leave a message to that effect. The hospital phone number is 011441953459000.
Send an email to: prioryhospitalnorwichredwood@priorygroup.com, put “Request of Dr. Buffton” or something like that in the Subject and begin the message with “Dear Dr. Buffton”.
I just sent an email to Dr. Buffton asking her to stop the forced drugging of Alicia and release her from the hospital.
I sent an email addressed to Dr Buffton this evening requesting that he facilitate Alicia’s release from Priory Hospital.
Dear MFI Volunteers,
I could not find a Dr. Buffton online for this Shield Alert. However, I found UK Psychiatrist Dr. Joan Bufton joan.bufton@nsft.nhs.uk 07919397574. Please ask Alicia if this is her psychiatrist. If so, it is important to fix the misspelling and it provides an additional contact. Additionally, I request that the volunteer team post these comments soon because some MFI members will procrastinate not knowing what to write until they see an example they like. Thank you for your consideration.
I sent an email to liberate Alicia from this horrific cruelty. The doctors will absolutely know what they’re doing…these people act like hapless cogs in what are actually human slaughter houses. I hope the world watches and wakes up to the fact that these cogs will put you in their assembly lines soon enough, until we all fight back together.
This is a powerful call to action. Alicias situation is deeply concerning, and its inspiring to see people unite to support her. The details about the Mental Health Act add a crucial legal perspective. Lets hope Dr. Buffton and the hospital take this seriously and prioritize Alicias well-being.
Always with politeness and respect I have sent a message to Dr.
I just sent a short note to Dr. Buffton asking him to please release Alicia. I pointed out that she has the same rights we all have.
Dear Dr. Buffton,
I am a member of the psychiatric rights organization MindFreedom International. I am writing to you to show my support and express my concern for your patient Alicia Pointon. I am requesting that you amend her course of treatment to minimize forced drugging and discharge her as soon as possible.
While I cannot make a specific recommendation, I have two ideas for this. First, psychotherapy (such as ACT, CBT/MBCT and DBT) can help her develop skills to better cope with her mental health condition and unlike medication, its benefits are permanent. Second, antipsychotics are not always the best treatment for psychosis. If the psychosis is caused by a traumatic brain injury, then neurofeedback training is usually a better fit and unlike medication, its benefits are permanent.
Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Kenneth Beitler
I advocated for her release. Hopefully things go well. Thanks.
I called and spoke with someone at the hospital. Initially, it seemed like they were going to be nice, but then they disconnected the call. I called and stated that I was calling on behalf of Alicia and wanted to ask Dr. Buffton to release her.