167 Comments

1. Dear Ms. Stiehl,
   I was a volunteer for Catholic Community Charities for several years in Topeka, Ks. I delivered groceries and took shut-ins to appointments & such. I moved to Southern California several years ago and they just don’t have the same program where I live now, or I’d have continued.

   I’m extremely surprised that Catholic Community Charities is approving of ECT for any of their wards ever. I am surprised for 3 reasons. The UN claims it’s torture to do this. Surely, the United Nations wouldn’t use the term torture, lightly? The manufacturers of the ECT devices themselves warn that it causes brain damage & memory loss.
   The FDA itself has not approved the ECT devices.
   Why would you let a doctor play God like this?
   Please don’t let the people God has let you care for on His behalf be subjected to torture.
   Sincerely,
   Lori Daniels

   Reply

2. Kudos for all the people here who oppose the drugging and electroshock torture of the kidnap victim David Russell.

   fyi, you can read much of the paper trail at https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch

   You can demand the offenders’ removal from the medical profession at Medical.Board@state.mn.us

   You can demand the offending lawyers’ removal from the legal profession at OLPRComplaintDocs@courts.state.mn.us

   You can demand the judges get kicked off the bench at http://www.bjs.state.mn.us/complaints goto online complaint form

   Send everyone this MindFreedom webpage link with all the replies.

   For any planned demonstrations in front of the courthouse (or any other courthouse if you are far away), protesters should apply for permission from the presiding judge.

   Daniel M
   California

   Reply

   • And the email address SCAOExaminer@courts.state.mn.us should receive complaints against any guardian or conservator who authorized the kidnapping and torture.

     The emails provided are for reader convenience. There are also postal addresses, telephone and fax numbers for the above agencies.

3. 6 David Russell tweets:
   https://x.com/search?q=david%20russell%20%2540realjannaweiss

   Reply

4. To Drs. Schak, Baicker, Callstrom, Forseca, Rihal, et al.,

   I understand that your patient, Mr. David Russell, is continuing to endure forced electroshocks treatments against his will under Dr. Schak orders.

   I am a neuroscientist with special expertise in forensics, both criminology and criminalistics. Dr. Schak: with urgency, I ask that you immediately withdrawal your electroshock orders.

   There are about 90 billion neurons in the human brain equating to trillions of synaptic connections. Electroshock treatments induce global excitation in the brain, killing numbers of neurons and their connectivity.

   Resultantly, electroshock treatment can cause irreparable physical damage to the brain at the neuronal level, adversely impacting cognition, mentation and memory processes. Further, forced therapeutics are a civil rights violation and may meet the criteria for torture. Yet you persist.

   Electroshock is bad science and bad clinical practice. How can you reconcile harming your patient’s brain? What are you doing?

   Withdraw your electroshock orders now.

   Sincerely,

   Reply

5. Ms/Miss/Mrs Lydia Stiehl
   Mike Hanratty

   What is going on?

   Good morning as it is in Australia at this time
   Switching around people in charge of a guardianship to avoid blame and accountability is not helping is it? Can you help David Russell please?

   Not a good day for those experiencing the results of indifference , and ?deference to just leaving things as is for Mr David Russell currently suffering torture without any challenge for mercy justice truth from Catholic “Charities”.
   Catholic Charities by ignoring David Russell’s capacity and plight. In deciding to condone his continued electrical brain shocking without his consent ruining his brain and memory this makes the Catholic church culpable for this ongoing damage..Charities surely must be a misnomer with hardly charitable acts.
   In turning a blind eye culturally to systemic abuses and to entrenched lies of incapacity or incompetence to a those who speak out , Catholic Charities are continuing to condone David’s forced electric shocking and forced drugging. Is this to further support a cosy relationship or something with Mayo Clinic,it’s apparently perpetrating enforced electric shock torture upon the victim’s of this incapacity lie. Supported decision making, independent agency and consent to any treatment and a resistance to abuse of power and ensuring David Russell’s voice be heard is surely what any ” guardian ” if imposed on somebody would release David from this nightmare.
   ECT manufacturers have been taken to court on harn to health on permanent brain damage ,memory loss whilst the Catholic Charities choruses the line that it’s all ok to just go on with electric shock and pharmaceutical interests. Employing those who toe the line in new positions or moving chess pieces around as seems to many is at cross purposes with any real courage to do what is right. And so called “treatment” is maltreatment ,to choose to perpetuate these decisions and continue lies to support electroshock. Why is the notion of a malpractice of medicine such as this appears to be obvious to many not named as a crime? To parallel this with the torture inflicted on people in wars is not far fetched. Electric shock is torture in the UN and I very much doubt any legalistic” guardianship ” wants to admit responsibility but it is surely inclusive in any ones book that a duty of care exists to prevent harm to anyone. Just to continue to just assume without question this incapacity , from opinion by the very clinic that is benefitting by getting paid to continue their practices within all this ,whilst trying to oppress the cry of David for help to resume his life without forced electric shock: conflicts of interests.

   David Russell has now been electrocuted four times and Dr Schak has power to stop this immediately on her order. Are there sadists at work here? What is going on that this evil can continue? Corruption, lies, power tripping? Trying to shut down David Russell because he is daring to question the very system that is trying with actual Catholic Charities support to take away his livelihood his life his capacity,his voice permanently. It is wrong and it must stop. This is wrong

   Please Act For Goodness Sake

   Stop the electric shock of David Russell.
   He has capacity and isn’t this maltreatment of electric shock seeking to take it away?

   Help David Russell please. Stop the electric shock. Stop the passing the buck.

   Kind regards Claire Gaudry
   Australia

   Reply

6. Email to Dr. Kathryn Schak
   Schak.Kathryn@mayo.edu

   Hello Kathryn

   I’m sure you’ve seen the shield alert by now. Please find it in your heart to do the right thing. This is not helping David and I know that you know that deep down. No matter who David’s guardian is, David is still a human being who deserves autonomy over his own body. He does not want the forced electroshock treatment. Please cease this barbaric practice

   Warmest regards

   Caitlin

   Reply

7. I called and left a message for Brittany at Catholic Charities.

   It appears that Lydia is his current case manager and her extension is not listed. I dialed a random ext between 220 and 240 (those are the extensions listed for the staff) and left a message there. I asked them as his guardian to please withdraw this electroshock petition

   Reply

8. Dear Governor Walz,

   I am writing in regards to David Russell who is being forcibly held in the psychiatric unit at Mayo Clinic. My main objective in reaching out to you today is to demand that the ECT ordered against David Russell’s wishes be cancelled. It seems a despicable move to do this to David after he was reassured at a hearing last month that ECT’s were not necessary. In fact they were talking about moving him to a less restrictive environment. Is it a common occurrence for people in the psychiatric unit at Mayo Clinic who are ready to be moved to a less restrictive environment to suddenly deteriorate while under your care? Why is that? Is he being given these ECT’s as a form of retaliation? What would Minnesota taxpayers think of their tax dollars being spent on to shock a man against his will? Is this truly the best use of hardworking Minnesotan tax dollars? I would be appalled if my tax dollars were spent on something the UN and WHO has stated is a torture.

   The United Nations has concluded Electroshock can constitute torture in violation of International Law. See, UN Human Rights Council. (19 June 2020). “Mental Health and Human Rights: Resolution 43/13 Adopted 19 June 2020.” A/HRC/RES/43/13. Geneva: United Nations; UN Human Rights Council. (20 Mar 2020). Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: Report of the Special Rapporteur. A/HRC/43/49. Geneva: United Nations; Méndez, Juan E. (4 Mar 2013). “Statement By Mr. Juan E Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.” Geneva: United Nations. See also the related Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan E. Méndez (2013), A/HRC/22/53. Geneva: United Nations.

   David is a bright man. He has a college education and has been employed as a white collar professional in software engineering. These accomplishments alone indicate that David is more than capable of deciding what he needs to ease his emotional distress and he says it is not ECT.

   David is rightfully concerned about the effects ECT will have on his brain. According to the UK National Association of Mental Health (mind.org/UK) research is unclear on how ECT affects the brain – including how it affects your mental health. Professionals cannot even come to an agreement as to whether ECT is even beneficial — a fact I find to be alarming. ECT often ends in memory loss. As if memory loss wasn’t enough ECT may result in a person’s inability to remember new information. Not being able to learn new information would impede a person’s ability to pursue future employment, a career or to pursue further education. Does any human being have the right to do this to another? Do we have the right to play God with another person’s brain? Do we have the right to incapacitate a person to the point that they can no longer pursue a career? Being able to remember new information is exactly what is required to find gainful employment and to live a fulfilling life from day to day.

   ECT causes electroporation leading to cell membrane damage leading to cell death. Due to the high voltages involved in ECT there is only limited cell repair. Even contact with minor voltage pulses can lead to deep tissue injuries. Do we have the right to injure someone’s brain? Do we have the right to determine the trajectory of his future by damaging his brain? Where is David’s right to self determination as a US citizen under the US Constitution?

   Being psychiatrically incarcerated is challenging enough but to force David to undergo ECT’s is a serious escalation of his situation. Psychiatric survivors who have been subjected to forced ECT describe it as a terrifying form of torture. They often describe the lack of agency and lack of power itself to be overwhelming. Sadly, I know this to be true from personal experience.

   I was subjected to forced ECT’s and I call it torture. To rob a mother of the memories of her children is one of the worse forms of torture you can do to a mother and to her children. The trauma of forced ECT’s haunts me to this day and will follow me to my death. Prior to the ECT’s my husband, children and I were temporarily living in Morocco. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. After experiencing a poisonous spider bite that took a year and a half to recover I broke down from the stress of it all and my doctor subjected me to forced ECT. I still have nightmares and probably always will but worse of all I lost all memories of living in Morocco. I lost all memories of my children at 4 and 6 enjoying Morocco. That was 24 years ago and I still grieve. And the older I get the more I grieve the loss of that year in Morocco with my precious family more and more. I find the closer one gets to the end of their lives, memories become far more valuable than objects and the size of one’s bank account. It’s beautiful memories of the past that can give us the strength to face the adversities of getting old. Memories are what gives our lives meaning. It is morally and ethically wrong to alter someone’s brain through ECT’s so that they forget some of the happiest moments of their lives — the very things that give life meaning. It’s an affront against God and Nature.

   My mother lost her father at the age of 16. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage during an ECT that was being administered to him against his will — leaving my grandmother with a newborn and seven other children to raise with no life insurance. The trauma of his murder by ECT continues to be passed down from one generation to the next. I never knew my grandfather but I feel the trauma of his death to this day and so do my adult children. I pray that my grandson will be spared the inner generational trauma of his great great grandfather’s death by ECT.

   Tinkering with people’s brains is neither dignifying nor respectful of life. David Russell is a child of God after all. I see zero respect for David’s dignity and life by violently forcing him to receive ECT’s that he has a right as a child of God to oppose.

   The United Nations Commission on Mental Health and Human Rights condemns the use of forced institutionalization and treatment and noted that it may amount to torture. The commission warns of people losing their legal capacity causing them to fall below legal purview through third parties (Conservatorship) giving consent to subject their client to forced ECT and institutionalization. According to the UN, a third party giving consent for his or her client to endure unwanted ECT may very well constitute torture.

   David may be under the care of the Mayo clinic but we will not let David be forgotten. We, at MindFreedom, care about David Russell.

   As an individual who has been greatly harmed by ECT I am pleading with you to stop forcing David Russell to undergo ECT’s he doesn’t want. It is not honoring David as a human being. It is not honoring the UN’s conclusion that to give someone ECT against their will constitutes torture. Therefore I am demanding you withdraw the petition of yours for the forced ECT of David Russell.

   Sincerely,
   Andrea Barnes

   Reply

9. My name is Martin Savage and i am a member of the British Neuroscience Association ( Certificate attached)

   I have been studying Evolutionary Neuroscience for over a decade and hope to release my Article in a Neuroscience magazine called “Sage” in the not too distant future. This publication once peer reviewed is circulated globally in the world of Neuroscience.

   My works focus is on the “Human Brain through evolution” and follows on from the “Triune” Brain model of Paul Donald Maclean. My Psychology/ Psychiatry model demonstrates clearly why these treatments are ineffective in the treatment of a patient who simply suffers with an “Unprocessed buried trauma” from some event in their life. I also intend to make my publication available on the Amazon platform and other digital media.

   I beg you to consider other methods to “Heal” the patients “Trauma”, not destroy brain cells to simply subdue them and cause further Psychological damage. I would advise you to look at the work of “Rick Doblin” and the guys at The “Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies” In America.

   Rick and his team have proven other methods are far more effective at healing “Buried Trauma” such as PTSD. The “Testimonials on their website speak for themselves. I encourage you to take a look and make an “Informed decision” about the future of Psychiatric treatment. Rick Doblin has also participated in a “Podcast” with “Jo Rogan” on “Spotify”. Next time your on a journey, have a listen, Spotify is free and knowledge is power.

   If after that you still believe your treatment is in the patients “Best Interest” despite killing brain cells in nothing more than a “Non Invasive Lobotomy” That’s between you and your conscious.

   What happened to the “Hippocratic Oath”?

   DO NO HARM!

   I wish you a good day
   Kind regards
   Martin Savage

   Reply

10. I also sent the following email to bdannehy@ccsomn.org & mhanratty@ccsomn.org at Catholic Charities’ Adult Advocacy Program.

    Subject: Time to Update Electroconvulsive therapy protocols
    ​
    Dear Ms Dannehy and Mr. Hanratty,

    By way of introduction, I am a nationally certified Rehabilitation counselor, and former professor of clinical psychiatric rehabilitation at San Diego State University.

    As a mandated reporter, it is my duty to raise the issue of suspected abuse in the form of unregulated human experimentation at Mayo Clinic’s Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Suite. This situation came to my attention when David Russel, a young man scheduled to receive ECT contacted Mind Freedom in distress regarding his coerced treatment, requesting a “shield”. I write on his behalf.

    I respectfully suggest Catholic Charities’ Adult Advocacy program immediately get up-to-date on the latest FDA and ECT device developments in order to ensure the protection of your state’s most vulnerable receiving psychiatric treatment. Please allow me to explain:

    In 2018, the FDA’s final ruling on the use of ECT devices, a provisional reclassification of the devices was made, pending ECT device manufacturers’ submission of Premarket Approval Amendments (PMA aka safety studies) and Product Development Protocols (aka dosing consensus standards based on PMA). The FDA ruled that if the device manufacturers do not demonstrate compliance with the special controls, the device will be deemed adulterated under section 501(f)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act and cannot be used on humans without first filing an Investigative device exemption with the FDA (83 FR 66103, 2018).

    In 2021, one of the ECT device manufacturers lost product liability insurance and filed for bankruptcy due to the number of pending lawsuits involving permanent, irreversible consequences (Reorg, 2021).

    In 2023, Federal court documents in the Thelen v Somatics LLC case (the only other ECT device manufacturer) and personal communication with the FDA revealed no amendments were filed. A jury found Somatics, LLC guilty of “failure to warn” of ECT’s serious adverse events (Wisner Baum, 2023). Risks include “permanent memory loss and permanent brain damage,” among other serious adverse events like non-convulsive status epilepticus, cardiopulmonary arrest, and death (Somatics LLC, 2018, 2021).

    Further, court transcripts revealed ECT dosing to generate a therapeutic seizure lasting 30 seconds were “plucked … out of the air” according to well-esteemed psychiatrist and ECT device manufacturer, Dr. Richard Abrams (Wisner Baum, 2023).

    In ECT, the electrode is placed directly on or near one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve (Sartorius et al., 2022). This purposefully stimulates the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR). A standard electrical field dose (0.5 pulse width, 70 Hz, 900mA) pulses 1,120 times in just eight seconds “without any clinical or scientific rationale,”(Abbott et al., 2024; Abbott et al., 2021; Abrams, 2009). The TCR is a clinical phenomenon consisting of sudden onset of hemodynamic perturbations (acute changes in MABP, decreased HR, asystole), respiratory changes (apnea) and gastric changes (hypermotility) resulting from stimulation of any branch of the fifth cranial nerve along its course.”(Meuwly et al., 2015). Consequently, “acute post stimulus bradycardia and asystole are common in ECT”(Sartorius et al., 2022) Purposeful stimulation of the Trigeminocervical Reflex carries a risk so great that it exceeds any benefit—rendering it’s study in humans unethical (Sadr-Eshkevari et al., 2014).

    Without PMA Amendments submitted as required to the FDA by the deadline to establish dosing consensus protocols, every time ECT is given at Mayo Clinic (and elsewhere) on a modern ECT device, an electrical field dose is chosen “without clinical or scientific rationale” (Abbott et al., 2024; Abbott et al., 2021).

    According to the FDA’s final ruling, without submission of the amendments, no facility can use ECT devices on humans without filing an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) with the FDA and enrolling the patient in a formal research study associated with the IDE on record with the FDA (83 FR 66103, 2018).

    Without an IDE filed with the FDA, Electroconvulsive Therapy is unregulated, unwitting human experimentation contraindicated by the Mayo Clinic values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Healing, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, and Stewardship.

    The World Health Organization recognizes ECT as an “irreversible intervention.” Giving ECT without free and informed consent “violates the right to physical and mental integrity and may constitute torture and ill-treatment”(World Health Organization & United Nations, 2023)

    Please protect patients from torture and ill-treatment by immediately withdrawing the petition for David Russell (and any other patient) to receive ECT without “free and informed consent” who are not registered in a formal trial with the proper investigational device exemption filed with the FDA.

    Thank you for your consideration.

    Respectfully,

    Sarah Price Hancock, MS, CRC
    Psychiatric Rehabilitation Consultant
    Co-Founder and Trustee, Ionic Injury Foundation

    References
    Neurological Devices; Reclassification of Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices; Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices for Certain Specified Intended Uses, 22 66103-66124 (2018). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/26/2018-27809/neurological-devices-reclassification-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-devices-effective-date-of

    Abbott, C. C., Miller, J., Farrar, D., Argyelan, M., Lloyd, M., Squillaci, T., Kimbrell, B., Ryman, S., Jones, T. R., Upston, J., Quinn, D. K., Peterchev, A. V., Erhardt, E., Datta, A., Mcclintock, S. M., & Deng, Z.-D. (2024). Amplitude-determined seizure-threshold, electric field modeling, and electroconvulsive therapy antidepressant and cognitive outcomes. Neuropsychopharmacology, 49(4), 640-648. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01780-4

    Abbott, C. C., Quinn, D., Miller, J., Ye, E., Iqbal, S., Lloyd, M., Jones, T. R., Upston, J., Deng, Z., Erhardt, E., & McClintock, S. M. (2021). Electroconvulsive Therapy Pulse Amplitude and Clinical Outcomes. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 29(2), 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.008

    Abrams, R. S., Conrad M. (2009). Thymatron® System IV Instruction Manual (14 ed.) [Medical Device Instruction Manual]. Somatics, LLC.

    Meuwly, C., Golanov, E., Chowdhury, T., Erne, P., & Schaller, B. (2015). Trigeminal cardiac reflex: new thinking model about the definition based on a literature review. Medicine (Baltimore), 94(5), e484. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000484

    Reorg. (2021). UPDATE 1: Facing ‘Direct Harassment and Meritless Litigation,’ Electroconvulsive Therapy Device Maker MECTA Corporation Seeks to Reorganize. https://reorg.com/articles/mecta-corp-first-day-declaration/

    Sadr-Eshkevari, P., Schaller, B. J., & Bohluli, B. (2014). Trigeminocardiac reflex: Some thought to the definition. Surg Neurol Int, 5, 43. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.129617

    Sartorius, A., Kellner, C. H., & Sebastian, K. (2022). The Trigeminocardiac Reflex in Electroconvulsive Therapy [LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]. The Journal of ECT, 38(4), 257-258. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000859

    Somatics LLC. (2018). Regulatory Update to Thymatron® System IV Instruction Manual. In.

    Somatics LLC. (2021). User Manual: Thymatron System IV (22 ed.) [User Manual]. Somatics LLC, . https://www.thymatron.com/downloads/System_IV_Instruction_Manual_Rev22.pdf

    Wisner Baum. (2023, August 16, 2023). Electroshock Therapy (ECT) Trial – Jury finds Somatics failed to warn of ECT risks. https://www.wisnerbaum.com/blog/2023/august/electroshock-therapy-ect-trial-jury-finds-somati/

    World Health Organization, & United Nations. (2023). Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice (978-92-4-008073-7). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240080737

    Reply

11. Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 8:39 AM
    To: tim.walz@state.mn.us
    Cc: Schak.Kathryn@mayo.edu; rihal@mayo.edu; fonseca.rafael@mayo.edu; callstrom.matthew@mayo.edu; kbaicker@uchicago.edu; schak.kate@mayo.org; Jeremy.Olson@startribune.com; Farrugia.gianrico@mayo.edu; mpowell@ncta.com; researchservicecenter@mayo.edu; researchparticipantadvocate@mayo.edu; Jim Gottstein ; office@mindfreedom.org
    Subject: Egregious Ethical Concerns re Mayo Clinic electroconvulsive therapy use

    Dear Governor Waltz and Mayo Clinic,

    By way of introduction, I am a nationally certified Rehabilitation counselor, and former professor of clinical psychiatric rehabilitation at San Diego State University.

    As a mandated reporter, it is my duty to raise the issue of suspected unregulated human experimentation at Mayo Clinic’s Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Suite. This situation came to my attention when David Russel, a young man scheduled to receive ECT contacted Mind Freedom in distress regarding his coerced treatment, requesting a “shield”. I write on his behalf.

    I respectfully suggest the Board of Directors and Integrity and Compliance Office needs to immediately get up-to-date on the latest FDA and ECT device developments in order to ensure Mayo’s stalwart legacy of “RICH TIES” is not tarnished. Please allow me to explain:

    In 2018, the FDA’s final ruling on the use of ECT devices, a provisional reclassification of the devices was made, pending ECT device manufacturers’ submission of Premarket Approval Amendments (PMA aka safety studies) and Product Development Protocols (aka dosing consensus standards based on PMA). The FDA ruled that if the device manufacturers do not demonstrate compliance with the special controls, the device will be deemed adulterated under section 501(f)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act and cannot be used on humans without first filing an Investigative device exemption with the FDA (83 FR 66103, 2018).

    In 2021, one of the ECT device manufacturers lost product liability insurance and filed for bankruptcy due to the number of pending lawsuits involving permanent, irreversible consequences (Reorg, 2021).

    In 2023, Federal court documents in the Thelen v Somatics LLC case (the only other ECT device manufacturer) and personal communication with the FDA revealed no amendments were filed. A jury found Somatics, LLC guilty of “failure to warn” of ECT’s serious adverse events (Wisner Baum, 2023). Risks include “permanent memory loss and permanent brain damage,” among other serious adverse events like non-convulsive status epilepticus, cardiopulmonary arrest, and death (Somatics LLC, 2018, 2021).

    Further, court transcripts revealed ECT dosing to generate a therapeutic seizure lasting 30 seconds were “plucked … out of the air” according to well-esteemed psychiatrist and ECT device manufacturer, Dr. Richard Abrams (Wisner Baum, 2023).

    In ECT, the electrode is placed directly on or near one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve (Sartorius et al., 2022). This purposefully stimulates the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR). A standard electrical field dose (0.5 pulse width, 70 Hz, 900mA) pulses 1,120 times in just eight seconds “without any clinical or scientific rationale,”(Abbott et al., 2024; Abbott et al., 2021; Abrams, 2009). The TCR is a clinical phenomenon consisting of sudden onset of hemodynamic perturbations (acute changes in MABP, decreased HR, asystole), respiratory changes (apnea) and gastric changes (hypermotility) resulting from stimulation of any branch of the fifth cranial nerve along its course.”(Meuwly et al., 2015). Consequently, “acute post stimulus bradycardia and asystole are common in ECT”(Sartorius et al., 2022) Purposeful stimulation of the Trigeminocervical Reflex carries a risk so great that it exceeds any benefit—rendering it’s study in humans unethical (Sadr-Eshkevari et al., 2014).

    Without PMA Amendments submitted as required to the FDA by the deadline to establish dosing consensus protocols, every time ECT is given at Mayo Clinic (and elsewhere) on a modern ECT device, an electrical field dose is chosen “without clinical or scientific rationale” (Abbott et al., 2024; Abbott et al., 2021).

    According to the FDA’s final ruling, without submission of the amendments, no facility can use ECT devices on humans without filing an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) with the FDA and enrolling the patient in a formal research study associated with the IDE on record with the FDA (83 FR 66103, 2018).

    Without an IDE filed with the FDA, Electroconvulsive Therapy is unregulated, unwitting human experimentation contraindicated by the Mayo Clinic values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Healing, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, and Stewardship.

    The World Health Organization recognizes ECT as an “irreversible intervention.” Giving ECT without free and informed consent “violates the right to physical and mental integrity and may constitute torture and ill-treatment”(World Health Organization & United Nations, 2023).

    Please protect patients from torture and ill-treatment by immediately suspending the electroconvulsive therapy of David Russell and any other patient receiving ECT at Mayo without “free and informed consent” who are not registered in a formal trial with the proper investigational device exemption filed with the FDA.

    Thank you for your consideration.

    Respectfully,

    Sarah Price Hancock, MS, CRC

    Psychiatric Rehabilitation Consultant
    Co-Founder and Trustee, Ionic Injury Foundation

    References

    Neurological Devices; Reclassification of Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices; Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices for Certain Specified Intended Uses, 22 66103-66124 (2018). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/26/2018-27809/neurological-devices-reclassification-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-devices-effective-date-of

    Abbott, C. C., Miller, J., Farrar, D., Argyelan, M., Lloyd, M., Squillaci, T., Kimbrell, B., Ryman, S., Jones, T. R., Upston, J., Quinn, D. K., Peterchev, A. V., Erhardt, E., Datta, A., Mcclintock, S. M., & Deng, Z.-D. (2024). Amplitude-determined seizure-threshold, electric field modeling, and electroconvulsive therapy antidepressant and cognitive outcomes. Neuropsychopharmacology, 49(4), 640-648. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01780-4

    Abbott, C. C., Quinn, D., Miller, J., Ye, E., Iqbal, S., Lloyd, M., Jones, T. R., Upston, J., Deng, Z., Erhardt, E., & McClintock, S. M. (2021). Electroconvulsive Therapy Pulse Amplitude and Clinical Outcomes. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 29(2), 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.008

    Abrams, R. S., Conrad M. (2009). Thymatron® System IV Instruction Manual (14 ed.) [Medical Device Instruction Manual]. Somatics, LLC.

    Meuwly, C., Golanov, E., Chowdhury, T., Erne, P., & Schaller, B. (2015). Trigeminal cardiac reflex: new thinking model about the definition based on a literature review. Medicine (Baltimore), 94(5), e484. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000484

    Reorg. (2021). UPDATE 1: Facing ‘Direct Harassment and Meritless Litigation,’ Electroconvulsive Therapy Device Maker MECTA Corporation Seeks to Reorganize. https://reorg.com/articles/mecta-corp-first-day-declaration/

    Sadr-Eshkevari, P., Schaller, B. J., & Bohluli, B. (2014). Trigeminocardiac reflex: Some thought to the definition. Surg Neurol Int, 5, 43. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.129617

    Sartorius, A., Kellner, C. H., & Sebastian, K. (2022). The Trigeminocardiac Reflex in Electroconvulsive Therapy [LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]. The Journal of ECT, 38(4), 257-258. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000859

    Somatics LLC. (2018). Regulatory Update to Thymatron® System IV Instruction Manual. In.

    Somatics LLC. (2021). User Manual: Thymatron System IV (22 ed.) [User Manual]. Somatics LLC, . https://www.thymatron.com/downloads/System_IV_Instruction_Manual_Rev22.pdf

    Wisner Baum. (2023, August 16, 2023). Electroshock Therapy (ECT) Trial – Jury finds Somatics failed to warn of ECT risks. https://www.wisnerbaum.com/blog/2023/august/electroshock-therapy-ect-trial-jury-finds-somati/

    World Health Organization, & United Nations. (2023). Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice (978-92-4-008073-7). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240080737

    *****

    I also called the Governor’s Office and spoke with the receptionist, Elizabeth, to call attention to my email. After consulting with her colleagues, she suggested there was nothing the Governor’s office could do, assuming the only way Mr. Russel could get ECT against his will was if he was on a conservatorship. She suggested I contact the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Lisa Harrison-Hadler, Ombudsman
    Phone: 651-757-1806
    Fax: 651-797-1960
    Toll Free: 1-800-657-3506
    lisa.harrison-hadler@state.mn.us

    I adapted the above email and sent it to her. Evidently she will be out of town, not checking emails until June 24th. “Should anything be needed prior to June 24, please contact the Regional Ombudsman Supervisor, Andrea Strobel-Ayres, at Andrea.Strobel-Ayres@state.mn.us ”

    I forwarded her the email with the subject, “Emergency: suspected torture and ill treatment of vulnerable adult with mental illness.” Turns out she is also out of the office and will not be checking email until July 1.

    The Governor’s assistant also suggested I contact Mn Legal Aid (18002924150), the organization Federally designated with a PAIMI advisory council. The person answering the call did not know who where to route my call to because I did not know in which county Mr. Russel was receiving ECT. They routed me to a random person’s voicemail and I left a message.

    Reply

12. I have received the upsetting news of David’s update concerning forced electroshock treatment. I have sent out emails to the individuals as requested by MindFreedom International.

    My emails are as follows:

    “Governor Walz.

    My name is Gregg Holliday and I am a United States citizen who is concerned for the welfare of a Minnesota resident named David Russell.

    Mr. Russell is a psychiatric patient at the Mayo Clinic under the care of Dr. Schak. It has come to my attention that Mr. Russell is being subjected to electroshock therapy without his consent. This understanding was provided by an international organization named MindFreedom International. They also report Mr. Russell is describing cognitive and physical troubles as a result of the forced electroshock treatment.

    I am writing this email to request that you prevent David Russell from being subjected to electroshock treatment. Electroshock treatment is understood as being inhumane and cruel. This understanding is held by the highly esteemed United Nations, who constitute it as a form of torture. Additionally, its dangers outweigh its purported benefits and this understanding follows from scientific evidence. If David Russell is in dire need of a remedy for a psychiatric condition, then there are ethical and efficacious alternatives.

    I place my trust in you and the democratic values of equality, liberty, and justice for all. I hope you will hear this plea and do what you responsibly can.

    Sincerely,
    Gregg T. Holliday”

    and

    “G. Farrugia and C. Zorn,

    My name is Gregg Holliday and I am a United States citizen who is concerned for the welfare of a Minnesota resident named David Russell.

    Mr. Russell is a psychiatric patient at the Mayo Clinic under the care of Dr. Schak. It has come to my attention that Mr. Russell is being subjected to electroshock therapy without his consent. This understanding was provided by an international organization named MindFreedom International. They also report Mr. Russell is describing cognitive and physical troubles as a result of the forced electroshock treatment.

    I understand you are high level officials at the Mayo Clinic where Mr. Russell is receiving the forced electroshock treatment. Therefore, I am writing this email to request that you prevent Mr. Russell from being subjected to electroshock treatment. Electroshock treatment is understood as being inhumane and cruel. This understanding is held by the highly esteemed United Nations, who constitute it as a form of torture. Additionally, its dangers outweigh its purported benefits and this understanding follows from scientific evidence. If Mr. Russell is in dire need of a remedy for a psychiatric condition, then there are ethical and efficacious alternatives.

    I place my trust in you, the Hippocratic oath, and the democratic values of equality, liberty, and justice for all. I hope you will hear this plea and do all that you responsibly can.

    Sincerely,
    Gregg T. Holliday”

    Reply

13. Please stop giving ECT to David Russell without his consent. This is barbaric and completely unethical. Stop at once!

    Dr. Danco
    Bridgewater, NJ
    42 years of clinical experience

    Jeffrey C. Danco, PsyD
    Clinical Psychologist
    NJ #2078

    Reply

14. I suspect the case worker chose the lawyer. That the lawyer is non-responsive is of interest, making me wonder who wants to take assets (I always follow the money). I propose writing to the Archbishop of Minnesota. My understanding of Catholic protocols is that the Archbishop is responsible for the dignity of persons within his venue, even if the person is not Catholic. There are also likely at least two Catholic parishes nearby. Priests are also responsible for persons in their venue, even if the person whose dignity is being assaulted is not Catholic. I wanted to run this by you before doing this.

    Reply

15. I try to leave comments. I guess mine are not good enough. I guess I worry to help anyone any more

    Reply

    • Hi Martha, our system requires comments must be approved so it just may take a bit of time to get them approved.

16. Performing ECT, especially on a patient who does not consent and does not want it, is awful and a violation of a person’s rights and autonomy. You’re not better or more worthy as a person than him. He deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and care. He’s a human with a life and the ability to feel pain, and will sustain horrible lasting damage from ECT both psychologically and physically. Being in a position of authority does not give you the right to dehumanize people, inflict torture, or violate a patient’s human rights. Do not abuse the power you hold over him. Do not shock David Russell. 

    Reply

17. Dear Dr. Schak,

    I an a deeply concerned friend of David Russell.

    On June 13th , you went back in your word to Mr Russell and electroshocked him against his will. I have been monitoring this abuse and will continue to do so. The board of Trustees has been notified of your actions.

    David said his questions about such things as how many times you plan to electroshock him, what you expect to accomplish, or even why you decided to subject him to electroshock when you had previously informed him you had decided against it were not answered.

    Contrary to your sworn testimony to the court in order to obtain the electroshock order, electroshock is very harmful with virtually no benefits to the patients. As you know, the United Nations has concluded Electroshock can constitute torture in violation of International Law.

    Dr. Schak, you have directly perpetrated torture of Mr. Russell by electroshocking him against his will.

    Please do not inflict this cruel and inhumane torture on him again. It is within your power to cease this. As a Doctor it is your responsibility to do no harm. You must stop the electroshock treatments being inflicted on David Russel.

    Sincerely,
    Holiday Easterbrook

    Reply

18. (also sent b.dannehy..same)

    Reply

19. (email Schak):

    Please Stop.

    Indeed if this was considered as serious as
    “Je Suis Charlie ”
    Or
    #MeToo
    Perhaps you would care to act with justice mercy and wisdom and realise what is happening is wrong.
    Perhaps It is easier to look the other way whilst the harm continues.
    One has to live with oneself with a clear conscience and the Catholic charities, the politicians or the money and pharmaceutical company stock holders may not care. You can.

    Please stop destroying brains of other people and in effect their lives ,their capacity to work,their freedoms. Stop the forced psychiatric torture perpetrated.
    Please stop the lies.

    Stop the inhumane electroshocking of David Russell.

    Regards
    Claire Gaudry

    In solidarity with Mind Freedom International appeal.

    It may seem like David and Goliath but freeing him and other people from the tyranny of forced drugging electric shocking and false imprisonment is the right thing to do. It is very sad and tragic that as I email this you continue to allow a person’s thinking and capacity to be reduced to an experiment and willful oppression and damage.

    Reply

20. Please stop the electroshock order against Mr. David Russell.

    There are reasons why, when a patient comes to the emergency room having seizures that medical personnel do everything possible to stop the seizures. Seizures are harmful! (DO NO HARM)

    There are reasons why electricians are trained so as not to cause electrocution to themselves and/or others. Electrocution/electroshock to the brain is harmful! (DO NO HARM).

    There are reasons why I receive warnings and instruction from my county whenever there are heavy storms with downed electrical lines. Electroshock is harmful! (DO NO HARM).

    I have read that “do not harm” is not actually in the Hippocratic Oath but rather is a quote of the Greek physician, Hippocrates. I may not have this fact correct, but I know that electrocution of the brain is harmful.

    Why are you a doctor? I thought doctors went into this field to help people. This is harmful! This is torture! This is destruction of the human body! This is barbaric! Is that why you went to medical school? Is your conscience so seared and calloused? Please see David as your fellow human being. He deserves freedom and CARE just as you do.

    Please stop this order. No more electrocution of David Russell’s brain, please. This is barbaric! Please stop!

    I must conclude that this life goes by so quickly. We have but one life to live then comes judgement. How will you answer the One who created Mr David Russell with much love, tenderness, compassion, and purpose. He has also created you. Is this what God wants you to do? Harm people whom He loves greatly? Soon it will be you and God. He loves you and wants you to turn to Him and let Him love and heal you. You can only do this now- on the earth. When you die, no more room to change or repent. Look inside your heart. Is this what God wants you to do with your short time of living on this earth? Please stop- choose life- choose God’s way- choose love. Stop the torture of your fellow human beings. Stop ECT. Electroshock. Whatever you call it- it is wrong! Please stop! God help this woman to see the truth. Open her eyes. 30 electroshocks! God help her to understand that she is harming Your children. Soften her heart. Show her your love. Your love would never harm. Help her, God. Help David Russell. God- have Your way. You are Good.

    Choose the good. No electroshock- Dr Schak.

    Sincerely,

    Martha

    Reply

21. I sent the following email to Dr. Powell, Chairman of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, and sent the same to the members of the board listed in the latest update:

    Dr. Powell,

    I am a retired school psychologist, father of four children, and former member of the Advisory Council for New York State’s Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program, and president of Family Alliance for Mental Health Recovery. I have two daughters who have endured psychiatric hospitalizations and in some cases suffered terribly at the hands of ill-advised and very coercive “treatments”. I am writing to urge you to use your power and authority to protect a patient of the Mayo Clinic, David Russell, from further forcible shocking of his brain (euphemistically termed “electro-convulsive therapy”, ECT).

    Mr. Russell does not agree to ECT and he needs you to step in now to stop this involuntary and damaging procedure.

    Please do not allow yourself to justify or turn a blind eye to this egregious human rights violation because it has been court-ordered and is being carried by doctors and other medical professionals. History is replete with very wrong and harmful things being done “legally” by unethical professionals. Because something is “legal” does not make it moral or ethical. You are in a position to right a terrible wrong, and I hope the appeals on Mr. Russell’s behalf touch your heart, mind and will so that you can be a part of doing just that!

    Perhaps you’ve heard of or even know those who were helped by ECT, even those who believe it “saved their life”. If they were adequately apprised of the risks, and in the risk-benefit analysis agreed to go forward with it, and had what they feel are positive results, good for them!

    But this doesn’t give anyone the right to force someone who doesn’t want it to play Russian roulette with their brain! There are many people who have been harmed and even had their lives ruined by ECT. It should NEVER be forced on someone, as is the case with David Russell.

    Can you imagine a cardiologist going to court and forcing his/her patient to be dragged into the hospital for triple bypass surgery? This would never happen, nor should it happen, even though there would actually be more of a basis for it in terms of there being a clearly diagnosed, life-threatening disease involved, which is not the case with Mr. Russell.

    Individuals labeled “mentally ill” are among the most stigmatized, discriminated against, marginalized and vulnerable class of people in our society. Certain individuals labeled “mentally ill” can be strategically deprived of many freedoms including equal protection, liberty to contract and informed consent. Believe me, I have witnessed this “up close and personal”; it happened with both of my daughters, one of whom was utterly destroyed by coercive, harmful psychiatric “treatments” and is no longer on this earth!

    Please know that forced psychiatric treatment including electroshock is a serious violation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Electroshock always causes epileptic seizures, memory loss (sometimes extensive and permanent), and other cognitive impairments including loss of creativity and loss of previous skills and abilities. It can also cause heart failure and sometimes death.

    Psychiatrist Daniel B. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., has stated that “the short-term gains of ECT do not justify its associated brain damage, memory loss, cognitive deficits and increased risk of death.”

    It is reprehensible that such a thing can be considered “legal” in a nation that purports to stand for “liberty and justice for all”. I hope you realize that being “legal” does not make involuntary ECT morally or ethically right.

    David wants his life back. He wants to have the same rights you and I enjoy.

    Please help. Please fulfill your duty, hopefully what you regard as your calling, to “first do no harm” and support “liberty and justice for all”.

    Respectfully,

    Russell Stence

    President, Family Alliance for Mental Health Recovery

    Reply

22. I called and left a message with Dr. Schak’s secretary yesterday. I also sent emails to Dr. Schak; also to Mayo Clinic Trustees Drs. Baicker, Collstrom, Fonseca and Rihal, and to Michael Powell, Chair of the Mayo Board of Trustees. I tried to reach the Clinical Director of David’s inpatient psychiatric unit, but reached an impasse because I didn’t have David’s DOB or patient #.

    Reply

23. I sent the following email earlier today to David’s current psychiatrist, Dr. Schak:

    Dr. Schak:

    I hope with all my heart and soul you will take a look at this article from a very seasoned colleague who has practiced in Australia with a wide variety of individuals, many of whom have been in the throes of some rather severe psychiatric difficulties.

    https://www.madinamerica.com/2017/06/no-psychiatrist-needs-use-ect/

    I see you have had your hand in quite a bit of research over the years. It is one thing to do academic research, and we certainly need that to advance medical knowledge and practice. I see you also have considerable experience as a doctor, presumably treating patients. But I wonder, do you have any friends or family members who have been the recipients of the kind of coercive “treatment” you are now foisting on Mr. Russell? You might be consoling yourself that “this is for his own good” and because he “lacks insight into his illness”, you know better and therefore it’s okay for you to disregard his expressed wishes not to have ECT. I believe in your heart of hearts you know that if it were anywhere near as benign as it is portrayed by its proponents (probably including you), it would be a first-line treatment for things such as depression, psychosis and catatonia, rather than a desperate last resort– one which often follows a hit-or-miss process of tinkering with a person’s neurotransmitters to the point that their neurology is horribly askew and they’ve been saddled with iatrogenic symptoms that were not present when they began psychiatric “treatment”.

    If you are honest, you know that no one really knows what ECT does. And if you keep yourself informed, you will know that the ECT machine manufacturers have finally had to acknowledge that it has been proven to cause brain damage.

    Please carefully consider these words of this very experienced psychiatrist, Dr. McLaren, who provides much more detail than I have contradicting the need for ECT.

    I don’t doubt that you may have seen benefits in remission of certain symptoms in patients that you’ve used it on before, or read about or heard other professionals speak of. Fine. If they were adequately apprised of the risks, and in the risk-benefit analysis agreed to go forward with it, and had what they feel are positive results, good for them!

    But this doesn’t give you or anyone the right to force someone who doesn’t want it to play Russian roulette with their brain! If the shoe were on the other foot, how would you like it, either for yourself or a loved one?

    Have you taken the time to look at the other side of this issue? To hear testimony of people who have been harmed by it, or maybe stories of their loved ones because they’re not even able to tell their story? There are many, many such stories from real people who have suffered real damage from ECT.

    My oldest daughter, in the throes of psychotic mania which was exacerbated by the drugs being forced upon her, was subjected by the doctors in charge of tremendous pressure to consent to ECT as “the only thing left to break her refractory mania”. This happened twice, in two different hospitalizations. Thankfully, she did not consent on either occasion. In one instance, her mania resolved when they removed the offending medication. In the other, it just seemed to run its course and “burn out”. Her rationality and stability was fully restored, and remains so as I write this.

    In my younger daughter’s case, on whom ECT was dubiously, dishonestly forced (as you’re doing with Mr. Russell), there was no “happy ending”. It was horribly traumatic and damaging.

    Do you have any cardiologist doctor friends? Suppose one of their patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) due to atherosclerosis that prevents blood from flowing freely. Unlike psychiatric conditions, none of which have any clear biological markers, the etiology of this heart condition is clear and the treatment (triple bipass surgery) is truly life-saving in most cases. Yet if this patient, for whatever reason, opts against the surgery, will your cardiologist friend go and get a court order to have that patient forcibly brought into the hospital to have the surgery done? Of course not! Then what makes you think you have the right to force Mr. Russell to undergo such a dubious “treatment” for a condition about which there remains such vagueness in terms of both etiology and treatment?

    It is reprehensible that such a thing can be considered “legal” in a nation that purports to stand for “liberty and justice for all”. I hope you realize that being “legal” does not make involuntary ECT morally or ethically right.

    I appeal to you to observe the time-honored medical ethic:

    FIRST DO NO HARM!

    Respectfully,

    Russell Stence

    Reply

24. I sent an email message to Dr. Schak and left a message with her Medical Secretary. I also sent emails to Drs. Baicker, Collstrom, Fonseca and Rihal, Mayo Clinic Trustees and to Michael Powell, Chair of the Mayo Board of Trustees.

    Reply

25. Here’s my short email to the trustees. Dear Trustee, I am sorry to bother you, as I am sure you have received a number of emails pertaining to this topic already. I received an email about the Mayo clinic electroshocking a patient, David Russell? I lived in Phoenix for many years, and I am surprised to hear this happening at one of your facilities. Perhaps this is a mistake. I don’t know the people who told me about Mr. Russell’s situation as well as I’d like, so maybe I have been misinformed. Electroshock. Really? Patiently awaiting your email to tell me this horrible thing won’t happen again. Thank you. John

    Reply

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