A New Zealand newspaper, The Press, covers the mass lawsuit by hundreds of psychiatric survivors against the New Zealand government.

Former mental health patients to sue

Date Published: 2007-06-30 02:00

Author: Tina Law

Source: The Press, New Zealand

Original article: http://stuff.co.nz/4112825a20475.html> 

Hundreds of former mental health patients are suing the Government for millions of dollars over their treatment in New Zealand's psychiatric institutions. 

The first trials will begin in October.

But Roger Chapman, a lawyer representing the 230-strong group, believes the former patients should not have to go through the court system.

"It's horrifying that these people have to go to court and go through it again," he said. 

Chapman proposed an alternative forum in 2004 for hearing complaints and awarding compensation, but this was rejected by the Government.

However, in response to a damning report detailing abuse endured by former mental health patients, the Government said it was seeking a robust alternative to the adversarial court system to address complaints.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said litigation through the courts would be costly for the Crown and litigants.

"It's heartening that Pete Hodgson is at last considering the possibility of dealing with this," said Chapman. "I just hope he doesn't take very long about it." 

Hodgson says a decision is not likely until October.

Chapman was wary of suggestions the Government could offer compensation and a formal apology. 

"We've been there before and found it was a blind alley. I'm not discounting it, but I'm not getting excited about it," he said.

Chapman said the sums sought by each of the 230 complainants varied greatly.

"Some are quite small amounts and others are quite substantial," he said.

Compensation was important for some because they had had their lives wrecked. 

There were still several other claims being considered and he believed there were some intellectually disabled people who suffered in the institutions who had not come forward.

The report from the confidential forum for former patients details experiences of 493 people held in institutions from Dunedin to Auckland between 1940 and 1992, including five former Christchurch psychiatric hospitals. 

Chapman said former staff members had confirmed what the patients had been saying.