Elizabeth Ellis Back in Institution, At Risk of "Months" of "Maintenance" Forced Electroshock

Alert3 - 18 February 2011

Out of her home, back in an institution, for saying "no" to electroshock!

Document Reveals: Elizabeth Ellis Faces "Months" of "Maintenance" Forced Electroshock

Tonight, MindFreedom was informed by Susan Opp, the daughter of Elizabeth Ellis, that Elizabeth has been placed back inside a psychiatric institution. 

This is exactly what Elizabeth and her advocates have feared.

Elizabeth Ellis, 67, had been living peacefully in her own home, with her husband Robert, during January, but was under court-order to report for regular involuntary electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.

On 27 January, Elizabeth stayed home instead of reporting for the procedure. As she feared, she has lost her liberty.

Urgent Action to Stop Elizabeth's Forced Electroshock

Because the Minn. Governor's office has been non-responsive to citizen concerns about Elizabeth for three weeks, advocates in Minnesota ask concerned people to contact Elizabeth's elected US Congresspeople. 

Email and phone civil but strong messages to the below three elected officials with this message, in your own words:

"Please investigate the well being of Elizabeth Ellis of Moorhead, Minnesota, who refused to leave her home for another involuntary outpatient electroshock. Institute an immediate ban on forced ECT, which an FDA panel has called hazardous and untested. See the MindFreedom.org web site for more information."

US Sen. Al Franken:

• Web form: http://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=email_al

• Phone D.C. office: (202) 224-5641 and St. Paul office: (651) 221-1016 

You may now visit a "Elizabeth Campaign Gateway" for the latest updates and news here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/elizabeth 

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We Are All Elizabeth!

Elizabeth was afraid this would happen, and knew she was threatened with "months" of forced electroshock.

Two days ago, on 16 February, Elizabeth received a court order threatening her with being forcibly transported from her home, mainly because she had refused to report for another court-ordered involuntary outpatient electroshock on 27 January 2011.

By coincidence, the very next day after that "sit in" at her own home, a Food & Drug Administration panel voted on 28 January 2011 that the ECT device is "hazardous," and should for the first time in its more than 70 years of use in the USA be tested for safety and efficacy by the FDA.

The court document Elizabeth received on 16 February stated that on Valentine's Day, 14 February 2011, Elizabeth's outpatient electroshock doctor - psychiatrist Nadeem Haider with a "shock shop" in nearby Fargo, North Dakota - told Elizabeth's case manager, Kirsten Wegenast, that "she be hospitalized, and that she remain in the hospital for several months and establish a consistent maintenance ECT schedule."

Perhaps because of the growing controversy, Dr. Haider also asked Ms. Wegenast - according to her report - that after Elizabeth's discharge, a clinic other than his own, preferably based in Minnesota, be found to do future outpatient electroshocks.

Elizabeth is a retired teacher and school counselor, with a master's degree in counseling. She personally faxed MindFreedom this document and others, because of the risk to her liberty.

In the Elizabeth Campaign Gateway  you can find:

• A folder of this and other court and agency documents you can download about Elizabeth's forced electroshock, including the  court order to transport her to a psychiatric institution for saying "no" to forced electroshock.
• A personal plea Elizabeth made two days ago after receiving her court notice that a Sheriff may pick her up "at any minute."
• An interview with Elizabeth on 12 Feb. on MindFreedom Free Web Radio.
• How to join a new Facebook Cause for Elizabeth. 
• Learn how the day after Elizabeth refused her outpatient electroshock... an FDA panel voted that the device is "hazardous," and should finally be tested for safety and efficacy for the first time in 70 years!
• A blog entry by MindFreedom director David Oaks calls for the global mental health advocacy community to create a peaceful revolution like that in Egypt. 
• And more...

Two days ago, on 16 February, Elizabeth told  MindFreedom in an interview that she saw this coming:

"I have gotten the orders to 'revoke and transport.' I spoke with my public defender. He said the sheriff can come at any minute. My attorney has written an affidavit challenging the need to continue ECT. I also have an appointment with a new psychiatrist this weekend who supports my right to say 'no' to electroshock."

Said Elizabeth: "They claim they are trying to save my life. But maybe they are trying to save their image, now that they know I'm challenging them and I have an organization's backing."

Elizabeth added, "I'm in very good mental health. I'm active, eating, sleeping, doing everything. I'm in deep appreciation of MindFreedom for putting out alerts."

Her husband Robert (see photo of the couple above) agreed: "Elizabeth doesn't need electroshock. She's been fine, active. We've been doing things together. She's pretty sharp, but her memory is still off from the electroshock. I'm angry and upset about this court order for her to have forced outpatient electroshock."

For the latest info, check frequently at the Elizabeth Ellis Campaign Gateway.