Ray Sandford announced he now has a new psychiatrist

Ray Sandford calls MindFreedom almost every day or so, always polite and consider about time.

This morning's call had some very good news indeed.

For months Ray's been trying to change his psychiatrist. His past psychiatrist wanted to quit because of all the publicity.

Ray's friends found him a psychiatrist who supported Ray's human rights to say "no" to electroshock. But at first Ray's mental health system would not officially accept the change.

Today, Ray said it's official: Ray's case manager told him his new psychiatrist has been approved.

Ray is one more step closer to no forced electroshock.

His last forced electroshock was on tax day, 15 April 2009. May that always be his last electroshock.

In the meantime, there's good news on the Minnesota state legislative front. See the below announcement about a hearing scheduled today in the state legislature. We heard from a reliable source in the legislature that this hearing is because of Ray's campaign!

Subject: Upcoming HCHS Policy hearing

 
 MONDAY, August 10, 2009
 1:00 PM
 Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight
 Room: 200 State Office Building
 Chair: Rep. Paul Thissen
 Agenda: HF2386 (Hortman) Complex regional pain syndrome education and research program act -- informational hearing only
 Hospital acquired infections reporting and quality improvement
 Pandemic preparedness and the H1N1 influenza virus
 Electroconvulsive therapy treatment for persons under civil commitment
 
 
 Kate Perushek - Kate.Perushek@house.mn
 Committee Administrator
 Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee
 Minnesota House of Representatives
 353A State Office Building
 (651) 296-3244
=