Lauren J. Tenney, PhD, MPhil, MPA, BPS
Call Me @ (516) 319-4295 

Environmental Psychologist/Social Scientist

#FDAStopTheShockDevice Comments Page from Petition


Signatures and Statements Received through the

Change.org Petition

Read our Official Public Complaint to FDA Ombudsman Office and Multiple HHS (Health and Human Services) Offices Click Here


Lauren Tenney

New York

We have 41 days to #FDAStopTheShockDevice -- Please help us make this real.  It is very important to understand that this petition will go to the FDA, but the FDA is only accepting original comment, not mass-mail campaigns.  If you want individual comment submitted through MindFreedom, please post your comment in this section. We will routinely update comments to FDA website.  Also, in the petition, there is the information for you to directly submit your comments to the FDA.  Please sign this petition to show your support.


John C.

New York


Christa Turnell

Wyoming


Timothy Holmes

New York

My friend Cares enough to dig in and inform Me that I should, then Low and behold, I read, and guess what, I should.


Christine Lanier

France


Darby Penney

New York


Michele Koppinger

Minnesota


George Ebert

New York

I am signing this petition because I am still recovering from shock treatment that was done to me over forty years ago.


Sera Davidow

Massachsetts


Dorothy Dundas

Massachusetts

ECT is extremely barbaric and damaging. I know as I was given many shocks without my consent. It should be banned entirely and it is shocking to me that ECT is still allowed.


Joanne Goodyear

Canada


Fred Arthur Tenzer

New York


Mike Hyde

Canada


Barbara Fralish

Indiana


Amy Smith

Colorado

I am signing because I am terrified that ECT is the next step in my protocol.  I am signing because I am heartbroken over the hundreds of stories I have heard from my friends who have been irreversibly and horribly damaged by shock. I am signing because the FDA is making it nearly impossible for a normal citizen to comment.  I am signing because I am really angry the FDA redacted the comments of people with lived experience. I am signing because I am sick to death of the phony science of psychiatry and of shock in particular and cant imagine why these barbaric practices with such miserable outcomes are allowed to continue. 


Marit Pettersen

Norway

Shock treatment is torture.


Ulrik Pedersen

Denmark


Al Al

Czech Republic


Angela Kaplan

Pennsylvania

#??


Graeme Bacque

Canada


Andrew Katsetos

Texas


Bob Foss

Norway


Can Truong

Ohio


Scott Hart

Pennsylvania


Christie Peden

Kansas


Lisa Forestell

Massachusetts

ECT is, by its very nature, contra- indicated for ANY diagnosis for which it is currently perscribed. It causes brain damage. Currently considered a last resort, for that very reason, practical and far less expensive alternatives are never considered (i.e. peer respites, peer support, non-medical holistic whole body approaches, to name a few.) As a survivor of ECT, I suffer from significant memory loss, while my doctor declared my 30+ ECT treatments unhelpful.


Ian Deitchler

Washington


Lillian Taylor

Kansas


Salima Hitchcock

California

EcT heals nothing. It causes devastating brain damage as evidence has revealed.


Carla McEnery

Australia


Mette Ellingsdalen

Norway

Im an electroshock survivour and have experienced the harm caused by it, as well as the lies to cover it up.


Laura Li

Ireland


Darian Balcom

Pennsylvania


Kent Reedy

California


Carol Ritter

Massachusetts

I have seen the damage it has done to people and it is scary that we are still using.


Marcia Benjamin, CID

California

I am an iatrogenic survivor. I went from happily living a normal middle aged working spouse/mother life with a basic hypothyroid condition, to a full blown psychiatric iatrogenic survivor, now permanently labelled as mentally ill, while facing daily neurological post side effects of such treatments.  This unnecessary and totally voidable but what appears to be a current common rabbit hole, is  experienced by thousands out there. It took away four years of my life that I will never regain, while  nearly costing it!  I went from being a successful environmental designer and architect professional managing my own design business, to a stigmatised disabled person facing daily debilitating post iatrogenic treatments' side effects that now impair me from practicing my profession and living my life fully.  ECT almost killed me. I crawled two years after and still face daily symptoms.  Brains injury is not a treatment. This can never be classified as wearing glasses!   This needs to be eradicated!  It is inhumane and not Medicine!  Shame on all of those who conduct and support this!

A class III device causes brain injury !  Like a blow to the head!  It can never be a class II!  It needs to be eradicated completely!  There too many hurt by this authocity!  Enough of this irresponsible aprroach to medicine!  It is not medicine!  And it kills! 


John Rusnak

New York


Ute Maria Kraemer

Germany

no need to explain why am against torture


David Trippas

United Kingdom


Janine Sullivan

Wisconsin


John Nowak

New York

ECT is simple like taking a bat and hitting someone over the head, doing this multiple times eventually so many brain cells (brain damage) will die that the victim can't remember anything to be depressed about. However in the process of hitting the victim over the head, their will be bruising, blood splattering, and infections. Visible signs showing trauma.

ECT simply removes the outward signs of trauma in bruising, blood splattering, and infections which allows for phony so called experts (God Effect) to prey upon the vulnerable for filthy lucre to in a sense hit them over the head with electricity, killing brain cells (permanent brain damage) causing the victim to not to remember enough to be depress, but also the person with brain damage can't function properly in life.

I sense you might if found a non bias Judge (that hasn't committed anyone to ECT torture), a deep pocket donor, hire a group of famous lawyers that have tremendous clout to file a class action suit of thousands of victims against the psychiatry profession for ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON (ECT) that causes brain damage, using the “hitting someone over the head with bat analogy”, and presenting evidence of clinical studies revealing bran damage from the ECT.


David Morris

Tennessee


Simone Jurmark

New York


Ken Lynn

Oregon


Olivia Johntry

New York


Katherine Krouse

Florida

Shock treatment is barbaric and inhuman treatment of my fellows. 


Henrik Bentzen

Denmark


Deidre Oliver

Australia

ECT is already a legally sanctioned medically recommended brain injury, this is a devious, dishonest attempt to dupe the public and avoid the legal requirements for the safety testing which would certainly have it banned. All other devices MUST undergo stringent testing, the Class III classification insists on it, and they might not be able to hold that requirement off any longer, particularly if other manufacturers complain. ECT docs get $25,000 a week in Australia, the anaesthetists probably get more, the hospitals will rake in $50-75,000+ per patient and since its effects doesn't last, they'll be back in a few months for more. You work it out.

This is a devious attempt to avoid the required testing of devices in class III. Do they really think we can't see that by allowing the machines to be classified as safe in ONE specific area they'll de facto be considered safe everywhere. NO NO NO. The machines are either safe or not safe. They cannot be partially safe. DON'T LET THESE DECEITFUL, DISHONEST, VENAL MANIPULATORS GET THEIR WAY. This is a clear admission that psychiatry is well aware that the machines would be banned if they were to be tested. They would not have to sneak past the testing requirements if they were confident of their machine's safety and efficacy. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING!


Alain Lipowicz

Canada

ECT has a sordid past rife with human rights violations through forced "treatment" and a legacy of incapacitation, debilitation, and depersonalization.

There is no definitive theory that has been corroborated by convincing evidence as to how exactly ECT works, only theories that have admitted that its purported benefits involve permanent changes in brain architecture, i.e. brain damage. Accordingly, sombre tales of permanent memory lost, loss of identity, and cognitive decimation abound.

As such, despite continuous efforts to legitimize this cruel and devastating instrument of the psychiatric establishment, it is clear that this ought to be abolished outright rather than re-classified in a way so as to increase its utilization in the name of "mental treatment".


Jennifer Padron

Texas


Glynn Lannon

New Jersey


Judy Young

Tennessee


Samantha Butz

California

Shock "treatment" (torture) should be illegal.


Maribel Galindo Rico

Spain

Es una aberración hacer esto a cualquier persona


Patricia Adeff

California

Please do not reclassify ECT so that it sounds less horrific!  If the psychs want this down-classified, I suggest that they receive this 'treatment' if they think it's only a Class II device.  ECT has NEVER been scientifically proven to cure anything.  Sending high amounts of electrical voltage through a person's brain seems like it belongs during the Inquisition -- not modern times.  In addition, reclassifying ECT would do away with a person's basic human rights which have been guaranteed by law.  I imagine the lawsuits will be pretty massive.


Elizabeth Mottl

Washington

Electrosock has NO proven healing.  It is a torture device, absolutely!


Sam Halonen

Canada


Kendra Achtymichuk

Canada


John Goodwin

California

I am opposed to psychiatric abuse of humans which includes the barbaric use of ECT.


Judy Wood

Tennessee

ECT is a desperate and damaging act performed by people who are incapable of helping their fellow human beings.


Kathryn Cascio

New York


Sharon Addison

United Kingdom


Delores Jankovich

Kansas

Shock damages brains!  Shock causes brain damage.


John Hinde

Illinois

Its the right thing to do, this is not a treatment that should be conducted.


Angela Hebner

New York


Kedrick Tucker

Connecticut


Visnja Boto

Canada


Sheila Israel

Florida


Angie DeRouchie

Oregon

In support of shock treatment or not, it is beyond clear the devise has yet to produce consistent, uniform results, so therefore should not be referred to as anything other than "experimental".


Hans Schmidt

New York


Tim Harris

New York


Sonia Weaver

Pennsylvania


Devon Fowler

Massachusetts


Wendy Morrison

Australia


Stephen Kaplan

Pennsylvania


Stavroula Soulopoulou

Greece


Jyl Ion

Florida


Kenny Fleischman

Michigan

Electroshock treatment has ruined my life. I had 30 rounds of ect for severe depression at 21 years old. Now 27 years old, I'm scared about my future as its been over 5 years and I'm still left with severe disabilities from it. It wiped out the majority  of my autobiographical memories, severe short term memory problems, apathy, eye movement disorder, spontaneous seizures, headaches, nightmares, ptsd. Not only did ect make my life worse and wipe out much of who I am, I'm unsure of the future. Had neuro testing 6 monthes after ect and my iq dropped 50 points, was a former honor student in high school. I mesured at 78 which is almost borderline retardation. Have seen 2 neurologist now too. This is a very dangerous treatment and in taking to hundreds of people now, I'm convinced ect causes permanent disability and people can no longer go back to their former jobs. Downclassing shock let alone keeping this as a practice, is a crime against humanity.


Ghislain Goulet

Canada


Julie Clarke

California


Nan Hiran

Texas

Damaging brain and killing people.


Steven K

Michigan

I do not condone state torture.


Marty Felker

Virginia

1)  Shock treatment cannot be used for emergency treatment because it takes a course of  a least 6 shocks to (maybe) produce results. 2) The proscribing doctor will both make the determination of whether the patient meets the diagnostic criteria and administer the shock(s).  The FDA determined that there was not sufficient evidence to downgrade in 2011 and no new evidence has been presented. The requirement of treatment resistant is again totally subjective and not evidence based., 3)  If ECT is determined to be effective in a given case it will then likely to be used on a "maintenance schedule" 


Colleen Murphy

New York

Patients, myself included are not given full disclosure upon obtaining consent.  Permanent memory loss and permanently damage to cognitive functioning are real side effects which are life altering in a bad way.  I have a right to know these things, especially since this treatment is dangerous and permanent brain damage is the result for all who undergo it.


Heidi Henkel

Vermont


Patricia Headden-Rasmussen

Oregon


Hermine van Willegen

Netherlands


Timothy Johnson

Texas


Anne Fewell

California


Elizabeth D Visco

Pennsylvania


Erick Fabris

Canada


Jessica Arenella

New Jersey


Raphael Zingel

United Kingdom


Peggy Dougherty

West Virginia


Martin Bott

Germany


Hélène Grandbois

Canada

parce que je ne peux pas croire que ça puisse encore exister et à cause notamment de la dangerosité du traitement, des dommages qu'il cause et a causé depuis son introduction dans les années 30.

This so called treatment is horrendous. I was submitted to it when I was a teen ager and the consequences have been a lifetime of activism to fight back this dangerous procedure. I have a few friends that committed suicide after receiving that violent procedure. It is done to the most vulnerable like seniors in large numbers in most of the Western countries. This disgrace has to go.


Nadia Gomez

New York

ECT is a brain damaging procedure. The rest of medicine tries its best to prevent seizures because they harm brains, but ECT induces seizures in the name of mental health. Incredibly corrupt!


Amanda Rich

Delaware


Maggie Rowlands

Australia


Mathieu Gadoury

Canada


Glunda Velasco

California


Sherrie Kendall

Virginia

I was given electro shock and I signed when I was in a coma like state. It is unjust and dangerous!


Abel Garcia

Iowa


Denise Duran Bylard

California

Electroshock is not therapy and shouldn't be used for any treatment of anyone.


Bex Collen

Australia

It take the imagination and life away


Anthony Buonfiglio

Florida


Kathryn Egan

Canada


Brenda LeFrançois

Canada


Loise Forest

Canada


Carrie Beaumont

California


Alyssa Otieno

Minnesota


Richard Mitchell

Canada

We are so ignorant of the causes and therefore the effective interventions for our neighbors, family members and friends suffering from mental and emotional distress. Please no more of this barbaric 'treatment'.


Marcus Cleathero

United Kingdom


Sharon Cretsinger

Ohio

Shock is torture.  It destroys lives. 


Jennifer Mann

Pennsylvania

I have a daughter with mental illness who was given drugs without her consent, specifically against our requests, in the ER. Making shock devices easier to use is a tragic mistake with nothing but bad outcomes to be expected. ECT is NOT like other things in this category. Please do not allow this to happen.


RoseAnn Royal

New York


Cate Wolff

Massachusetts

We are so short sighted. There are sooooo many other options!


Philip Hickey

Colorado

I am a mental health professional. ECT is damaging to the brain and of no use to clients.


Elaine Billings

New York


Mark Krause

Ohio


Deann Merchant

Rhode Island


Philip Smith

Michigan


Sheilah Hill

Florida

I'm signing because I know the horror of this disabling procedure.


Nancy Yang

Wisconsin


Frank Blankenship

Florida

ECT is dangerous. It is a procedure that came out of the bad ole days of eugenics, and it just shouldn't be used on human beings.


Barbara Stepien

Austria


Mary Pelton Cooper

Michigan

I am a nurse and a psychologist.  I don't want to see older women shocked repeatedly.  This is not what women need!


Katherine Shields

Massachusetts


Linda Bourgeois

Canada


Roger Werner

California

The use of electroconvulsive therapy devices must be strictly regulated and the FDA must conduct a hearing of professionals before acting.


Stephen Bailey

United Kingdom

Because my friends were severely badly affected after this treatment. Many have since passed away.


Initially NO

Australia

In Melbourne, Australia they're killing Garth Daniels with this instrument, despite world-wide outrage, despite having a father who advocates on Garth's behalf to stop this, despite major publicity of 20 years of psychiatry's abuse of him. Not only do we need to stop this ridiculous attempt to say electro-shock is 'safe', when it's diabolical in its destruction, the public need to open their eyes and start seeing what ECT does to the citizens of their country. Stop psychiatry’s brutal shocking of people, don't allow your governments to torture innocent citizens like Garth Daniels, and all those too shy to go public. It is not safe to have repeated general anesthetics let alone be have electric currents put through your body, causing brain damage while you’re numb and unconscious.


Valerie Clark

Massachusetts

I suffered permanent memory loss from ECT.


SN

Texas


Simonne Maline

Maine


Erick Meisser

California

Shocking people? Man oh man!


Caitlin Hurley

Texas


David Smith

Florida


Jocelyn Pedersen

Utah


Jack Carney

New York

ECT is a mechanism of torture.


Norma LeBaron

California


John Statham

Tennessee

ECT is cruel and not safe. Period.


Glenn Floyd

Australia

ALL PSYCHIATRISTS ARE CAUSING LIFELONG HUMAN TRAUMA BY USING THIS BARBARIC HARMFUL TREATMENT WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS 'TORTURE' BY THE UNITED NATIONS! THEY ARE CRUEL, INHUMANE BARBARIC CHARLATANS DRIVEN BY MONEY AND CAREER ALONE AND THEY ARE THE LEADERS OF THE PSYCIATRIC/PHARMA INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SYPHONING $BILLIONS FROM GOVERNMENT HEALTH BUDGETS. BUT WORSE THAN THIS, THEY DO NOT OPERATE FROM A POSITION OF 'LOVE' TO WHICH WE ARE 'ALL' BOUND'!


Carolyn Luddy

Pennsylvania


Ellen Le Brun

United Kingdom


Emily Wasserman

New York

Shock took my life from me.


Yvonne Smith

Washington, D.C.

The device is experimental and dangerous and this will mislead the public about its safety and its post dangerous that are irreversable.


Dale Wellinger

Florida

This is Barbaric,,


Bonnie van Stone

Oregon


Brad Olson

Illinois


Karen Rosenthal

New York


Gladys Mccool

Illinois


Christina Aye

Canada


Jennifer Wood

Pennsylvania


Louise Marquis

California


Frances Vadas

New Jersey


Kathy Mcrae

New York


Dee Mccool

Illinois

This is barbaric.


Angelo Visco

Pennsylvania

I share with my daughter and many others the barbaric notion that shock treatments will ever aid a patient achieve long range results.. i found that my daughter was threatened with a long term stay if she did not submit to the demand.She did submit and paid a vicious price for that act, compljance,


            


Hiede Mortensen Lott

Arizona

Among the people I know who have undergone ECT is my mother. It has not helped any of them, especially not her. It is a barbaric treatment which should be banned.


Frances MacGuire

California

ECT is barbaric and causes memory loss. The evidence base is limited.


Maxine Hayden

California


Giovanni Rodriguez

New York

I feel this is dangerous and should not be down-classified


Kira Dallaire

Michigan


Jennifer Osborn

Texas


Aaron Orthmann

Oregon

My mother was a victim of ECT and was never the same again. It destroyed her life physically and mentally.


Carlos Flores

New York

In support of this cause....


Joseph Breeden

Kansas


Steve MacGuire

United Kingdom


Lydia Richard

Maine


Grace Whalen

New York


Babs Beebe

Oregon


Eric Coates

New Hampshire

I know electroshock survivors, and I've been on a psych ward while it was being practiced on my friends. While you may be aware of the hazards (heart attacks, brain bleeds, memory loss), what you probably don't know about is what happens to them as people who you interact with. They have a stare in their eyes, where their eyes don't move like a normal person's. It seems to look through you. They may have a smile on their face, but it is a goofy smile, empty of real expression and emotion or comprehension of what you are talking to them about. Years later, you can still see these effects. They have been hollowed out somehow as people, the connections in their brains fried with electricity so that they are no longer complete persons. It is a sad thing to see, and to witness happening. Shock is not effective in relieving depression or anything else beyond the first few weeks after it happens, when the brain, having suffered an injury, is trying to repair itself and so it seems that the activity of the mind has changed. In fact, it has only been damaged, and the electroshock survivors whom I personally know are all angry and confused about what was done to them, but they have been too brain damaged and intimidated to try to fight back any more. Electroshock is not "treatment." It is a form of brain damage and torture, and I hope that you will prevent anyone from allowing it, because once you do, it will become "required" and that many more people will suffer. This is how the system works. When doctors can't help, they use whatever extreme methods might be available — regardless of the harm that is done. Please do not allow electroshock to become a first-line treatment. It would be devastating to the public, and to many people who do not deserve this — especially when you consider the absolute dearth of genuine informed consent in this country. Please make a principled stand against it.


Mary Ojeda

New York


Glenis Batley

California


Julie Greene

Massachusetts 

As survivor of this barbaric procedure, I cannot say I "support" this petition, no, I urge anyone who cares about their fellow human beings to sign. ECT has no relevance to treatment-resistance, since this term has no real meaning, but rather, it is given when the patient is a nuisance to the institution. There is NEVER a need for rapid response, never a need to "zap" a person's brain and expect the person to presto chango be undepressed. Please do not believe such nonsense. This device can destroy brain cells, and other parts of the cerebral area. For what? It is genocide.

Please see my page at

http://juliemadblogger.wordpress.com/ect-pages

http://juliemadblogger.wordpress.com/ect-pages 


Kelli Vaughn-Johnson

Oklahoma


John Prinzing

New York

ECT is ineffective and barbaric.


Raymond Whalin

California


Lance Whalin

California

Electroshock is barbaric, harmful and doesn't cure anything!  Shock treatment is Barbarism!


Deborah Schwartzkopf

Oregon

I am a shock survivor and sustained permanent brain injury from this untested procedure and device secondary to the failure of the FDA to protect me as a person protected by the ADA. It is frank discrimination and negligence on their part.


Isaac Brown

New Jersey

Using Electric Shock as Medicine Is Wrong


Gen Andrus

Montana 


Kendal Hockin

New York


Peter Van Kleef

Canada


Sue Cohen

California

This is pure evil, a power-control trip.  Psychiatrists love to tell everyone that they have the power to confine and "treat" people against their will.  Treatment to them means conservatism, obedience to law, unthinking respect for authority, religion, etc.


Michela Bou Ghosn

Arizona


Malcolm Justice

New Zealand

I had forced ECT and it destroyed my life and the life of my family.


Katherine Laird

Minnesota


Michelle Platt

Oregon

I am strongly opposed to the use of these devices.  They have never been proven to help anyone, only to make them malleable and often makes things worse.  My own grandmother committed suicide after such treatment.  It is a barbaric device and should be banned, much less made more accessible! 


Leah Harris

Virginia


Nancy Thom

Missouri

All uses of shock,   whether chemical or  electroconvulsive,  lead tremendously to future complications.


Loretta Wilson

Michigan

I'm signing because my husband, family and I was lied to; told the memory loss was temporary.  Some 60 shocks, some 16 years beyond the last shock, husband passed away, the memories still haven't returned, mega loss of better than 25 years.  That's what I've signed this petition!


Christine Gomez

California

Shock treatment is obsolete. Abusive.


Christopher McCamic

Florida

Psychiatric treatment is counterproductive, violent, damaging, authoritarian, and disconnected enough, without lowering the barriers to making it more so.


Moss Bliss

Tennessee


Martin McLean

Florida


Marianne Briggs

New York


Amy Bookbinder

Massachusetts

I'm opposed to torture.


Donald Johnson

Florida


Meg Fagan

Australia


Beverly Day

Colorado


Jann Aldredge-Clanton

Texas


Ben Ozorak

Canada

ect is torture


Daniel Fisher

Massachusetts

As a psychiatrist I have seen the dangerous side effects of ECT, especially increased suicide and memory loss.


Sarah Mouser

Massachusetts


Rosalyn Newhouse

Oregon

I am opposed to medically imposed brain damage.


Florence Rongo

Australia

Regardless of the name "treatment" this a barbaric practice; it is torture!


Louise Nelson

Oregon


Jim Gottstein

Alaska


Robin Smith

Maryland


Brabara Perz

Oregon


Art Leibowitz

Pennsylvania

I am a Shock Survivor!


Evelyn Huang

California


Jyoti Deo

Florida

People are often desperate when  they have hit their lowest point in life. It is in this instance that ethics in medicine is of great importance. Consent alone is not sufficient; it needs to be informed. Down-classifying ECT will only provide a false sense of security, which is ironic considering the purpose of classifying medical devices is to prevent unintended abuse through a false sense of security. For example, when its use is extended beyond daily wear, contact lenses are considered Class III

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=886.5925"

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=886.5925

. This is an important designation to prevent eye problems from developing. Likewise, though I challenge the use of ECT for any reason because the risks are great (e.g. memory loss) and benefits can be obtained more humanely, at the very least ECT needs to remain a Class III categorization in order to better acknowledge the risks inherent in this procedure.


Joyce Varley

New York


Avna Jungen

Michigan


MaryAnne Silverstrim

New York


Robert Worlock

Oregon


Julie Klarich

Illinois

It's criminal


Russ Reiser

Wisconsin


Ginger Breggin

New York


Nancy Burke

Illinois


Lisa Hamberger

California


Michele Crawshaw

Oregon


Susan James

North Carolina

This is a barbaric practice, and an experiment on humans.


Gregory Kauffman

Washington


David Christian

Nevada


Colleen Sheehan

New York


Jan Eastgate

California

My grandmother died after receiving ECT, which was given her simply because she was grieving over husband's death.  I've spoken to many hundreds of survivors of electroshock who say it's torture, not "safe and effective" treatment.  FDA is not putting consumers before the financial interests of the ECT device manufacturers and American Psychiatric Association.  And "treatment resistant" blames the "patient," not the treatment that has failed them.


Orna Klement

United Kingdom


Dunja Grisell

Sweden


Atalia Bhangu

United Kingdom


Leah Camilleri

Australia


M L Campos

Arizona


Paul Tranter

United Kingdom


Thomas Garden, Msc.

Canada

Stop this barbaric torture!


Jayasree Kalathil

United Kingdom


Bill Marsh

California


Eva Dech

Georgia


Einar Björnsson

Iceland


Maggie Eckard

Oklahoma

I see the devastation caused to a loved one. Every day is a struggle for him to maintain amidst seemingly the simplest of things, which are to him, chaotic and unfamiliar, because he is constantly having to re-learn things that cannot be committed to memory. Everyone needs to listen to survivors' stories; this needs to become real and fleshed-out. The medical industry has tried to soften the image of their barbarism by employing a euphemism--ECT, that will in most cases be bypassed easily by readers, if not totally overlooked. It is SHOCK TREATMENT! It does not matter that the industry lies and says it is not harmful! Ask yourself: Do you ever willingly seek to subject yourself to electrical voltage? It's that simple, and there's your answer!


Jakob Spearfisher

New  York


Janice Atwell

California


Richard Patterson

Ireland


Marian B. Goldstein

Denmark


Peter Aleff

New Jersey


Cheri Bragg Acker

Connecticut

"Shocked" they would suggest that ECT belongs in the same category as wheelchairs?  Then you should sign too!!!


Tina Minkowitz

New York

In addition to the reasons given by the petition, which I agree with, I wish to add the following as a human rights lawyer, and as an individual who has been working on human rights at the global level for approximately 14 years.

UN bodies including the World Health Organization (Quality Rights Toolkit, standard 4.3), the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (in General Comment No. 1 and in Guidelines on Article 14), and two Special Rapporteurs on Torture (in reports with UN document numbers A/63/175 and A/HRC/22/53) have condemned forced or nonconsensual electroshock, emphasizing that it is risky and intrusive and can only be done with the free and informed consent of the person concerned.  The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities condemns all forced treatment in the sources cited, and has addressed electroshock specifically in several Concluding Observations on the reports of states parties to the treaty it monitors, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Sweden 2014, Denmark 2014).  The CRPD Committee was concerned about the high frequency of electroshock in both countries as well as it being forced or nonconsensual.  In addition the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has affirmed that all mental health services must be based on free and informed consent of the person concerned, and that involuntary committal is prohibited (A/HRC/30/37, Principle 20 and Guideline 20).

The words of Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak in 2008 are worth quoting in full:

"61. The use of electroshocks on prisoners has been found to constitute torture or ill-treatment. The use of electroshocks or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to induce seizures as a form of treatment for persons with mental and intellectual disabilities began in the 1930s. CPT has documented instances in psychiatric institutions where unmodified ECT (i.e. without anaesthesia, muscle relaxant or oxygenation) is administered to persons to treat their disabilities, and used even as a form of punishment. The Special Rapporteur notes that unmodified ECT may inflict severe pain and suffering and often leads to medical consequences, including bone, ligament and spinal fractures, cognitive deficits and possible loss of memory. It cannot be considered as an acceptable medical practice, and may constitute torture or ill-treatment. In its modified form, it is of vital importance that ECT be administered only with the free and informed consent of the person concerned, including on the basis of information on the secondary effects and related risks such as heart complications, confusion, loss of memory and even death." (footnotes omitted).

Please note that a number of adverse effects that caused him to consider "unmodified" electroshock to be an unacceptable medical practice apply equally to electroshock in its "modified" form.


Shock survivors have testified over and over again to both the personal impact of this practice on their minds, bodies and lives, and to the research that more than justifies caution if not an absolute ban on the use of these medical devices.  Yet the FDA wants to expand their use, including the use of shock in situations that clearly amount to forced treatment.  This suggests a clear failure to put the needs of patients first, and reflects the culture of silencing and compliance that pervades the mental health professions and industries, and that is contrary to human rights norms. 


Fred Stark

Illinois


Margie Jones

Australia


Alexander Dobre

United Kingdom

I am not for the shock therapy nor am I for any form of manipulation which would even cause a controlled epileptic like reaction w nerve or body arousal. Lobby the Police ..I will Support (Put them in jail)


Susan Rogers

Pennsylvania

ECT is an extremely controversial procedure that has destroyed many lives, and the device belongs in Class III, if it belongs anywhere! There is much evidence that it "works" by causing brain damage, but the "informed consent" statements do not explain this so potential recipients are not given the opportunity for truly informed consent. This is unconscionable.


Johan Bärlin

Sweden


Marco Costa

Portugal

I'm signing because: "Shock treatment as robbed people of the memories of their lives, their education, skills, passions, relationships, children, significant others, and total sense of oneself."


Agneta Wickman

Sweden


Bobby Walker

Mississippi


Anne Savage

Massachusetts

I've seen shock treatment ruin too many people's lives.


Lorelei Randall

Sweden


Diana Babcock

New York


Emily Paterson

North Carolina


Cal Grandy

Kansas


Gerald Vest

New Mexico

Shock treatment reduces the brain and mind to function and find their balance and equilibrium....a form of torture.


Lee Little

Denmark


Jenna MacKay

Canada


Robert Henderson

New York


Jackie Yoohoo

United Kingdom

It's scary and dangerous, far more so than any mental health illness could be. We aren't talking criminally insane seriel Murdereres  here..we are talking about an often times damaged by abuse mental illness that needs understanding and listening too,  not further torturing. How does pouring petrol on a fire help put it out?


Tim Nolan

Minnesota


Colin Swartz

Oregon


Laureen McLaughlin

Canada

As a 'treatment' I have seen it overused on a close family member. The 'results' are horrific.


Robin Jones

Canada

It's barbaric. It causes damage to the brain. It is a hit or miss 'solution' to primarily 'depression' which should be treated with the therapies that are afforded the rich. I know of too many people who's lives have been severely negatively impacted by this procedure. 


Doug Pearse

Canada

ECT has no clinical evidence that it is a cure for depression or anything else - instead it has been proven to be extremely harmful.


Olga Tchernenkov

Israel


Judene Shelley

Utah


Laura Howard

California

There is no question that electric shocks to the brain causes damage. There are so many things that can be done for a person without damaging their body, and thus their abiltiy to live life. So electric shock cannot be considered actual help to the patient. Let's continue in or pursuit of real help that results in a healthier, happier person.


Scott Rowe

Illinois

There is no known benefit to electro shock therapy that I can see. I have know many people who have received it and have never witnessed it helping anyone or improving any condition. What I have seen are people getting worse due to it.


Linda Isner

Virginia


Joseph Bradberry

California


Scott Bradberry

California

Shock treatment destroyed my grandma.


Richard Cleminson

United Kingdom


Maggi Newell

California

This is horrendous that this is still considered humane. The fda is criminal for advocating for this in the name of profit.


Rui Alegre

New Jersey


Deborah Hill -McGourty

Vermont

Because electro-sch9ck has nothing tondo with depression and every thing t   o do with brain damage.


Robert Bennett

Nevada


Olga Kalina

Rustavi, Georgia


Beverly Granata

Pennsylvania

everyone should have all information regarding their treatment before administration of such a treatment although I felt that I benefited by it I believe that everyone has the right to refuse it.


Virginie Alix

Oregon


Michelle Irizarry

Florida


Nancy Arvold

California


Peter Doland

Sweden

Its wrong, traumatic and leaves permanent damages and is an excuse for not develop psychiatric in an more humanistic way.


Jasna Russo

Germany


Jesse Sutton

Minnesota


Jonathan Breedveld

Netherlands


Carol Hogarth

South Africa

This is barbaric, inhumane and definstely not a solution to improving "sick" people.


Beth Grundfest

New York


Lorena Moctezuma

Mexico


Sarah Lyons

New Jersey

This is inhumane and no form of treatment.


Better Cruz

New York


Karen Milliner

New York


E Scogin

Texas


Rebecca Edens

Oregon


Esmeralda Ortiz

California


Celia Brown

New York


Sue Crowe

Pennsylvania


John Fleming

California


Steve Downing

Florida

ECT is a barbaric treatment given by barbarians. Forced ECT is 10X worse. Don't do this. GOD is watching  you.


Rochelle Torre

California


Julie Huntington

Canada

Talk with the people who have been subjected to this torture... Find out who supports it, who sells it and makes money from the educational programs on it and who writes the articles on in journals .


Mala Matacin

Connecticut


Cynthia Benoit

Rhode Island


Michelle Noe

California


Marla Brenner

Nevada

I am against the use of ECT for any reason whatsoever.


Ryan Smith

Ohio

I'm signing because the rationale for use of ECT relies in part on the failed chemical imbalance theory for which we are still prescribing psychiatric drugs which are bound to fail. Why go from one non-working "solution" to an even more dangerous "solution".


Ryan Swanson

Michigan


Judy Gayton

Canada

It's inhumane.


Cindy Peterson-Dana

New York

I know firsthand that shock treatment is. NOT the answer for people who are depressed. Psychotherapy, DBT, exercise, meditation etc are much better,without memory loss or brain damage. Do not change the classification of the ECT machine. I will take a screen shot to keep a record of this letter. Thank you


Heather Lagace

Connecticut

It has horrible potential side effects. It is used in cases where other options are available.


Joy Junior

Michigan


Jonathan Tessier

Connecticut


Thomas A Bartlett

Pennsylvania


Fred Abbe

Oregon

15 High Voltage Electro Shock "Treatments"were forced on me as a teenager. They were  acts of the utmost barbaric terror against my being then . Just the thought of it is terrorizing  me still today . For the FDA To down - classify the Shock Device to Class 11 would be a Horrific Crime Against Humanity and would also simultaneously reclassify the the FDA as America's Own  Dr. Josef Mengele We Torture Human Beings Commission. The FDA  must work to stop shock treatments!


Laurie Woolett

Washington


Vicki Daugherty

Kentucky


Mercedes Chavez

California


Patrice Strong

California


Robert Meister

Florida


Rhonda Gott

Oregon


Pia Brandt Danborg

Denmark


Tone Vrhovnik Straka

Slovenia

In almost 100 years ECT proved no solid evidence of efectiveness. Mumble jumble should not be used on people.


Robin Derrick

New Mexico

stop these crimes against humanity!


Ann Kelly

United Kingdom


Vanda Straka Vrhovnik

Slovenia


Patrick Risser

Ohio


Tracey Duffy

United Kingdom


Miren Kruse

Australia


Dorrit Cato Christensen

Denmark

I'm signing this petition because I know of so many people who have had ECT and who suffer great impairment after that.


CHPRD India

India


Marjorie Sovey

Arizona


Sue Cunliffe

United Kingdom

I have suffered severe reversible brain damage . 11 years on I cannot work.


Hege Orefellen

Norway


Thomas Arbuckle

California


Bernard Daniels

Australia

Shock treatment is a crime against humanity and should be reserved for the psychiatrist who administers it because its a reflection on their lack of moral conscience


Margaret Lacey

Pennsylvania


Gaylynn Wyant

Minnesota

I've received etc and consider it barbaric!


Andrijana Ilievska

Macedonia, Republic of


Pamela Edwards

Maine


Stephanie Scholz

California


Vickie Walker

California


Alexis Abrams

California


ENUSP Organization

Denmark


Kristijan Gr?an

Croatia

ECT is outdated method with severe concequences when used. In some cases it represents a torture!


Alma Pendergrass-Fajardo

Washington

Other countries are BANNING ECT.

Stop this sadistic treatment, not deregulate it!  Atrocity!


??????? ?????

Ukraine


Steve McCrea

Oregon

ECT is dangerous and unreliable. It does not belong in the same category with wheelchairs and eyeglasses!


Helen Nilon

Washington

The devise has not shown to be either safe nor effective and therefore should NOT have less restrictions placed upon it. If anything additional restrictions should be placed upon the use and recomendation for shock treatment!


Marion Merlino

New York


Richard Kramer

California


Carole Willey

Washington


Fonda Knudson

Minnesota

I have a diagnosis  of Major  Depression.


Jacqueline Good

Michigan


Grant Jeffotd

Australia


Mary Maddock

Ireland

Shock 'treatment' is only performed on vulnerable people.  It is a measure of our inhuman society that it exists in the first place.  It is common sense that it causes damage and dysfunction to the human brain- the most advanced living organ in creation.  Too many electroshock survivors have been damaged while too many doctors are blind to their brain damaging 'treatments'. Please sign this petition and share it widely!


Anne Keohane

Ireland


Julie Curtis

Australia

Barbaric and Deranged procedure.


Barbara Barrett

Ireland

Electro shock is a crime against humanity a crime infiltrated by evils that redeem their position of power and control by justifying this barbaric act in the name of what they perceive as treatment. Please sign share inform others of this devastating cruelty done onto elderly people primarily women. Stop this once and for all.


Jasmine Young

California

F you, psychiatry, you're all malicious lying psychopaths.


Eva Remba

New York


Susan Mendez

Ireland


J Tosh

United Kingdom


J Bauer

Connecticut

I'm signing because I do not think anyone should be forced to undergo shock treatment against their will -- and that is exactly what happens, even in "enlightened: states such as CT.


Lory Guy

California


Philip Kumin

Maryland


Elissa Kinch

Wisconsin


Tim Robbins

California


Patrice Campion

Illinois


Brown Elise

Minnesota

If it's neither safe nor effective, why make it mainstream? If it's so often used on vulnerable people, that could  affect about 30 million of us who will reach retirement age. This doesn't count all of those in between! I would hate to see this treatment become deriguer. It sounds like a step close to totalitarianism with no re-set button.


Paddy McGowan

United Kingdom

Because ECT as a medical practice is wrong. The damage it causes to people's brains is horrendous. This is more akin with witchcraft as opposed to science. 


Lynn Correnty

New Hampshire

ECT EQUIPMENT USAGE PERPETRATES A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY!  STOP IT NOW!


Brenda Johnson

Canada

I believe this is inhumane and barbaric treatment. I know several people who were never the same after this treatment. Recovery is possible and even to be expected foe those who have experienced mental health challenges, unfortunately shock treatment reduces the likelihood that an individual can recover while it permanently alters their personality.


Jane Ellis

Virginia

I believe this is inhumane and barbaric treatment. I know several people who were never the same after this treatment. Recovery is possible and even to be expected foe those who have experienced mental health challenges, unfortunately shock treatment reduces the likelihood that an individual can recover while it permanently alters their personality.


Oliver Zdravkovski

Macedonia, Republic of


Jeremy Wallace

Finland


Julie Alexander

Wisconsin


Leslie Kath

California

Shock treatment is cruel and unusual punishment. Please stop using shock treatment completely.


Sorcha R

Ireland


Berit Jensen

Norway


Deborah Machon

Washington

I have no confidence in the psychiatric system. It was violent. I was tortured and frightened of the power of in human treatments like this.


Kelly Beason

Alabama


Drew Cordes

New York

I received ECT in 2015 from a highly respected psychiatric facility. ECT was not only ineffective at sustainably improving my mental health, but it did significantly damaged my memory and brain function. This downgrade is not acceptable.


Megan Wildhood

Washington


John Christine

Ohio


Cheryl Given

Ohio


Shannon Crissman

Arkansas

It should be used as a last resort as it's effectiveness is temporary at best and it can lead to permanent brain damage and memory loss. Downgrading it's status will make it more readily available which will undoubtedly increase it's use leading to greater miss use of it.


Nora Li

Ireland

Doctors already ignore and deny the dangerous effects of ECT. Down classifying the devices will just give them more reason to be ignorant about the severe adverse effects.


Toni Samanie

Oklahoma


Marilène Julien

Canada


Dawn Hunt

California


Ron Paquette

New Hampshire

I've had close loved ones and friends who have been almost tragically misdiagnosed with illnesses they don't have, yet it is considered a legal and forever binding medical record they can never have expunged and corrected.  It is man's inhumanity against man.  Crimes Against Humanity.  Stop It Now!


Dudley Delany

Virginia


Dietmar Weissenberger

Austria


June Gilbert-Ribaldi

California

I'm Signing because I'M NOT SILENT. """"Silence Implies Consent """


Amanda Reiter

Iowa

Electroshock has caused significant memory/cognitive impairments. I am now on SSDI due to brain damage. My quality of life has been greatly diminished due to this inhumane "treatment."


Simon Maynard

Australia

To do everything possible to reduce or eliminate seizures in some ne diagnosed with epilepsy (who have testable changes in brainwave patterns), but then to deliberately CAUSE seizures (ECT) in someone because some doctor has decided that they answered their questions the wrong way, or their family complained that they were being annoying or they couldn't understand them, or because they had been through severe trauma and needed support and caring therapy but it was easier to shut them up with causing seizures and claiming that is helping is insanity. Patients need protection from lazy psychiatrists who don't want to work with and care about their patients, they would rather spend 5 minutes writing out an order for shock treatment.


Margareta Grip

Sweden


Christopher Ottavi

Connecticut


Sara Buelow

Michigan

ECT destroyed my family and my life, taking with it many years of memories as well as my ability to create new memories.


Dana Berger

New York


Peter Vilinsky

New York


Barry Shulak

Oregon


Maie Liiv

Canada


Jianchun Zhou

China


Lorre Mendelson

Tennessee

Shock is NOT treatment. This is ethically and morally wrong.


LaTonya Gibbs

Oregon

I'm tired of those in crisis being pathologized rather than helped. I want humanity and compassion rather than criminalization and restraining.


Tim Hussing

California

Shocks cause physical pain and kills brain cells. Torture is torture. No matter what else you try to call it.


Al Guevara

Arizona

Cause I was hurt by it, but, also helped by it.


William Welch

Massachusetts


Joe Kelly

United Kingdom


Tim Field

Washington

I've had LOTS of ECT (ElectroConvulsive Therapy ((Shock Treatments)) over 48 years. Since ECT causes BRAIN DAMAGE, my memory is deficient about the period when I had the ECTs, It also removes periods of memory (up to 10 years at a time) and the MDs and the RNs tell you the memories will come back after awhile, BUT THEY DON'T. I do not remember much about the 1980s or 1990s. I do not remember the geographic layout of Seattle my home town. I don't remember where Rainier Ave South is for example. Please sign this petition to the FDA to stop ECT. It is a brutal and unnecessary treatment, because patients will feel better eventually without any ECT. Peer exercise, diet, counseling, psychotherapy and medication will do the trick. (It is noteworthy that ECT is seldom administered to young men. It is administered primarily to older women. Shows us a little about whose brains are valued in our culture.)


Alfred Jefferson

Florida


Kurt Wilkens Wilkens

Missouri

I'm signing because ECT is barbarous and torture.


David Jensen

Washington


Tomás Ó Dúbhda

Ireland


Ellen Saal

Ohio


Bonnie Kader

New York


Cheryl Prax

United Kingdom

The FDA are supposed to protect the public not psychiatry's wallet.


Angela Cerio

New York


Mary Murray

New Hampshire


Kathy Wadsworth

New Hampshire


Trish Sandoval

Ohio


Sian Whitehead

United Kingdom


Alan Michelson

California


Amosi Omerri

United Kingdom


Joseph Cecala

Illinois


Nichole Dearing

Missouri


David Carpenter

Ohio


Robert Belanger

Maine

No more patient cruelty.


Joseph Trigueiro

Canada


Wendy Ockerby

Australia


Anthony Copicotto

New York


Krista VanHove

New York


Chris Dubey

Connecticut


Jenny Taylor

California


Richard Winkel

Missouri

It's not nice to erase the memories and diminish the cognitive abilities of vulnerable people.


Janel Hopper

California

It is forced and inhuman treatment.


CL LEE

Hong Kong


Phoebe Lok

Hong Kong


Kerrie Flynn

Massachusetts

As a medical professional I believe this will be an extremely dangerous and poor decision for patients,  it's destructive and is not an emergency treatment.


Emily Pierce

New York


Dee Jacobson

Virginia

I have come to personally know individuals who have been harmed by this procedure for life (permanently)! And, under "Without capacity" laws can be administered in the US against a person's will/wishes.

ECT has proven dangers, honor them instead on minimizing them.


Yau Chong Tan

Malaysia


Sheryl Schachtner

Iowa


Omar Martín

Mexico


Mary Kavendek

Colorado


Ming Chu Lai

Hong Kong


Linda Lagemann

California


Kishore Rajaram

India


Ryan Meyers

Florida

This is barbaric medieval treatment. It is unacceptable to do this, and now even more unacceptable to lower its risk level. Just stop. It is an extremely dangerous and non effective procedure. Please don't do this and do not make it worse than it already is.


Regina Robinson-Elmslie

Washington


Catherine Malone-Morse

Florida

Electroshock "Therapy" is barbaric and inhumane.


Michelle Fournier

Massachusetts


Rob Sky

United Kingdom


Sarah Launderville

Vermont


Emma Bee

New York


Rachel Nichols

Indiana

Electroshock does more harm than good.


Craig Batley

Canada


Jaime Hardt

Florida


Don Altemus

Pennsylvania

I'm against the downgrading of the classification for ECT because the risks that a person faces from ECT treatment are too significant and providers already downplay the risks. ECT treatment has many potential adverse reactions that include the possibility of  death.


Carlene Mahaffey

Maine

Forced treatment is archaic and a blatant violation of human rights.


Michael Freeland

Wisconsin


Valerie Blum

France


Darla Elsbernd

New York


John Breeding

Texas

Electroshock is a terrible brain-damaging assault, and the FDA needs top do the right thing and refuse to approve it.


Nicholas Billett

Texas


Beth Gharib

California


Nicole Huwe

Maine


Sarah Condon

Oregon


Kevin Mark

New York

I don't see the need to make such treatment easier to be used as it is only of limited use for a small population of mostly upper class white people. The rest of us don't need this treatment that might be primarily useful for people with MDD and not allow the medical and psychiatric industrial complex more opportunities to make money by harming people in involuntary, coercive settings. 


Robert Aldred

Canada


Chris Rowland

Texas


William Kaniuka

Maine


John Jackson

Florida


Ann Burgess

Massachusetts

The effect of this "treatment" is violent.  It's use underscores a fear-based, broken, "ill" system's need to perceive people using services, involuntarily or "otherwise" as other.  This leads to depersonalization of people "served."  Depersonalization leads to a much greater ease to deliver violence, and then call it treatment.  It's use on anyone is patently unsafe and should be banned altogether, but all we're asking for here is for all the people who stand to benefit from the use of ECT, which is never "the person of concern," to be reminded that these machines are extremely energetic in their effects and to give some thought before it is used widely or "lightly."  Make no mistake that ECT is now is as destructive as it's ever been at any time in our history.  The person is so heavily sedated for this procedure that much higher voltages are used than ever before in the past, not the other way around!  Ask yourselves whether you know people who have struggled with a seizure disorder, especially those who've endured grand mal seizures.  Are you able to ask this human being whether he's looking forward to his next grand mal seizure, not the unpleasantness of the seizure, just the results?

Almost everyone I've ever witnessed upon just completing a session of ECT in the 90s in the hospital had nausea, sometimes vomiting.  Every single person's resulting euphoria was very temporary, even in the hospital.  A certain result of brain injury is, in fact, euphoria.  The euphoria is a sign that brain damage has been quite likely!  Please do not downgrade these devices.  I dare you to bring your awareness and conscience to this matter.  Thank you very much.


Jeanne Smith

Vermont

The shrinks electroshocked my dad for sexually abusing me. This did not cure him, but in fact made him less able to control his behavior because of the brain damage from the electric current through his brain. That was 1963. The machines are still torture devices that cause permanent brain damage without fixing any "brain diseases."


James Wright

Maine


Jane Rice

Idaho


Nick DeSantis

Pennsylvania

I received ect 3 times a week for 4-5 weeks in 1995. I have no memory at all of it or of the previous 10 years of my life. I did not gain relief of my depression as a result of the ect.


Marty Raaymakers

Michigan


Pamela Paseka

California


Ann Locasio

Texas

There is NO justification for this!


Glen Johnstone

United Kingdom

This is an unacceptable dumbing down of a barbaric treatment that should never have been introduced.


Julie Leonovs

United Kingdom


Val Comerford

Massachusetts


Joanne Rodgers

Ireland


Michael Watson

Michigan


Justin Watson

Michigan


Barbara Saliba

Michigan


Christian Watson

Michigan


Linda Smith

Florida

This must be stopped!  This is the most inhumane treatment that destroys a person.


William Hebner

New York


Jean Kraft

Minnesota


Robert I

Massachusetts


Earl Watson

Colorado

I oppose down-classification of this device! 
Neurological Devices; Reclassification of Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices Intended for Use in Treating Severe Major Depressive Episode in Patients 18 Years of Age and Older Who Are Treatment Resistant or Require a Rapid Response; Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Electroconvulsive Therapy for Certain Specified Intended Uses


Kathleen Nugent

Ireland


Alok Sethi

Pennsylvania

Shock treatment must end.


Nathan Moore

Ohio

I just wish this wasn't an option at all . this treatment is horrible and so is psychiatry!


Donna Bunce

California

This is not treatment. This is abusive.


Craig Lewis

Massachusetts

I am a psychiatric survivor. Psychiatrists erroneously stole 30 years of my life when they were aware and documented in the late 1980's that I was being victimized by  my parents and chose to medicate me anyway. 30+ years later and over 40+ different psych meds later, finally liberated from these poisons, and the only symptoms I have are trauma as a  result of the 30 years of  abuse and Iatrogenic issues from the medications. Where was the FDA in protecting me from all of this abuse and torture? if this happened, and it was in fact licensed Psychiatrists who saw that I was abused and victimized after 30 years and strongly encouraged me to go off the medications, (this is two out of dozens of Psychiatrists), why would anyone in good conscience trust that Psychiatrists are going to do the right thing to help people? This is not my experience. Where was anyone looking out for me?  Nowhere.  Do not approve of this abuse and torture. Be mindful of the Rosenhan experiment and don't believe for a second that anyone could be snatched up and abused in the same way the FDA is proposing allowing happen, for any reason, fictional or fact, proof or no proof. It cold happen to you, your loved one, your colleagues and friends.


Sarah Jones

Alaska

Electric shock is dangerous.


Mandy Howell

Australia

It's 2016 for goodness sake !! This practice should be banned altogether !! The staff in charge of performing this barbaric treatment need to imagine if it was them. Use your imaginations, what would you appreciate? Being tied down & treated like a wild animal or compassionate, caring, healing therapy to restore patients' mental health ???


Maria Murray

Ireland


Dina Poursanidou

United Kingdom


William Ortiz


Kathryn Bennett

Michigan

ECT treatments caused a huge change in my life. I was irking 40 hours a week while having treatment s and as a result of the treatments had to stop working and go on disability. How on earth was that helpful to me? Frankly, it wasn't. The brain is unexplored territory, please do not do more harm by re-classifying this. Unless it is outlawed..


Beth Harris

Massachusetts


Laura Torres

Brazil


Pedro Bayuga

Michigan


Laura Camey

Brazil


Derry Mescal

Ireland

Human rights issue


Royal Moore

Texas


Sarah Furno

Pennsylvania


Carolyn Peters

Kansas


MaryAnne DellaFera

Colorado

ECT has been shown to cause brain damage.  It should NEVER be used for ANY reason, but particularly in people who are already vulnerable due to mental illness.  It has been used intentionally abusively to torture people who are designated by psychiatric "professionals" as noncompliant. I was a victim of this. These abuses will very likely increase if these devices are down classified. 


Jackie Williams

Washington


Deborah O'Brien

Australia

ECT is barbaric and is not effective to the people I know who have been forced to be shocked.  If it's not harmful, then the psuchiatrists should be demonstrated on for a course of 12 shocks and then get their personal opinion on whether they still feel great and unimpaired!


PhebeAnn Wolframe

Canada


Deanna Calef

Washington

Barbaric iatrogenic inhumane bad untenable ineffective unscientific horrid not good dude


Craig Wagner

Michigan

I have done extensive research on ECT. Placebo controlled trials with sham ECT strongly suggest that sham ECT is as effective as real ECT. One ECT sedative drug (ketamine) appears to be effective by itself for short term symptom relief. FDA testing has never occurred on ECT machines so down grading their classification is not evidence-based. The very common side effect of long term memory loss sides in favor of these being experimental devices. ECT has never proven to be effective for long term symptom relief whereas other therapies when delivered based on individualized biomedical and psychosocial testing have. Further, because of the side effects it is abusive to use ECT in cases of forced therapy.


Tomi Hanson

Colorado


C Bailey

Ohio

Shock is shock not treatment for anything.  Before offering it, let's see the providers try it.


Linda Drain

Tennessee

believe this is cruel. I have seizures and know the trauma of them. To induce them is wrong and causes harm.


Ralph W. Tulloch Jr.

Staten Island


Joan Seifer

Illinois


Carolyn Hodson

New Zealand


Alisa Rayner

Australia


Suzanne Adams

Oregon

Because the idea is ridiculous that's why!


Lumia Perniciaro

France


Lise Zumwalt

New York


Will Brady

New York

Shock treatment is torture. The method is employed to make it appear as if "treatment resistant" are helped rather than taking the time to find out what might actually help.


Glen Venezio

Puerto Rico


Jack Cameron

Ohio

Stop the FDA


Mary Newton

South Carolina


Margaret Fong

Canada

I am someone who has a history of serious mental illness who has recovered full mental functionality without ECT.  ECT damages the brain irreparably.


Dara Pearson

Oregon


Moritz Farbstein

Missouri

I have had both relatives and friends who were grievously harmed by ECT.


Karin Roth

Germany


Lynn J. Kell

Arkansas


Athena MxLwN

Michigan


Maureen Schiener

New York


Bradford Huntchingson

New Hampshire

I have friends who are also VICTIMS of this BARBARIC, obsolete, archaic "medical technology". Let's be honest. It's ELECTRO-CUTION TORTURE. Keep it Class III, until it's GONE.


Rose Diamond

Arizona

atrocious, inhumane, horrifying, senseless.  They ought to be shocked who are deciding this.


Keith Hall

Calidornia


Gretchen Renders

New York


Lois Dowell

Wyoming


Jennifer Banathy

Georgia


Jacob Persico

Rhode Island

ECT can cause severe permanent memory loss.


Martin Falk

Oregon


James Wright

United Kingdom

Psychiatry is unaccountable: anyone criticising Psychiatry from within gets told they are "having more symptoms", and anyone criticising from without gets told they couldn't possibly understand Psychiatry, despite all that can be gleaned from library books, message boards, Freedom of Information Act requests, documentaries and whistleblowers.


Julie Kenney

Minnesota


Karen Stern

Pennsylvania


Miriam O'Brien

Ireland


Linda Howe

Massachusetts


Marlene Chamberlin

Colorado


Nikki Nikon

Rhode Island


Cyndi Gabelein

Washington


Linda Kehoe

I'm signing because its time to get out of the dark ages and leave the "Snake Pits" behind.  It's all well and good for those administering the treatment to think that it has positive effects -- however, those being treated and or their family and friends can tell you different.  It is cruel and unusual punishment and I consider it torture and so does Webster look at the definition of torture the ETC treatment  circumstance/s and I'd hope you agree. Give, the procedure and the side effects, and the very often involuntary forced treatment. It's inhuman.


Thomas Fraser

New Hampshire

As a retired mental health nurse I have witness many dangerous punitive treatments on my patients such as doctors excessive use of chemical restraints as well as deaths in physical restraints. I was not hesitant in reporting these abuses to my superiors often with poor results. Only when I aided my patients in seeking legal counsel for their institutional abuse and negative treatments did The Department Of Mental Health stop the mistreatment. Shock Treatment needs to stay as a Class III device, Only on extremely rare times have I ever seen it useful.


Mike Griffin

North Carolina


Peter Davies

Australia

Q. What have you got left when your memory is shredded?


Cassandra Auerbach

California


Warren Ducker

New York


Ann Nash

Virginia


Nicole Crellin

Canada

What does electricity through the brain have anything to do with improving one's faculties.  Ask an electrician.


Blanche Foz

Massachusetts


Wnedy Slutsky

New Jersey


Amy Blomquist

California


Teresa Cope

Colorado

I oppose the use of ECT for rapid response.


Paulette Shalhoub

Colorado


Jeri Tresler

Washington


Rick Raymond

Canada


Tracy Puglisi

New York


Tauna Moody

Arizona


Thomas Behrendt

Connecticut


Tony Bouchahine

Ohio


Colette Ni Dhuinneacha

Ireland


Cindy Olejar

Washington


Clodagh Burke

Ireland


Dorothy Winston

New York

I don't believe that ECT is an effective treatment of depression and there are alternatives that are better.


Jobe Toole

California

Shock treatment killed my sister.


Eleanor Howe

Florida

I'm signing because of the deleterious effects of the shock.


John Casey

Ireland


Barbara Sims

New  York


Coreen Kendrick

Canada


Rev. L. William Yolton

Florida

I was six years on the Human Rights Committee at the Northern Virginia Mental Heath Institute.  Electric Shock may give short yet benefits to some but long term destruction


Frances Muzio

New York


Mary Kelly

United Kingdom

Ireland/Cork lost a great mental health campaigner when John Mc Carthy died; he said ECT is an abuse of human rights,& I agree


Herb Cohen

New York

I am a trauma therapist and had a client with dissociative disorder given ECT in the state hospital because she did not respond to medication. She was not screened for dissociation nor for trauma and received no treatment for either. she eventually refused ECT after 20 sets only to be listed as noncomplient.


Louisa Livingstone

United Kingdom

These antiquated ideas and treatments are very damaging to vulnerable and any other people.


Jim Maddock

Ireland


Maria Alindato

New York


Barbara Cantrella

New York


Kelly Mooney

New York


Bruno Zacke

Gernany


Deborah Fickling

New Mexico


Patricia Stacke-Kelly

Ireland


Darren Treacy

United Kingdom

I don't believe in giving people brain damage to alleviate their Clinical Depression..a billion pounds would do one more good...


Deborah Bratcher

Texas


Olli Mustonen

Denmark

ECT is always brain damage,


Sheila Simpson

Denmark


Hannah Blakeman

South Carolina


Kelly Richardson

Washington

ECT is dangerous and needs clinical proof that it should be downgraded.  Some of the studies that are done show brain damage.


Wendy Dann

New York

This might be helpful in some cases, but it also needs to be used with caution.


amal bouchentouf

Canada


Clint Tayler

Georgia

This technology has never been properly tested and has circumvented the FDA process. There are extremely serious side effects associated with this form of alleged treatment; these are often not explained to potential patients by physicians who downplay the serious, sometimes catastrophic, side effects. There is little consideration for possible long term deleterious effect on the brain. The supposedly positive action is unknown as to its nature. Also the United Nations has officially declared ECT as a form of torture, not treatment. Finally, as someone who has undergone this and having known many friends who also have experienced this, sometimes against their will, have all had serious side effects, sometimes briefly, some permanently. There are many other effective treatments for depression that do not have the risks that ECT presents.


Aaron Edens

Oregon


Kimberlee King

Oregon


Amy Hay

Australia


George Badillo

Brooklyn


Mark Eccles

Canada


Ian Parker

United Kingdom


Claire Rice

United Kingdom


Ayurdhi Dhar

Georgia


Sam Katz

Wisconsiin


Catia Castro

Canada


Carla Rabinowitz

New York


Joan Mikolajczyk

New  York

FDA is simply not a reliable resource of validated information. Science is filled with inaccurate data, changing data as the environment changes, would you trust most of your researchers, many of you complain about college students and crime on campus, is it any different when they are employed as psychiatrists and employed by the FDA. What has the FDA given the world to be happy about? Should we be uproariously happy every day, or content which many psychiatrists consider treatment resistant depression. Let's try nonGMO diets & clean water, FDA has that power. I am Prudence Shagwell aka Chanti Mauduit, Mental Health of Kingston seem it necessary to force me to be Joan Mikolajczyk, is ECT next for me. I sometimes work for FDA.


Kieran O'Leary

California

Barbaric practice


Chi Hoi Lee

Hong Kong


Peter Tannenbaum

Washington

All the right reasons.


S. Henwood

Australia

The FDA should not be down-classifying ECT to a grade2 device. The treatment has never been proven safe, Psychiatrists and scientists haven't determined the exact mechanism of action upon the brain, but the research that has been done has not concluded ECT to be safe rather the opposite. The FDA should not Down-Classifying ECT because the FDA hasn't the the proof.


Erika Dr. Czelenk

Hungary


Mary Finn

Massachusetts

I am against electrocuting people's brains. I am for good nutrition, helpful people and working to help people learn their own individual value to this world. People are given this for depression, which is not a physical ailment. Physical ailments get better when doctors, help them, with known cures. Penicillin saved lives!! But before it was administered, it was researched and proven. Bridges don't collapse when used because of knowledge devised by competent engineers. They assist people to cross bodies of water safely.  They aren't used by people until they have been tested. Good parents, trusted friends, caring volunteers, and others teach others how to learn and become valuable, and all are valuable. No one would make it alone.  You know what the warning label says on the FDA proposal, "When used as intended this device provides short term relief of symptoms.  The long term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.". Maybe we can and should have a lot more caring for others in this world, then no one would ever get away with thinking they could electrocute a person's brains. Not very nice people used to also use corporal punishment on kids in homes and in schools as a way to enforce better grades and behaviors...at least that was thrown out.  Don't ever underestimate the power of one person truly caring for another person, its made miracles happen, built bridges and a zillion other things that make life...LIFE!!! I support it and hope we live up to the right thing and throw out the questionable practices that openly state there are known bad side effects, no lasting improvements, etc., it's as my older relatives used to say, " a bunch of bologna".


Julie Figueiredo

Massachusetts


Tim Cameron

Australia


Omar Toledo

Puerto Rico

I Don like it and Electroconvulsive Therapy and Other Depression Treatments. ... Brain stimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), are geting the live at risk and is danger that will kill you


Kirk Wagner

New York

Im signing this because it will only make it easier for abusive partners and spouses to control, manipulate, and abuse. And after their abuser has conned the doctor into believing  their lies, the victim  will be laying there, restrained, with the doctor leaning over them telling them that this is for their own good. While I was not forced to undergo shock therapy, per se, I have had two separate  partners use my mental illness against me in this manner. It can happen. It will happen. And we as a society  have a responsibility  to protect  those who cannot protect themselves.


Sally Anderl

Minnesota

I think it can be misused by medical profession


Sebastian Stehle

Sweden


Josseline Rundgren Stehle

France


Danny Sheridan

Ireland


Johanna Ryan

Illinois


Mary Power

Ireland

Over a continuous period of 3 and a half montha in 1976-77, I was reduced to a virtual vegetable (unable to think, converse or do anything but the simplest tasks) by being subjected to "intensive treatment", i.e. very-frequent ECT in combination with unusually high doses of drugs - which included neuroleptics, anti-depressants and barbiturates. All without my consent and most of it without my knowledge.  There was no "emergency" or "treatment-resistant depression".  They just did it to me because they could. Despite my best efforts and happy marriage, I still struggle with  short-term memory problems and permanent cognitive dysfunction. All traceable to those 3 and a half months "intensive treatment".

A number of years ago, the FDA REFUSED to classify the ECT- machine in the "less dangerous" class of medical equipment. Simply because the manufacturers were unable to supply the required k paperwork (clinical trials data etc.) needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of equipment belonging to this class.  I would be most grateful if the FDA could answer one question:

Exactly what has changed in the intervening years to JUSTIFIY reclassifying the ECT machine??

Yours - Mary Power (Mrs.)


Bonnie Burstow

Canada

ECT is a violent brain-damaging procedure.  To pretend otherwise is hypocritical and irresponsible.


Rosy Wilson

Ireland


Lucy Johnston

United Kingdom


Imran Baron

United Kingdom


Frances Hogan

Ireland

I think there should be an end to the distressing use of shock treatment.  There are other solutions.


Brian Smeaton

Ireland


Grainne Barry

Ireland


Ann Kennedy

Ireland

outrageous, manipulative, abuse of power and totally unnecessary to have any shock treatment at all. its barbaric to do this to any human brain.


Fiona Morrissey

Ireland


Guylaine Labonte

Canada


Sandor Tarjanyi

Ireland


Conn Fitzgibbon

Ireland

Electric shocks have a huge impact on people's brain functioning and memory, and can sometimes end in death, my mother lost alit if memory and appeared like a zombie after her shocks, unable to motivate herself or remember things.....and it doesn't take long before the depression comes back full force.


Edward Fox

Canada


Alexis Samhric

Ohio


Neil Foulkes

Ireland


Melissa StLaurent

Rhode Island


Anne Beirne

Ireland


Steven Kroeger

New York


Nicholas Fernandes

United Kingdom


Carole Hayes Collier

New York


Carrie Ruby-Geiger

New York

I have received shock treatment and do not feel it should be down-classified.


Kristy Bartley

Utah


Angela Warren

New York


Chrsitine Giannelli

New York


M'chel Allison

Texas


Kathleen Bock

Vermont

This is a barbaric treatment. Whatever the conflicts of interest that exist with industry giving itself its own grades on its own report cards----as they essentially decide for themselves what research is proving their own products safe....from which they obviously profit....all involved in the decision around mental health treatment, mental health diagnosis and all terms and criteria determining what is the source of pathology, whether a physiological condition or emotional traumas need to prove that they are worthy of trust with the dangerous and dehumanizing methods of treatment that already exist in the psychiatric industry. Please get to the real points of analysis in considering what would be a system of mental health treatment of which our nation can be proud. Not one that repeatedly churns out zomibified and sickened and debilitated citizens. You can do better.


Mary West

Oklahoma


Victoria Welle

Minnesota


Moneer Zarou

New York

It's the right thing to do!


Kelly Staples

Maine

I'm signing because I know too many people who have had there brains turned to mush because of this. Too many people under guardianship, or threats to never see their children again. It needs to STOP!


Cong Tong

Canada

To avoid being taken advantage of one's adversary by falsely labeling mental illness and by adopting such harmful means to silence political, and religious dissident and business competitor as the establishment of foreign agent of influence looms large enough in US.


Margaret Jarry

New York


Jenelle Rose

Australia


Lisa Zen

New York


Kerry Vega

New Jersey


Roxanne Leino

Maine


Mary McGillycuddy

Ireland


Harry Gijbels

Ireland


Ann Whitehurst

United Kingdom


Jennifer Creech

Kentucky


Juanita Gilpin

Nebraska


Sharon Landis

Canada

I went into it with what I thought was informed consent.  It was supposed to be a last resort action to save me from being severely treatment resistant. It impaired me beyond belief for years to come. It only works bc it causes brain damage. I was told it would simply make my brain reset itself and in a short time I would be fine... It is just a lobotomy really.  It's goal is to cause damage and make you forget. The risks are just too bad.  The medical community completely minimized them.  I could have done without that. I had very impaired memory, emotional reasoning and cognition for many years afterward...Like 14 years now.  It has taken me years to recover.  And I do not know if I will ever fully recover.  Dr's must not be allowed to do any harm. Than they have already done! For any reason...It's just not worth it.  The campaign for it in the medical community is completely flawed.  This is a barbaric practice that needs to be permanently banned. Please share fellow Canadians.  This is an international issue.


Barney Griffin

Canada


Emmanuelle Mignaton

France


Tracy Frisch

New York

I am outraged that such barbaric "treatment" continues to be used on anyone, let alone people who are likely already traumatized and suffering emotionally.


Rosine Page

Canada


Amanda Jeffrey

United Kingdom

The people doing this electric chair are sick monsters


Donna Keutmann

Pennsylvania


Laurene Smith

Pennsylvania

I am against based on facts


Kathryn Ruffins

New York


Deborah Scamman

Maine


Eric Johnson

Indiana


Gary Skirba

Oregon


Diane Wiener

New York


Deanne Morrison

Australia


Jo-Anne Gore

Australia


Andrea DeSpain

Illinois


Michael Adelman

Oregon


Michael Creed

Ireland


Andrea Nagy

Ireland


Chuck Ruby

Maryland

ECT is barbaric. The only thing it does is jolt the person into a stupor, robbing them of memories and other cognitive functions. From the psychiatrist's standpoint, it "works" because is remove the symptoms. But in human terms all it does is act as a slap in the face, forcing the person to shut up so they don't complain anymore about their real, human problems. It does nothing to address the actual problems experienced. Depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, you name it, aren't real brain diseases. They are names given to common human struggles of a personal nature.


Joanne Decker

Arizona


Rick Winking

Montana


Bertram Karon

Michigan


Dr. Dawn Nelson

Wisconsin


Noel Hunter

New York


Penelope Brindley

Maryland


James Cumm

Florida

I've seen first hand the trauma and long lasting damage of ect to unsuspecting people seeking help.


Stephanie Ozbun

Ireland


John Ryan

New Mexico


Lena Nielsen-Mackley

California


Diana Gonzalez

Texas


Andrew Day

South Africa


Tanya Baker

California

Shocking is ineffective and has dangerous side effects. People don't want this used on them against their will and declassifying this machine will make it easier.


Sisco Barbara

Tennessee


Piotr Iwaneyko

Poland


Geraldine Martyn

Ireland


Peggy Gaylord

New York


Michael Joyce

United Kingdom


Kendrick Moxon

California


Lorri Dunwoody

Indiana


John K. McAtee

West Virginia


Daphne Olson

New York


Elizabeth McCarthy, MA, LPC

Michigan


Paul Josefsson

Sweden


Donna Lordi

New Jersey


Phillip Kenneth Jones

Ohio


Neesa Sunar

New York


Catherine Birch

United Kingdom


Nancy Salinas Burgett

Texas


Keri Motl

New York


Alastair Yarrow

Ireland

I support this petition as I have heard at first hand, my patients, of the brutality of ECT. One who had experienced torture described ECT as worse, brutal, inhumane  and at the hands of  a profession one should believe would protect the sick not brutalise them.


Paula Puglisi

Kentucky


Kristin Neagle

New York

I support this petition as I have heard at first hand, my patients, of the brutality of ECT. One who had experienced torture described ECT as worse, brutal, inhumane  and at the hands of  a profession one should believe would protect the sick not brutalise them.


Korena Wilson

New York

I believe it is barbaric and does way more damage then the benefits, if there is any benefits. it is cruel.


Jayette Lansbury

New York


Jill Gerrie

Michigan


Joao Gaspar

Portugal

U[Volt] = R[Ohm] x I[Ampere]

People are the Resistance. 


Darma Canter

Michigan


Eleanor Canter

Michigan


Stephen Sidare

New York

It's a very insidious move on such a lethal device!


Maureen Walsh

Ireland


Hélton Winter

Brazil

Shock treatment is torture and cures nothing. Tratamento de choque é tortura e nunca curou nem cura nada.


Renée Tranvouez

France


Heather Robertson

Australia


Carole Watkins

Virginia

This is just old time treatment


Trish Duffe

Ireland


Mick McKeown

United Kingdom


Hope Ransom

Florida


Katy Todaro

Australia


Lucy Tobias

United Kingdom


Laura Fowles 

California


Kieran Wilson

United Kingdom


Dianne Robinson

Canada

This is a useless barbaric practise


Kathy Keim

Oklahoma


Amy Hastings

Virginia


German Calvo

Canada

These devices have little known positive effects and results and can be severely abused in the wrong hands and without very careful supervision. Patients can be and have been deceived as to the use and purpose of these devices....many loaing their lives or memory of it in the process.


Bethany Sheldahl

Kentucky


Susan Hastings

Virginia


MaryEllen Seehafer

Maryland


Marvella Oberg

New York


Chrisian Dawson

New York

ECT causes memory loss. Decreased IQ. Decreased social skills. Decreased problem solving.


Sleven Rucci-Airo

California


Michaela Lewis

United Kingdom


Sarah Thompson

Ireland


Martha  Thompson

California


Ernesto Ramirez

New Jersey


Sharon Rudd

Florida

ECT is not a treatment to be used casually.  It is Class III treatment.  It has NOT been proven to be effective, nor is it safe.  The UN has classified ECT as torture, which it is.


Eileen McGinn

New York

The idea that it is or could be therapeutic to repeatedly give a person general anesthesia and then provide electrical stimulation to the human brain to induce repeated seizures, remains controversial after decades of the use of ECT shock devices.  These devices are still classified by the FDA as among the ones unsupported by actual unbiased and high quality research evidence (Class III) as to their benefits, harms, indications, contraindications, relative contraindications and short-term, medium-term and long-term outcomes in different populations with different indications.  These ideas remain to be supported by any unbiased, strong or nuanced evidence.  The FDA hearing in 2011 reviewed the research and the state of the evidence for understanding of benefits and harms for different indications or different populations, with different software, devices, anesthesia doses, placement of device parts or duration of seizures.  They declined to recommend that these shock devices be placed in a category (Class II) to be considered as clearly safer for Americans. 

Now, instead of a hearing to review any new evidence with an even-handed and unbiased panel, what is now proposed is that simple assertions, without evidence, are all that is necessary to settle this decades-long controversy about the many issues remaining for these shock devices.  The continuing issues have not been addressed adequately, and these simple assertions cannot be a basis for the FDA's making such a major decision to reclassify these shock devices into another category recognized as "safer" than the one where it is currently classified.  The offering of a compendium of poor quality research with unsupported vague conclusions is not scientific and does not provide an adequate evidence base to evaluate or reevaluate safety, not to speak of effectiveness, of the devices.   An objective review of this poor quality research coupled with an understanding of the conflict of interests (overlap of manufacturers, researchers, providers, journal editors), as well as a review of the FDA's 2011 hearing last review in 2011,cannot allow the FDA to proceed as if ignorant of these massive shortcomings in scientific inquiry.   There are not even clear definitions and understanding of the supposed narrow "indications" for this reclassification: current psychiatry literature confirms that there is no agreed upon definition for "treatment resistant" depression, surely a required point of departure for any FDA approvals. 

Some References

Berlim MT, & Turecki G. (2007). What is the meaning of treatment resistant/refractory major depression (TRD)? A systematic review of current randomized trials. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2007 Nov;17(11):696-707. Epub 2007 May 23.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17521891

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17521891

Brooks, M. (2016). 'Robust' Evidence Supports CBT for Resistant Depression. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857642

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857642

Davenport, L. (2016). Depression Symptoms Ongoing Even With Optimal Treatment.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/859181?

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/859181?


de Sousa, RT, Zanetti, MV, Brunoni, AR, & Machado-Vieira, R. (2015). Challenging Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: A Roadmap for Improved Therapeutics. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(5):616-35. Doi: 10.2174/1570159X13666150630173522#sthash.Q4w9FpXd.dpuf


Katie Zurick

Arizona


Douglas Coulter

California

A survivor of forced psychiatric treatment



This is the first 737 signatures--251  of them with comments--that were received of 2,326 people who are supporting this effort.  

More comments will be posted in the coming days. 

If you would like your comment posted, please sign the petition and we will get it up here as soon as possible.  

(So far 2,326+ people have signed our petition to tell FDA not to down-classify the shock device for any reason.  Join us! https://www.change.org/p/fda-stop-fda-from-down-classifying-the-shock-device-to-a-class-ii-device-stop-shock-treatment