FORUM JUST A DELAY TACTIC

by Kamala Hayman A former Christchurch psychiatric patient, subjected to years of shock treatment and threatened with a lobotomy, has dismissed as a "waste of time" Government plans to hear abuse claims in a confidential forum.  The woman, now in her 50s, is one of about 300 former patients claiming abuse during the 1960s and '70s. Many were sent to psychiatric institutions because of behavioural difficulties but then treated as if they had serious psychiatric illnesses. Some were as young as eight.  Allegations include physical and sexual abuse, long periods of solitary confinement and the use of electroconvulsive therapy as punishment.  Yesterday, Attorney-General Margaret Wilson announced a confidential forum would be established where former patients, their families and hospital staff could tell their stories. "The forum is designed to give former patients a chance to talk about their experiences in a non-critical and confidential environment," said Wilson.  People would also be offered referrals to agencies, such as the ACC, the health and disability commissioner and police, as well as professional counselling. She said the forum would report back to the Government.  But a former Sunnyside patient, still living in Christchurch, could not see the point of the forum nor of further counselling.  She was admitted to Sunnyside's secure Stewart Villa in the 1970s after cutting and sandpapering herself, following years of childhood sexual abuse. During 14 years of treatment she was subjected to more than 70 electric shock treatments, deep-sleep therapy and was threatened with a lobotomy.  Her brother, also a child victim of sexual abuse, was sent to Cherry Farm aged 10 simply because an appropriate foster home could not be found.  Yesterday, the former Stewart Villa patient said the proposed forum sounded like "a waste of time and a delaying tactic".  She said the Government was treating former patients as if they were mad people whose claims could not be trusted.  "They tell society that and society believes it."  She sometimes regretted raising her claims. "It's awful going back into it, it stirs you up and brings back all the unfairness of it. I think of the years of life I lost and all those professional people who should have picked up what was wrong." Adding to her emotional trauma, legal costs have swallowed up her life savings and she did not know if she would be entitled to legal aid to carry on. "It's a bit heartbreaking."  Her case is one of about 85 now lodged with the courts through Wellington lawyers Roger Chapman and Sonja Cooper. At least another 140 claims were expected to be lodged.  Chapman said the Government's forum would not help his clients.  "Many of them are looking for something like an apology and a large number, whose lives have been completely changed by what happened, would like some compensation," said Chapman. "The forum doesn't address any of that."  Cooper added the forum could increase clients' distress for no benefit as they would still have to go to court to have their cases accepted.  "It will be hugely traumatic. We have had two clients hospitalised after telling their story to us."  Cooper and Chapman have repeatedly called for an independent inquiry to establish whether systematic abuse had happened, such as the claims of abuse at Lake Alice Hospital.  But a spokeswoman for Wilson said the case differed significantly from Lake Alice. Many institutions were involved and, crucially, many of the current allegations were contested.  Those seeking to establish liability or compensation would have to go to court, said Wilson: "It is a matter of natural justice to allow (alleged abusers) to defend their reputations."  --------------------  CAPTION: Margaret Wilson