ACTION: You
can politely e-mail the head of the psychiatric corporation to
say, "Ease up on Arne!"
EUGENE, OREGON, USA: We all
know USA postal workers are
often under stress.
So what happens when a postal
worker asks for help? What
happens when they use the psychiatric care that they're
told to use, that their union has fought for?
Sometimes
they get abuse, trauma, and then a bill. Arne
Smith is a member of Support Coalition in Eugene, Oregon.
He's been a postal office worker for years. In fact, when we
here at the Support Coalition office
go to the main post office a block away, it's often Arne
at the front window helping with a cheerful smile.
Five years ago, Arne went to
the psychiatric system for
help. Instead, he was mistreated in a psychiatric institution.
Arne was held against his will. He was given psychiatric
drugs he didn't want that harmed him.Eventually, after nearly
a week, he managed to get out.
And now that same institution
wants to collect money from
him, to pay for his own abuse. And they're threatening
to go to court to try to get it. It's not a lot
of money, but it's a bill that deeply troubles Arne.
Arne is fighting back in small
claims court, and only has
a few weeks to win his case.
Below is a letter Arne recently
wrote to the psychiatric institution
to say, "No way." Since that letter, Arne has
filed in small claims court to protect his rights.
In fact, Arne has *counter-sued* for $300 for
"impeachment of my credit history."
Also below is a letter Arne
wrote to a federally-funded advocacy
service asking for legal assistance.
We've found Arne really brave
and determined over the years.
He told us, "You always have my permission
to share my story with anybody. I
prefer preventing this from happening to anybody,
and if you want to pass my story along-- please do."
Forward this alert and Arne's story.
For years, Arne has loyally
helped out with e-mail letter-writing
campaigns just like this. Here's are two
easy ways to say, "Thank you!"
FREE EASY E-MAIL ACTION YOU CAN
TAKE NOW.
1. E-mail a brave psychiatric
survivor to say,
"Happy New Years, Keep On
Fighting, Arne!"
You can e-mail Arne at <carlos5000@worldnet.att.net>
.
2. SEND A *CIVIL* E-MAIL TO THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
"PEACEHEALTH" WHICH OWNS SACRED HEART IN EUGENE.
E-MAIL TO: John Hayward <jhayward@peacehealth.org>
[or fax him at 425-649-3825]
Sample message: "Please
ease up on Arne Smith! Don't make
this Eugene, Oregon citizen pay for his own abusive,
forced psychiatric treatment at Sacred Heart! I
look forward to your response as soon as possible."
Signed: [Your name &
contact information]
If you wish, you can copy your
e-mail to Support Coalition
at: office@MindFreedom.org
TWO LETTERS FROM ARNE
From: Arne Smith <carlos5000@worldnet.att.net>
I wrote this letter to Sacred
Heart, and haven't heard from them:
12-14-2000
Sacred Heart Hospital
PO Box 10905
Eugene, Or 97440
Dear Sacred Heart Hospital,
I recently received information
from you or your agent
informing me that you are suing me in small claims
court for a debt from several years ago. I have
disputed this debt since day one!
I went to your hospital for
treatment because I was having
side effects from psychiatric drugs that were being
prescribed by Dr. Robbins. I was unable to continue
to function at work or home and needed help.
Upon being seen, Dr. Robbins admitted me and reported
that I was a danger and should not be released.
I didn't want to be treated by Dr.Robbins
and made that very clear! I believe he held me
against my will because he was insulted about me requesting
another opinion about his treatment. It took
me about five days to make arrangements to be cared
for by another doctor and be released. I do not
feel that I should have to pay for this terrible treatment.
I was held against my will, forced to take drugs
that were harming me and missed work. I chose not
to pursue any legal cause against your hospital or
Dr. Robbins because of the embarrassment and my desire
to pursue alternative avenues to treat my problems.
I just wanted to get past those problems.
If you insist on bringing me to
court on this matter I will
fight the case and bring in witnesses to share the
details of my experience. I am a member and have the
backing of Support Coalition International and Oregon
Advocacy Center. I have sought their help in this
matter and they have indicated that they are willing
to help me. As you probably know Support Coalition
International is a group, that helps patients
and survivors of psychiatric treatment. Their
depth of knowledge is great and David Oaks from
Support Coalition often speaks before legislatures
and advocates against forced drugging and
shock treatment.
I know my time is short since I
need to respond to this
suit by next Friday. If I haven't heard from you
by Wednesday, I will consider your position to be
inflexible.
Please drop this matter, so I
can lay this experience
behind me.
Sincerely,
Arne Smith <carlos5000@worldnet.att.net>
Dexter, OR, USA
To: Oregon Advocacy Center <welcome@oradvocacy.org>
Dear Sir,
I'm having a problem and I'm
hoping you may be able to
help. I was referred to you by David Oaks, a friend
of mine. I have been a member of Support Coalition
International for several years, and have participated
in letter writing campaigns to help survivors
of problems associated with psychiatric treatment.
I am a survivor of
psychiatric treatment, and suffer
from the impacts of being held against my will
and side effects from long term use of psychiatric
drugs. In 1995 I was held against my will
by Sacred Heart Hospital. I was suffering side effects
from the drugs my doctor had prescribed so I went
to the hospital to be treated for these side effect
and to get hopefully get care from another doctor.
But -- I was considered to be under the care of
this doctor, and spent several days convincing others
that I wanted to be released and wanted alternative
treatment. I was successful in getting a change
in treatment -- but not without the original doctor
holding me against my will for nearly a week. I was never a
threat to anyone, including myself, but with
the help of the ego of the doctor, I had to prove
my "saneness."
My problem -- after five years
-- I'm being sued for about
$600 for the charges associated with being in the
hospital. I can't think of anything more ridiculous
than having to pay for being held against my
will. Is there anything that you can do on my behalf,
by either contacting the hospital or representing
me in court? Please help.
Thanks in advance,
Arne Smith
Dexter, Or USA
IN OTHER PSYCH. RIGHTS NEWS:
Readers in the San Francisco
area may want to attend a free
Support Coalition forum this coming Friday.
When: Friday, January 5, 2001,
at 7 pm.
Speakers: Loren Mosher, MD
& David Oaks.
Topic: "MAD PRIDE! The
Movement for Human Rights &
Alternatives in the 'Mental
Health System'"
Where: ILWU Local 6 Union Hall,
255 - 9th St.
San Francisco, Calif., USA.
Co-sponsored by Coalition on
Homelessness.
DENDRITE is a public Internet alert system about human rights in psychiatry, sponsored by Support Coalition International, sending out notices to thousands of concerned people, many of whom take ACTION NOW!
Support Coalition International is an independent non-profit federation of more than 70 groups in 11 countries united to WIN campaigns for human rights in the "mental health system." For info on Support Coalition, see the web site:
www.efn.org/~dendron
