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This page is to augment the David Russell MindFreedom Shield Alert page. There are documents related to his Alert, and since MindFreedom's comment feature is not functioning right now, to place information that could have otherwise gone in the comments. Social Media
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From: Judy Anne Hentges
Hello -
My name is Judy
Hentges and I found the story of David Russell by accident just today.
I have written down Bishop Barrons email and phone and plan to try and
contact him after the 4th of July holiday. The reason I
am so interested is because in January through February of 1998, I too,
had Forced ECT done to me.
They did 17
electric shock treatments to my brain - bilateral at Minneapolis
Fairview Riverside.
I do not
remember any of my life and just recently on May 24 of this year, I
contacted a Catholic news station in Canada, called Life Site News.
I asked if I wrote about my experience, if they would consider
publishing my article. To my delight, they did and if you type in
Forced ECT Life Site News May 24 it should bring up the article. I
also then passed it along to my parish priest, Fr. Jim Livingston and he
in turn passed it on to a parish staff member so I think you are on the
right track, contacting Catholic Clergy - who are mainly pro-life -
about this barbaric procedure being done in nearly every hospital in the
U. S. and around the World to people against their will.
This needs to
stop. God bless you and I will do what I can to help stop David
Russells treatments - best I can. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Judy Hentges
From: Gretchen Johnson I posted the following comments on Bishop Barron's Facebook page: 1. "Please intervene to stop David Russell at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester from being forcibly electroshocked and drugged up against his
will. He is a client of Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota and his
court appointed guardian through CCSM, Lydia Stiehl, is allowing the
electroshock and drugging to continue despite David getting a blood clot
from the electroshocks and gaining weight and his private parts swelling
as a result of the psychiatric drugging. This is not OK." 2. "David Russell had asked for help. However, the forced
electroshock and drugging are the wrong kind of "help". David should be
able to tell people involved in his care what he needs and be believed.
" Gretchen Johnson
From: contact@lifeafterect.com
<contact@lifeafterect.com>
to Whom It May Concern,
Here are Life After ECT's contributions to David Russel's case.
·
YouTube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZLyp2hFDtQZLyp2hFDtQ
·
Podcast Episode:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/episodes/Forced-ECT-at-Minnesotas-Mayo-Clinic---David-Russels-Story-e2l801e
Also, Thank you for MindFreedom's efforts on Idaho's "ECT for Kids"
bill. Your community's support means more than I can express.
Respectfully,
Anna & the Life After ECT team
From: Katie Brennan Hi, Jim, I contacted my local bishop, Daniel Felton, in the
Diocese of Duluth, in addition to contacting Bishop Barron about
scheduling a meeting to discuss what is happening to David and to
others, including myself, under their watch. This totally contradicts
Catholic doctrine and teaching, and the Church’s commitment to upholding
the dignity of all human beings. I also have been trying to set up a meeting with MN
Representative Pete Stauber and Sen. Tina Smith. Their assistants
continue to give me the run-around with no follow through. When I spoke
with a secretary at the Diocese of Duluth, she encouraged to reach out
to Rep. Stauber, who is a devout Catholic. She sees him all the time at
the Cathedral in Duluth. Honestly, my heart breaks with every Shield Alert
because I so want to help, but no one with any power will listen or
respond to me. When I call and email, I am polite and respectful. Any more suggestions of how to be heard?
Katie P.S. I have been relentlessly trying to be heard by
legislators and others for YEARS!!
From: Loretta Wilson
July 1, 2024
Dear Bishop Barron,
I have been acquainted with
Catholic Charities for many years and always believed they were a
non-profit organization that did good for all in the community.
More recently, I learned,
as a home owner, that a portion of my taxes were designated for Genesee
Health System and that Genesee Health System had granted thousands of
those dollars to Catholic Charities.
Now I'm hearing about a
different side of Catholic Charities which is very disturbing news.
Therefore, I have copied
the letter that was written by Jim Gottstein and addressed to you, and I
am pasting it below my comments as a means of adding my signature to
confirm that I am also asking you to intervene on behalf of David
Russell; the details are available in Jim's letter.
Respectfully,
Loretta Wilson
Member of MindFreedom since
2009
Now for the exact copy of
Jim Gottstein's letter to you, with one exception; the email addresses
were not copied!
Begin Paste:
Subject: Please Intervene to Stop Your Guardianship Program from Allowing
the Forced Electroshock of David Russell
Dear Bishop Barron,
This is to draw your attention to your Catholic Charities of Southern
Minnesota guardianship program allowing the forced electroshocking of
David Russell. Mike Hanratty, the director of your guardianship
program has said,
they would not petition to have anyone electroshocked against their
will, but has stood by and let it happen. Your own Catholic Social Teaching provides, “Only if human rights are protected and
responsibilities fulfilled, can the human dignity of persons be
respected.”
The United Nations has concluded Electroshock can constitute torture in
violation of International Law. See, UN Human Rights Council. (19
June 2020). “Mental Health and Human Rights: Resolution 43/13 Adopted 19 June 2020.” A/HRC/RES/43/13. Geneva: United
Nations; UN Human Rights Council. (20 Mar 2020). Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: Report of
the Special Rapporteur. A/HRC/43/49. Geneva: United Nations; Méndez, Juan E. (4 Mar
2013). “Statement By Mr. Juan E Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 22nd Session of the
Human Rights Council of the United Nations.” Geneva: United Nations. See also the related Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan E. Méndez (2013), A/HRC/22/53. Geneva: United
Nations.
Your guardianship program is endorsing this torture of David Russell by
standing by when its objection certainly would have prevented it and
could now stop it. As the famous aphorism attributed to Edmund
Burke teaches, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the
world is that good men do nothing.” You should not be such a
person.
Frankly, I think your diocese should launch an investigation with which
I would be pleased to participate. But first, you must stop the
torture of David Russell being allowed by your guardianship program.
Sincerely,
Jim Gottstein
(301) 987-4466 (Direct)
(301) 363-9248 (Main Office)
Author of The Zyprexa Papers
End Paste:
From: Andy Triboletti I found 11. Freedom From Maltreatment Patients shall be
free from maltreatment as defined in the Vulnerable Adults Protection
Act. “Maltreatment” means conduct described in Section 626.5572,
Subdivision 15, or the intentional and nontherapeutic infliction of
physical pain or injury, or any persistent course of conduct intended to
produce mental or emotional distress. Every patient shall also be
free from nontherapeutic chemical and physical restraints, except in
fully documented emergencies, or as authorized in writing after
examination by a patient’s physician for a specified and limited period
of time, and only when necessary to protect the patient from self-injury
or injury to others. From
https://mcforms.mayo.edu/mc3500-mc3599/mc3570-01.pdf I posted here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/please-help-stop-the-shock-of-david/ I contacted the BBB for Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I used the form here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience to submit a grievance indicating David himself
couldn't file it as he's in a mental hospital without internet access,
even though England has internet access. I posted on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Email to
the Bishop. I messaged https://www.wordonfire.org/
with a $10 donation. Thanks, Andy
From: Michaela Fissel
See
below, with email addresses for most staff at the Diocese of
Winona-Rochester.
From:
Michaela Fissel
Dear Bishop Barron, and
respective members of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester,
I am emailing to draw your
attention to your Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota guardianship
program allowing the forced electroshocking of David Russell. Mike
Hanratty, the director of your guardianship program has
said,
they would not petition to have anyone electroshocked against their
will, but has stood by and let it happen. Your own Catholic
Social Teaching provides, “Only if human rights are protected and responsibilities fulfilled,
can the human dignity of persons be respected.”
The United Nations has concluded
Electroshock can constitute torture in violation of International Law.
See, UN Human Rights Council. (19 June 2020). “Mental Health and Human Rights: Resolution 43/13 Adopted 19 June
2020.” A/HRC/RES/43/13. Geneva: United
Nations; UN Human Rights Council. (20 Mar 2020). Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment: Report of the Special Rapporteur.
A/HRC/43/49. Geneva: United Nations; Méndez, Juan E. (4 Mar 2013). “Statement
By Mr. Juan E Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 22nd Session of the Human
Rights Council of the United Nations.” Geneva:
United Nations. See also the related Report
of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan E. Méndez (2013), A/HRC/22/53. Geneva:
United Nations.
Your guardianship program is
endorsing this torture of David Russell by standing by when its
objection certainly would have prevented it and could now stop it.
As the famous aphorism attributed to Edmund Burke teaches, “The only
thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do
nothing.” You should not be such people.
I ask that your diocese launch
an investigation, and with MindFreedom’s assistance - you can end this
brutal and inhumane action against God’s children.
From:
Lana Sheridan
Dear
Bishop Barron,
I am
following up on the voicemail I left on Ms. Hubka’s line on Thursday. I
humbly asking your pastoral care for Mr. David Russell, a ward
of Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota (CCSM), under Michael
Hanratty’s office, currently being held at the Mayo Clinic.
I’ve
had the pleasure of speaking with him on the phone a several times this
past week. He is fully cogent and he appreciates the conversation,
especially since he is isolated and lonely, but no one at Catholic
Charities is talking to him at all.
Why
are so many of us concerned for Mr. Russell? Presently, Mr. Russell is
being forced to undergo a risky treatment that he understands and does
not consent to, and he has been very clear about this. He has requested
the help of the community at MindFreedom International in advocating for
him, and so we are.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but
we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well
known to your consciences. For it we are beside ourselves, it is for
God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ
urges us on
- St.
Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, 5:11,13-14 (NRSV)
My
request:
1.
Call
Mr. Russell and speak with him.
2.
If, after the call, you agree he
is a cogent, thoughtful, capable human, reach out to CCSM and ask that
they change course and inform and involve Mr. Russell in his treatment
decisions in a meaningful way.
3.
Oppose the ongoing course of involuntary electroconvulsive therapy, ECT.
(More about why is written below.) CCSM can withdraw consent and it
will stop.
4.
Help
ensure Mr. Russell will be supported rebuilding his independent life as
soon as possible. He talked a lot about his worries about finding an
apartment and how much he wants to get back to work (he’s a software
engineer) and continue making an income. He knows he needs help; he
needs the reassurance of a plan he can help create. CCSM has not talked
with him about this and he does not believe they will help him in
returning to independent living.
I
know he’s just one person, but the Good Shepherd did not say, 'well, I
have 99 others’. Mr. Russell needs your phone call.
Thank
you for your time and concern!
In
Spirit,
Lana
Sheridan
Regarding ECT:
Mr.
Russell’s concerns about ECT are not irrational. I agree with him, so I
want you to understand how I’ve come to my opinion.
I was
in a situation where I looked into ECT. I was reassured by the
following sentence which I found over and over again, often
word-for-word, in almost all the abstracts or introductions of academic
papers on ECT: “Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective
treatment”. I thought that objections to it were irrational and based
on emotion. Then I started to find patient accounts of the results of
ECT. I found more and more and more.
You can find your own examples with a simple internet search. I really
struggled to square all these devastating reports, and even successful
lawsuits, with “safe and effective”. Then I looked at the
scientific papers more closely. They do usually admit there can be
permanent memory and cognitive
damage. They rarely do any before / after cognitive testing on
patients, and even that will not show up many kinds of problems. They
only very rarely even attempt long-term follow up of patients. The last
randomized. placebo-controlled trial of ECT was in 1985, and standards
for RCTs have changed a lot since then. One does not find evidence one
is not looking for.
The
issue here is that large numbers of patients are consistently reporting
problems, but are being ignored, because ECT, though damaging, often
leaves a person ready to be discharged (thrown out) more quickly, and
insurance will pay for it. The folks who are harmed are powerless in
our society.
There
are some people who feel they have been helped by ECT, but with so many
who feel they have been permanently harmed for little to no lasting
benefit, this should never be done against an individual’s express
wishes.
Some
countries have banned ECT, yet are still able to provide comprehensive
heath care. This tool is not essential. Involuntary
ECT has been used as torture, and is considered as such by the World
Health Organization and the United Nations, who produced this document Mental
health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice.
I would direct your attention to this quote on page 58:
“International human rights standards clarify that ECT without consent
violates the right to physical and mental integrity and may constitute
torture and ill-treatment. People being offered ECT should also be made
aware of all its risks and potential short- and long-term harmful
effects,
such as memory loss and brain damage.”
Our
country is out of step on this with the WHO and UN. Top international
experts support Mr. Russell’s position.
From: Laura Borst
From:
Susan Rogers
I then tried to call John Meyers, but the phone number turned out to be
a general number. I was able to get a phone directory and get John
Meyers’ extension, but I was then told I didn’t have permission to
contact him.
But “the third time was the charm,” although that expression is not
appropriate because the outcome was not good. But at least I was able to
get through to someone.
Isaac Landsteiner answered the phone himself,
and I explained why I was calling and asked him to use his influence as
Catholic Charities Director of Parish Social Ministry to get the
Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota guardianship program to use its
power to stop electroshocking David Russell.
He then said that–at least in Minnesota although, he added, it may be
different in other states–guardians cannot influence court-ordered
procedures. He said that he had gotten another call from someone
connected with MindFreedom, and he asked that I contact MindFreedom and
advise them to remove his name and contact information from the list of
people to contact on David’s behalf–and probably remove all the other
Catholic Charities guardianship staff from the list too, because none of
them would have any influence on David’s situation in regard to forced
electroshock. He said that since the procedure was court-ordered, our
“energies would be best spent” in working through the courts–or, I would
guess, through the Mayo Clinic doctors who had gotten the courts to
agree that David Russell could be force-electroshocked.
I’m sharing this with the whole NC e-list because I’ve been forwarding
the Shield alerts to this list on David’s behalf.
Susan
From:
Albert Galves
I just sent the following message to Mike Hanratty, head of the Catholic
Charities of Southern Minnesota Guardianship program:
I understand why you wouldn't want to contravene what David Russell's
psychiatrist believes is good treatment. But in not doing that you
are subjecting Mr. Russell to a horrible violation of his human rights.
His psychiatrist thinks she is doing the right thing. But she
isn't. I am a psychologist. I know a lot about electroshock.
I know a lot about psychology and psychotherapy. There are other
approaches to treating Mr. Russell that are safe, humane and
life-enhancing. That are not nearly as damaging to him as
electroshock. You have the ability to keep this from happening.
As his guardian you are buying into a horribly wrong assumption - that
Mr. Russell doesn't know what is good or bad for his health, that he is
not competent to make decisions about his health. That is plain
wrong. I encourage you to intervene in this situation and protect Mr.
Russell's human rights. Al Galves
From:
daniel shneyer
I made a few phone calls. I was told by the
secretary that the bishop is not available right now as he is on
retreat. They are also switching offices, so it sounded from the
secretary that today was the last day to reach them using the phone
number given, although she did give me her email ( the one mentioned
above) to contact her. was friendly. More importantly, I was able to reach
Isaac Landsteiner, who was very receptive and who took me quite
seriously. He told me he appreciated hear from outside the organization
as to any concerns with regard to people put under their care. It
sounded like he would follow up. He also said for the time being I could
call him if there are any updates I felt a need to share.
From Yulia Mikhailova:
This is what I posted on Bishop's FB and YouTube
accounts:
From: Jeff Danco
Leandra:
You don't know me, and I only know of Bishop Barron from his wonderful
podcast and writings. But PLEASE make the bishop aware of my
deep concerns about someone in your diocese under the guardianship of
Catholic Charities. His name is David Russell, and he is being
involuntarily electroshocked at the Mayo Clinic.
As a Christian psychologist with 42 years of clinical experience, I
label this "treatment" of poor David barbaric. He has suffered a
blood clot as a result of the ECT, and they shock him anyway.
In the name of God, would you PLEASE ask Bishop Barron to get involved
and have Catholic Charities STOP this horrendous patient abuse.
Call me If you would like more details.
Thank you,
Dr. Danco
Jeffrey C. Danco, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
NJ #2078
Last Modified, June 26, 2024
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