CT Man Fighting Involuntary Shock Therapy

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A man is fighting a probate court order that mandates involuntary electroconvulsive therapy, commonly known as shock therapy.

The man, referred to as “John Doe” in court filings filed an emergency appeal in Superior Court with the help of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project. A hearing is scheduled for May 30, according to court documents.

His attorney Virginia Teixeira argued in a legal filing that Doe hasn’t had the chance to benefit from less intrusive therapy, including involuntary medication and that state law requires less intrusive treatment before shock therapy. She also argued that a probate court judge shouldn’t have held hearings for involuntary medication and shock therapy at the same time.

State law requires that either a patient consent to shock therapy or that the head of a hospital and two qualified physicians determine that the patient has become incapable of giving informed consent and that there are no other less invasive treatment options. Under the involuntary route the matter goes to probate court for a hearing.

Doe is an in-patient at Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center, a state treatment facility under the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Teixeira told the Connecticut Post that her client knew enough to ask for legal help in filing an appeal and that the treatment shouldn’t be forced on him.

The State Attorney’s office which is representing the probate court in the lawsuit said that there is no law that says probate court can’t handle a medication and shock therapy order at the same time and that postponing treatment would be detrimental.

“At this juncture a stay would be detrimental to the Plaintfiff’s treatment,” wrote Assistant State Attorney Emly Melendez, who is representing the Probate Court in the case. “It would also undermine the efforts that GBCMHC is making in trying to effectively treat the Plaintiff. Even the Plaintiff's family members have expressed their concern for the Plaintiff's condition.”

Melendez also argued that Doe hasn’t provided any evidence in court filings that harm could come from shock treatment and that he hasn’t alleged harm has occurred from treatments that have already occurred.

Electroconvulsive therapy uses an electric current to treat a variety of mental disorders, including severe treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The treatment involves sedation and muscle relaxants before the shock is applied. The most common side effects are headache, upset stomach, muscle aches and memory loss.