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Deaths Associated with Electroplexy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

J. C. Barker  and
A. A. Baker
J. C. Barker
Affiliation:
Banstead Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
A. A. Baker
Affiliation:
Banstead Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
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Extract

A recent court case (16) exposed many of the problems that confront the psychiatrist called upon to perform electroplexy.

In particular it revealed that in 1957, nearly 20 years after E.C.T. had first been used for the treatment of mental disorder, no uniform technique had yet been evolved. The medical witnesses were unable to agree on the use of muscle relaxants or mechanical restraint, but were agreed that there were certain risks attendant upon the use of electroplexy, especially the risk of fractures and the risk to life. It was argued that had the plaintiff received a relaxant drug he might not have sustained bilateral acetabular fractures, but might have suffered an even worse disaster, namely death.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 105 , Issue 439 , April 1959 , pp. 339 - 348
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1959 

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