Hi All,

I just received the following letter from one of our members today.
This is an extremely serious situation and we need to act quickly.
This is worse that the US' Homeland Security bill. If you live in WA,
please make an appointment to go and see your local member - take
others with you for support. If you live in any other state, please
write to your member and request that they find out if similar
legislation is planned there and if it is, tell them in no uncertain
terms that you do NOT support these draconian rules and that the
parents must always be the final word when it comes to the health of
their children - not the state. In addition, if psychiatric treatment
can be mandated against the wishes of parents, and if the government
sets a precedent in saying that parents do not have the best
interests of their children at heart, how much of a guess is it to
assume that vaccines, ritalin and other pharmaceutical products.

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Dear Meryl,

I write with grave concern about the forthcoming proposed legislation
in WA in the Review of the Mental Health Act 1996, due for
parliamentary consideration in February 2006, which is recommending
that children can be detained and given involuntary psychiatric
treatment based on the decision of a psychiatrist and without consent
of a parent. This could include the forcible use of drugs, restraint,
seclusion and, for children over twelve, electro-convulsive treatment
(ECT).

Given the overzealous practice of psychiatric labeling and drug
prescription by psychiatrists, particularly in WA, it is frightening
that we are expected, on government orders, to legally entrust
psychiatrists with the power to do what they will with our children,
all in the name of their welfare.

In a letter from the Premier's Office vaguely responding to my
concern and justifying the proposal, it was stated that, "a parent
may not act in the best interest of a child or adolescent and the
child is entitled to proper care and treatment". So, in the context
of generalised distrust of parents, psychiatrists are handed full
authority to make such decisions with unquestionable trust of the
profession. Too often, psychiatrists act on behalf of blind or
bigoted practices or loyal affiliation to the drug companies that
drive and reward their practice. I have no doubt that most medical
and psychiatric practice runs on the propaganda and handout of these
companies in the interests of the dollar, not the interests of the
welfare of us or our children.

Are other states also experiencing such legislative proposals and is
there any campaigning or information around this? What association, I
wonder, does it have with the current Federal proposal to introduce
compulsory biannual Mental Health testing of our children (and later
adults) with the power of involuntary treatment. (ed note - this
legislation has already been considered in the US and as far as I
know, it has passed through Congress - if anyone has more information
on the situation in the States or elsewhere with legislation like
this, please write and let me know). It also seems to tie in with
parents being charged with neglect for choosing unorthodox medical
treatment. These seems to be a direct attack fromm all angles on our
right as citizens to make our own informed choices in medical and
psychiatric care and a particular targeting of children with the
eradication of parental rights. In the name of sanity, can we stop
this?

Warm regards,
Georgi, WA