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ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) Work Group

MDLC and the Mental Health Consumer Survivor Network of Minnesota (CSN) are co-chairing a Work Group to explore possible policy and legislative changes to the involuntary use of ECT in Minnesota. Other participants in the Work Group include the office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, NAMI, the Mental Health Association, the Ombudsman for Long Term Care, the Hennepin County Commitment Defense Panel, physicians from Allina, the Minnesota Department of Human Services State Operated Services, Lutheran Social Services, members of the Minnesota chapter of Mindfreedom, the Wellmind Association and the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

In August 2009 Work Group participants testified before the Minnesota House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee regarding the need for legislative changes, and announced the goal of having a proposal ready by the end of November. The Work Group met in September and plans to meet several more times to complete its task.

If you are interested in giving input to the Work Group, please email Pamela Hoopes at MDLC (phoopes@midmnlegal.org) or Maureen Marrin of CSN (maureen.marrin@csn.org).

MDLC created a summary of current Minnesota law and a color-coded map comparing the level of legal protections in all states. These were handed out to the House Committee and are posted here for reference.