Eyewitness News

KINGS COUNTY (WABC) — Video from a surveillance camera at a Brooklyn
hospital shows a woman dying on the floor of a psychiatric emergency-
room while staffers initially ignore her.

The video shows the 49-year-old woman keeling out of her chair at 5:32
a.m. and lying facedown on the floor, then thrashing, before going
still. An hour passed before a fellow patient gets the attention of a
staffer.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation reported the
incident surrounding the woman’s death to a number of health oversight
agencies and law enforcement authorities.

For more go to http://badpsych.com/2008/07/01/woman-dies-on-the-floor-of-a-psychiatric-emergency.../

By Jennifer K. Woldt
of The Northwestern

An Affinity Behavioral Health psychiatrist accused of having
inappropriate sexual contact with a patient could spend time in prison
if convicted of felony charges.

Charles D. Morgan, 62, of Neenah, was charged in Winnebago County
Circuit Court Monday with sexual exploitation by a therapist, a felony
that carries a maximum penalty of 12 years, six months in prison and
$25,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Morgan sexually assaulted a 27-
year-old woman, whom he had been treating for bi-polar disorder for
the past two years. The woman told Morgan she wanted a different
psychiatrist after he kissed her on two occasions while she was in the
hospital receiving treatment.

For more go to http://badpsych.com/2008/07/01/psychiatrist-charged-with-exploitation/

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Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration has announced that
antipsychotic prescriptions for children 5 and under must now have
prior authorization from the State!

In addition, today a workshop was held at Florida's Agency for Health
Care Administration regarding antipsychotics and children.

Audio: You can hear 4 minutes of testimony right now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JazYVUKI7yA

Note: The State is now requesting written testimony on the issue of
antipsychotics and children until July 2, 2008. Only 7 more days
left!

If you are an expert on this issue or are a medical doctor you can
provide your written testimony to Ann Wells below.

Also if you know any parents whose children have been adversely
affected by these antipsychotic drugs such as Abilify, Geodon,
Risperdal, Seroquel or Zyprexa
please let the State of Florida know. Or if you know any elderly or
anyone who has been adversely effected by these drugs, please send
that written testimony to:

Pass the word! Florida is now requesting written testimony on the
issue of antipsychotics and children until July 2, 2008. Only 6 more
days left!

Whether you are from Florida or not, if you are an expert on this
issue or a health care professional please send your written testimony
to Ann Wells.

Parents whose children have been adversely affected by antipsychotic
drugs such as Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel or Zyprexa -
please send Ann Wells your written testimony.

If you know any elderly or anyone who has been adversely effected by
these drugs - please have them send their written testimony to:

Ann Wells
Agency for Health Care Administration
Bureau of Pharmacy
2727 Mahan Drive Mail Stop 38
Tallahassee, Fl 32308

or e-mail Ann Wells here: wellsa@ahca.myflorida.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New York Times
Doctors Say Medication Is Overused in Dementia
By LAURIE TARKAN
June 24, 2008

Ramona Lamascola with her mother, Theresa Lamascola.
Ramona Lamascola thought she was losing her 88-year-old mother to
dementia. Instead, she was losing her to overmedication.
Last fall her mother, Theresa Lamascola, of the Bronx, suffering from
anxiety and confusion, was put on the antipsychotic drug Risperdal.
When she had trouble walking, her daughter took her to another doctor
— the younger Ms. Lamascola’s own physician — who found that she had
unrecognized hypothyroidism, a disorder that can contribute to
dementia.

Mrs. Lamascola no longer takes antipsychotics.

The News Journal

Astra CEO in London trial will take stand

AstraZeneca faces 8,440 cases over Seroquel risks
By Andrew Eder
June 20, 2008

The chief executive of AstraZeneca is set to be deposed today
regarding allegations the company hid the risk that its anti-psychotic
drug Seroquel could cause diabetes in users.

David Brennan, who led AstraZeneca's U.S. unit in Fairfax before being
appointed CEO of the London-based drug maker in 2006, will answer
questions in London from attorneys representing thousands of
plaintiffs across the Unites States.

"A lot of very good people have been severely injured for the rest of
their life because of the conduct of this company and the effect of
this drug," said attorney Paul Pennock of the New York firm Weitz &
Luxenberg, which is handling about 2,500 Seroquel cases in federal and
state courts.

A Cluster of Veterans' Deaths; By Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD

EL CAJON, Calif., June 20 CA-Dr.-Baughman-Vets

EL CAJON, Calif., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently four
Charleston,WV-area veterans -- Derek Johnson, 22, Andrew White, 23,
Eric Layne, 29, and Nicholas Endicott, with "Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder" (PTSD), treated with the Paxil, Klonopin, and Seroquel --
died in their sleep. All were said to be in good health. (Julie
Robinson, Charleston Gazette, May 24, 2008).

In a democracy, we have a right to "informed consent." Physicians have
a legal obligation to tell us the facts regarding (1) diagnosis and
(2)treatment. Regarding diagnosis: Is there a disease or isn't there?
Whichdisease? If there is no disease, that leaves emotional or
psychological. Regarding treatment, physicians have a duty to tell us
the facts, about allavailable treatments, not just the treatment they
prefer. The choice is ours.This is informed consent.

The Guardian

Inappropriate prescribing 'cutting lives short'

Sarah Boseley, health editor

Friday June 20, 2008

The use of so-called "chemical cosh" antipsychotic drugs to subdue
people with dementia will be curbed as part of a government strategy
to help the growing numbers of people with the condition.

In an interview with the Guardian the social care minister, Ivan
Lewis, made it clear he was unhappy with the number of dementia
patients, usually in care homes, who are being heavily sedated, with
risks to their health. "I'm really perturbed by this question of the
inappropriate prescribing of drugs," he said. "We sometimes dehumanise
stories like this - it is my or your mum and dad who is being
over-medicated."

Washington Post

FDA Issues Warning on Some Antipsychotic Drugs
By Shankar Vedantam
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday warned doctors that elderly
patients with dementia who are being treated with an older class of
antipsychotic drugs appear to be at increased risk of dying.

The agency ordered a "black box" warning placed on the labels of drugs
such as haldol and thorazine, which are sometimes used to pacify
demented patients who become aggressive or disturbed. A similar
warning was placed on the newer class of "atypical" antipsychotic
drugs three years ago.

Although information on the use of the older drugs in nursing homes
and elsewhere is spotty, the regulatory agency said it thinks the
older drugs were not as widely used as the newer ones, which include
Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel.