Reply to the unwanted expunge

Reply to the unwanted expunge

18 Oct 2016 Tues 6.12pm

Please do not state out all these rubbish history of my applied PPOs or rather you made them expire.

Notice the first PPO was in 21.03.2012.

I finally got to be able to type this out in peace without my uncle threatening me or sending me to IMH. He learnt his mistake after 18 PPOs.

In 2012, after I applied for PPO for my FATHER only, I was being punished. And prevented from PROCEEDING WITH the PPO. It WASN’T STRUCK OFF.  I was being FORCED SENT into IMH for SIX MONTHS. Where I got sickly abused and tortured.

After I got stuck in the hospital, my stupid and dumb uncle came and give me visits of torture and shame. With my cousin Joshua. He taunted me with a bundle of documents printed out for the court. Saying loudly in front of me a night in hospital “Xiao Yan say you MISSSCONTRRRUUEEED the Bible verse. Hahaha.”

I felt so shamed and tortured from his visits where I was forced to sit with behind the clock and my uncle in front of me so I can’t see the time. Alongside with other torturous tactics like him pulling the nurse down to the canteen and talking about me.

6 months. When my case manager wanted to release me SO badly, my uncle was DYING to keep me in.

Honourable Court, I am so terribly abused.

This Very First PPO was supposed to be settled, but it wasn’t. I spent a damning waste of Six (6) months in IMH where my uncle tried to KEEP ME IN IMH FOREVER that I will lose. I will not finish my court case. I suffered so much that I am suicidal. The abuse of my uncle, the stealings of my every belonging, removing me from my house, locking me in IMH, and to say the least, the abuse by the nurses in IMH. The torture I have been through can never match up to the PPO I applied.

2) Suicide and assisted suicide are controversial in the disability community. Suicide may be a valid personal choice, but it can also be a response to preventable conditions of deprivation, violence and discrimination.  Neither criminal sanctions nor coercive psychiatry is an appropriate response to suicidal attempts or wishes.  People with experience of suicidality should be considered experts on this issue when developing law and policy.

The right to life (Article 10) does not override the right to liberty (Article 14) when it comes to issues of suicidality.  The right to life cannot be superseded by the right to liberty.  Both rights must be respected.  

Right now I am able to peacefully complete my court case after 18 times of interruption.

It is not I am trying to be vexatious or frivolous, it is EVERYTIME I start a PPO, I kena sent to hospital. For God knows what fabricated reason.

How many times I was being sent to IMH for no rhyme or reason on an ambulance, making the doctors admit me. Making me in out in out of IMH for no concrete reason, and making me contract a mood disease from the constant hospitalization. Talking about “abuse of Court processes”. He abused IMH hospital to his advantage to lock an adamant niece voicing out her displeasure at her uncle’s abuse. He abused IMH hospital by using it to keep absolutely normal family members who rebels against him for a cause. Such slander, such precision, such scheme cunning. I am absolutely outraged by it.

Seriously, no single word can describe the pain I feel inside. Imagine a teenager being LOCKED up in an institution. Being forced injection and being tortured by nurses.

1) Psychiatric drugs and other invasive methods such as electroshock are inherently experimental and endanger the mental and physical capacities, autonomy and personality of an individual.  Use of such methods without free and informed consent constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  The practice of forced, coerced or deceptive psychiatric interventions must be stopped immediately and criminally sanctioned.  

Nevermind. Let me go straight to the point. My uncle has ruined my mental state, ruined my life, ruined my blooming youth, ruined wasted my time in the hospital, acted cocky and swaggy in front of me, hurt me so badly the pain in my brain has exploded. I swear I will never rest until he learns his lesson. I swear I will never rest until I get the PPO he deserves. I swear I must take revenge.

I am not a revengeful person but I need to get my justice done.

It is not right. It is not fair. It is sick.

My uncle has been making use of me, treating me like dirt, no respect at all.

In 2014 he barged into my hospital where I was admitted (yet again after I applied for PPO, again) room WITH that stupid pokey cousin Joshua Tan Wei Rong again and taunt me “so you got what you wanted right? Aircon prison right? A Class!” sitting right in front of my door. Texting my sister to tell my mum not to pick up my medical social workers’ call. Saying that I will trick the workers there to call them. WRITING a GODDAMN letter to MY DOCTOR telling him to keep me there and put me in a goddamn home so I can receive “proper containment”.

I was so cornered and defeated that I had no way out. He summoned everyone and he blocked everyone.  He is the devil.

Relationship at home was strained.

I can’t begin to say how tortured was I in the Institute IMH. Listen: Nurses scotchtape patients mouth there. They push patients and recently a Myanmar nurse was JAILED 1 year for punch-kicking a helpless disabled patient. Which I informed my ignorant uncle and he bombed me with abusive words and idiotic taunts. “You won’t get your grandmother’s inheritance”.

This stems from 15 years old. I was being abused when young from him. Threw away my R. L. Stine books. SENT me to IMH when I was 15 years old. WHERE THE DOCTOR DIDN’T THINK I HAD A MENTAL ILLNESS AND TOLD MY UNCLE OFF FOR SENDING AN INNOCENT CHILD TO IMH. And it was AFTER STAYING in hospital that I developed mood swings.

And to put me there is the worst torture one could ever have. My uncle tried to take my money when I went for research while warded in hospital. I earned $150 through needles poking through me taking blood and was Forced to give all my money to my mother, instructed by my stupid idiotic uncle. He tried to stole(he already tried to steal) my handphone while IMH keeps all belongings. I was cut out from my friends, I couldn’t go to church.

I am so tired even thinking and putting these into words. My experience was terrible. We bathe in full view of everyone, we have no dignity. Nurses shout at us like fishmongers, nurses throw away our potato chips, nurses poke that harpoon of needle into my precious arm, nurses emotional taunting you. Like my uncle.

Your Honour, these are not multiple PPOs, it is my last burst of fire. It is my coping mechanism, for justice. For all the shit I’ve been through, I got to fight. The battle. It has cost me my life, my dignity, my time, my friends, my spiritual life, my vibrant life, my freedom, my freewill, my life.

2012 I stayed in IMH for 6 months, 2014 4 months in January and 4 months in October. My life really suck.

My uncle even taunted: “No one has the SICKO file that you have in the hospital”.

In 2014 July I was admitted into IMH because to avoid my uncle and father, I was sleeping outside the house on staircase which landed me up in consultation with the doctor which decided I needed a place to be housed.

In 2016, my uncle made fun of me in front of everyone in my grandmother’s wake. He never stops! Ever since 2003! I do not mean to abuse Court processes but my uncle made me seemed I abused Court processes because HE ABUSED IMH PROCESSES.

Can you explain when the doctors said I was Okay He refused to take me out of the hospital? Driving behind the ambulance to talk at length with the E-room doctor? Showing my pictures to the nurses? Changed my mum and dad’s handphone number so I cannot contact them? When my case worker asks to see my parents he will always appear instead?   Such galling and harrying#  Saying I am a bringer of an action that is brought without sufficient grounds for winning, purely to cause annoyance to the defendant,                                              He is brought me to hospitals WITHOUT sufficient grounds for admission, purely to CAUSE annoyance to the niece. How bout that.   He is vexatious about his admissions of me to the IMH, CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY SENDING ME THERE as IF it was SOME dumping ground and lock up place for the riddance of family enemies. Ridiculous. CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY SENDING ME THERE as IF it was SOME refuge of some unwanted members of the household. CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY SENDING ME THERE as IF it was SOME convenient jail for the rebelliousness. A simple way to solve the problem, a simple way to silence me up, a simple way to COMpletely discredit me.

Therefore my appeal Must stand. This statement MUST not be EXPUNGED. This statement NEEDS TO INCLUDE

1.       HIS PAST VIOLENCE

2.       HIS HISTORY OF ABUSE

3.       HIS EVIDENCE OF CONTINUAL HARASSMENT

4.       HIS CONTINUOUS NON STOP INTERFERENCE since Time immemorial

5.       HIS CLEAR WAYS OF APPROACH WHICH ARE NOTHING BUT VIOLENCE.

He is nothing but help. In fact his kill steal and destroy far worsen his help he gives us.  He cause or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.  He is annoying, vexing, irritating, irksome, displeasing, infuriating, maddening, exasperating,provoking, galling, rankling, grating, jarring, harassing, harrying, bothersome, tiresome,troublesome, niggling.

This has everything to do with the current application of violence

Because it:

1.       REFLECTS THE MIRRORING SAME ACTS HE REPEATED LATER IN LIFE

2.       FURTHER AMPLIFIES AND ZERO IN TO THE KINDS OF TRICKS HE DOES

3.       HELPS IDENTIFY THE TRENDS IN HIS BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS GENEVIEVE

4.       SEE THE REPEATING PATTERN OF THE COURSE OF ACTIONS TOWARDS ME   and

5.       EXAMPLIFY THAT PPO APPLICATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT THAT DAY OF VIOLENCE IT WAS COMMITTED BUT A COURSE BUILD UP OF VIOLENCE since time immemorial.

It is important the judge sees not only the stupid current violence he has done on me, but the past violence and the built up events that led to my mood disruption and family violence that has rendered me homeless, suicidal, and hopeless.

These issues can then be on the paper and the judge can then be able to flip through it and identify it and read it to digest and have knowledge on how

1.       HIS CHARACTER IS

2.       WHETHER HE NEEDS A MANDATORY MENTAL CHECKUP in my fight back

3.       HIS FUTURE VICTIMS.

Therefore there’s no doubt about it this needs to be addressed.

Secondly, the trial judge can make the decision of whether any part of our statement needs to be taken out or not. So I assertive strongly urge you, the judge to not waste time and do not proceed with this expunging because it is a process within a process and it would just increase the time I would have a PPO and

                                                this matter must go on trial.

”In the state courts of the republic of Singapore Case no SS EO”

I’m very glad there is an EO to save me. Basically when I didn’t have an EO, my uncle tormented me and tortured me

1.       In Church

a.       By coming to my church and creating nonsense and dissension

2.       At home

a.       By coming to my house when I was staying there to create disorder.

For example, denying me food.   Please go and check youtube.com/ruditansengkok for the extent he goes to torture me. For example, smashing my camera outside my house, rummaging through my belongings at home, causing me distress by sawing my sister’s door etc etc. Causing me pain in my brain and discomfort

I was so Frustrated at my uncle ALWAYS BARGING into my HOUSE that I couldn’t stand it anymore.

Constantly being intrusive and invasive.

Nosy parker

I had to upload in case my phone kena confiscated and then all my videos gone. I must back them up forever.

An example of fishing people’s paper out and reading private stuff.

Basically all my personal stuff kena read by him, and he will ‘investigate’ and call my friends, email them or contact them or store these information with him. Irritating.

He would read from my papers and point, gesture to me threateningly.

 

Showing me stupid stuff gesturing nosily in a threatening and abusive way. Makng me scared. Calling me “coward” all the time.

And then he would throw. THROW the paper one side. Not put ah, THROW.

After checking this, he went to check that.

Purposely switch on the light when Im sleeping

These HAS to be recorded! These has to be accounted for! All these small little things he do to me, builds up to a humongous emotional scar. That leads to suicide.

And he would inevitably point the stupid camera at me. Making me feel  extremely uneasy and queasy.

Revisiting these is traumatizing and tiringly D: Because knowing I have an uncle like that

And smiling after taking a video, nodding and smiling. Irritating.

Moving on to round table

Basically, there was a time he wanted to lock the fridge to prevent me from eating. He and my cousin, Joshua Tan Wei Rong, took video of me while I ate the remnants of ham while they feasted on the round table on sumptuous food and Coca cola. And he said “The chicken drum don’t give her! Throw it away! Don’t keep any leftover drinks here! Later she can drink!” While he ate nosily on the stupid food like munching loudly and burping loudly, saying “Ahhh…..slurps”

What needs to be done:

1) Take all necessary measures to realize an adequate standard of living for people with psychosocial disabilities, including adequate food, water, clothes and housing.  No one should be forced to enter an institution for lack of the necessities of life.

combat prejudice and harmful practices, at all levels of society including families and communities.

Reply to the unwanted expunging process:

He doesn't want me to be my eldest brother wake because he is afraid I would make an EO application against him cos he will yet again, my uncle will take the opportunity to ridicule me, make fun of me, laugh at me and make jokes at my dearest eldest uncle's wake. How sarcastic that is!.. It is NO EXCUSE not to let me get over the death of my eldest uncle who has been so much better and caring den this third Uncle Rudy Tan Seng Kok, who in his own words TORMENTED AND TORTURED me.

Don say I make frivolous applications. From 2001 till now he doesn't change. From 2001 he already threw away my R L Stine books until now when I'm more than 15 years old, recently threw away 15 tonnes of my clothes. If I don't have the court to protect me, I feel very helpless and devastated. He will come and strike again and again.

When I was 15 years old, sent me to IMH, threw away my belongings, till 2016 also send me to IMH, threw away my belongings. How can I stop making an application UNTIL I SUCCESSFULLY get a PPO? I must not give up.

14 Oct 2016 Friday 10:53pm

Can you ask that stupid SKP to stop TRIGGERING my father?

Elaine, The Elder Andrew Loke Zhi Tuan go and tell me ask my father to eat his medicine. Just now he just touch papa say how r u and den papa scold him why u poke me. and den quarrel with him.he say papa a bit unstable just now in churchtalking nonsense and strange thingsThe Elder Loke go and say papa need medicine in front of Priscilla, Zi Xiang, Shanice and Sheldon.The elder loke tell Sheldon in front of me that papa scolded himjust now elder loke sent me and shanice n sheldon back homeStupid Sa Pek triggering papa

den i tell elder loke: ya lor. that's why he's very difficult to get along. i also stay with him i very difficult. that's why i want to find a place to stay

and then elder loke said ya i understand

i say u tell mu shi la. den i saw him tell mu shi mu shi like shocked liddat stupid papa. i don like to stay with him.

I want to die because of this family situation and especially sa pek n imh.

He's been telling my father that I anyhow write to court that my sister throw the seashell to my eye, that I write about Bible verse in my reply to Affidavit. Making my father drone on and on and on and behave weirdly in church because of his mental condition.

whatnursesdoinIMHgen.blogspot.com  

Hi Gen, 

Could I call you on Monday? Or would you prefer either this evening or tomorrow evening? I am at a conference this weekend. 

Your experiences are appalling. Thank you for speaking out about them. 

Emmy 

I can also try calling you during lunchtime if you want to speak urgently. Are there better and worse times for you to talk? 

The WNUSP manual and a concerns across issues document I wrote up. The WNUSP manual is a good one to read. The WNUSP, which consists of users and survivors of psychiatry, fought for our rights during the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities negotiations, as did Disability Rights International, and got many of their demands incorporated.

On Saturday, 15 October 2016, Ms Gen <gemmindown@hotmail.com> wrote:

Charissa, could you call me now at ? I do not check much email. 

Regards

Sent from my iPhone

On 13 Oct, 2016, at 7:44 pm, "Min Khoo Ming Gui" <min@enlightened.sg> wrote:

Hi Emmy,

Thanks for doing this.

Despite my busy schedule and my starting of a new club, I will lend my support to this project in any way that I can.

I've included Genevieve in this email. She's very keen on this project. She's a survivor of the mental health system. She was warded in IMH, and have experienced and noted down many instances of abuses. You can read more about her story at: whatnursesdoinIMHgen.blogspot.com

I'm not really good with legal stuff, but I'll help with things involving psychology, or if you need someone to do design-related stuff (like making videos, graphics design, photography). 

Good luck,

Min 

Min Khoo Ming Gui (Ms)

Psychology undergraduate, Nanyang Technological University

Scholar, Nanyang Technological University 

Publicity Officer, NTU Psychology Society 

Diploma (with Merit) in Psychology Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Member of Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

min@enlightened.sg | www.psychology-er.blogspot.com | www.nanyang.academia.edu/MinKhooMingGui

On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 9:20 PM, Emily Charissa Lim <emilycharissalim@gmail.com> wrote:

When Manfred Nowak was Special Rapporteur on Torture, he produced this report on the torture of persons with disabilities. He talked about psychiatric hospitals as well. No need to read, but good to know it exists. 

On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 9:11 PM, Emily Charissa Lim <emilycharissalim@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi there,

So far three of us are interested in the project. 

We need to find more users and survivors of psychiatry / mental health services to join.

Possible ways to go about this:

1. Write our own report documenting abuse and have it backed by ALMOS and publicised by all coalition partners. Might be out of AWARE, or supported by AWARE and other organisations, but run by an independent group of us. Find way to publicise to the UN or international human rights groups. 

2. Initiate group litigation with human rights lawyer Remy Choo Zheng Xi (and with M. Ravi, if he's interested in joining our discussions - he is a survivor, so we should try to include him in some way if he is interested). Am not too sure how group litigation works in Singapore, though. 

3. See if Disability Rights International, which has documented torture in many psychiatric hospitals across continents, would be interested in looking at IMH. DRI also played a key role in the drafting of the CRPD, and have gotten the Special Rapporteur on Torture 

4. If the Special Rapporteur on Torture is working on torture of persons with disabilities, we can try to invite them to Singapore. 

A  

​s part of any of the above:
​

1. Insist that nurses be made to wear microphones that will record what is said. Right now it's impossible for patients to give evidence of verbal abuse since mobile phones are not allowed in subsidised wards, though they are allowed in the paying wards. I doubt it will be that much of an infringement of privacy, considering that what patients do and say is already recorded in the patient charts, anyway. Also, there are CCTV cameras that capture awful things like people when they are naked or partially naked, according to the testimony of A. 

2. Point out that people who have been diagnosed/labelled with mental illnesses are covered under the CRPD, and insist that Singapore recognises this. 

What we need to do to build our capacity:

1. Everyone read the attached World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry's Manual on the Implementation of the CPRD. WNUSP was involved in the drafting of the CPRD. We can have a reading group to discuss it, or I can present if you all prefer. Singapore has signed the CRPD. 

2. Connect with users and survivors in other countries. I have links to two, one in Canada and one in the USA. The former is Tekla's colleague, the latter I just e-met on Facebook. Ask them to introduce us to WNUSP representatives. There is an WNUSP board member from Japan, for instance, or was. Get advice and training from them on knowledge and strategies, perhaps through Skype or otherwise. 

3. Recruit more survivors and users of psychiatry, and make sure we have lawyers on our team. If people don't want to join the team, can also just contribute by telling their stories. 

In solidarity, 

Emmy

_____________

Singapore's reservations on the CRPD:

Reservations:

“1. The Republic of Singapore’s current legislative framework provides, as an appropriate and effective safeguard, oversight and supervision by competent, independent and impartial authorities or judicial bodies of measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity, upon applications made before them or which they initiate themselves in appropriate cases. The Republic of Singapore reserves the right to continue to apply its current legislative framework in lieu of the regular review referred to in Article 12, paragraph 4 of the Convention.

2. The Republic of Singapore recognises that persons with disabilities have the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of health without discrimination on the basis of disability, with a reservation on the provision by private insurers of health insurance, and life insurance, other than national health insurance regulated by the Ministry of Health, Singapore, in Article 25, paragraph (e) of the Convention.

3. The Republic of Singapore is fully committed to ensuring the effective and full participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life, including through the protection of the exercise of their right to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation. With respect to Article 29, subparagraph (a) (iii) of the Convention, the Republic of Singapore reserves the right to continue to apply its current electoral legislation which requires that assistance in voting procedures shall only be effected through a presiding officer who is appointed by the Returning Officer and has signed an oath to safeguard voting secrecy.”

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The Complete Version of the Mistreat by Nurses from years before 2012 and the years beyond

 The Complete Version of the Mistreat by Nurses from years before 2012 and years beyond

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT NURSE ROSNAH BINTE AZIZ, NURSE MANAGER HO SOO KIM, ASSISTANT NURSE NURDIANA, ASSISTANT NURSE KYI KYI WIN, HEALTH ATTENDANT DANA LACHMI, ASSISTANT NURSE THURGASINIY, HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT SELVI TAMIL, ASSISTANT NURSE VIKNESWARI "VICKY", ASSISTANT/STAFF NURSE PAO ZE NEM, STAFF NURSE MA WIN WIN MAR, STAFF NURSE MA HIANG MOE MYINT SHARON JOY, STAFF NURSE DONG JUN LI, ASSISTANT NURSE RAFIDAH BINTE NAZMUL HOQUE, STAFF NURSE LLAGAS GRACE COLOMA Health Attendant Annie Woo Suet, Assistant Nurse Nurhidayu, Staff Nurse Marisol G. Nonod AND COMMENDING NURSE MANAGER SISTER KRISHNAN DEVAYANI.

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT NURSE ROSNAH BINTE AZIZ

26/6/2012 26 June 2012 Wednesday 8:37am
Ward 34A's Principal Assistant Nurse R B A's constant patient insult to L L Q, a patient in a bathing session in the bathroom in disgust and spat. L L Q replied "Huh?". This is the conversation that they have in the bathroom.

5/8/2012 5 August 2012 Sunday 8:45pm
34A's Principal Assistant Nurse R B A s teasing me that I can't go home and that she's happy I'm stuck in the hospital:

Again, Principal Assistant Nurse R B A taunted me again. Do we have a personal feud or what? She said "Oh! Your father scolded you just now like a child and you cried like a baby.", She said: "I want to go home leeeeave! I want to go home leeeeave!". "At least weekends I can go out! Weekdays I can go out!" *sings song*, *hums tune*, "La la la la la la", "But 9:30pm I can go back!.... La la la.", "Now you're under your uncle's control. I can complain more to him! La la la la la la!"
Is this right behaviour for a nurse? To tease and taunt a patient and giving her emotional stress? Not being able to go home is bad enough, moreso adding more oil and salt into a wound and situation. This kind of nurse should be sacked! Out!

12/8/2012 12 August 2012 Sunday 9:02pm

As I sit on my bed listening to what my patient-friend – J L W T tells me, I got jolted. She tells me that R B A the Principal Assistant Nurse showed her picture that she took of me when I was tied up to Jo in the IMH canteen when she came for her appointment. R B A told Jo: "Want to see Genevieve? Get tied by me?" Ruthless, heartless? As a government body, you can't do this kind of thing you know. You are a government body!

15/8/2012 15 August 2012 Wednesday 12:46pm

I saw Principal Assistant Nurse R B A roughly handled this 60 years old and above old woman - O G. She pulled her roughly by her arms, shouted at her, pushing her to another bed, "Sleep here!", "Ya! That's your bed!", "Ya la!" She did these when someone else - L S J is sleeping on that bed R B A is pointing to!
Is that the way to treat patients? Especially a helpless OLD lady who hardly can speak? Bully!

12/8/2012 12 August 2012 Sunday 9:12pm

I just witnessed R B A Principal Assistant Nurse climbing on top of Zh Z J the patient in order to tie her, she roughly man-handled her in pushing her face and pulling her legs.

RED FLAG!!! VIOLENCE! 15/7/2012 Sunday 7:57pm

Today on 15/7/2012 Sunday 3:30pm, C J H, a patient, gave me a cup instant noodle as a gift during tea break time at 3:30pm in the dayspace/pantry. Healthcare Attendant T S raised questions whether I can consume my cup noodle in tea breaks when I approaches her to cook it. Other people eg C J H had been allowed for cup noodles in previous days ie people have been eating cup noodles as a 'tidbit' for tea break, I said. Principal Assistant Nurse R B A came
along after hearing S T's question and TRIED TO SNATCH MY CUP NOODLES AWAY from my hand while CHASING me for it. I snatched the cup noodle away from her and so R B A went to ask Nurse Manager Sister H S K whether I could have the cup noodle. She went and complained into the Sister's room, I followed after her and as the magnetic door didn't completely close, I opened it, and asked Sister H directly "Sister H, can I eat my cup noodles now after tea break?"

THEN, here happens: Principal Assistant Nurse R B A PUSHED me like a big strong man tipping off a small boy with one hand, "Who says you can catch the door?," pushing me out from the door.

When confronted at the visitor's area with Sister H against R B A, R B A etorted "if I say nicely to you will you listen?", I replied: "Yes! I will! Surely!", "Are you sure?" "Yes?!".
You see, she hadn't even TRIED telling me politely - "Excuse me, please don't hold the door", instead she IMMEDIATELY PUSHED me. I am a patient, with the right if anyone dares to touch me with criminal force for no good reason, I have the right to take legal action against this small thing's' that nurses do to hurt us, emotionally or physically. No excuses. She admitted it too. ALSO, she said "Ha, ha, ha" when I entered the dayspace again, when I didn't succeed to get Sister Ho to reprimand her. Sarcastic? Sarcastic.
Then came dinner. Principal Assistant Nurse R B A refused to give me my stipulated dinner and gave it to G S C, another patient instead. R B A as been tirelessly complaining that I have been eating chinese food even though I'm eating malay diet (I ordered malay diet). BUT, she GAVE my malay diet food to a CHINESE patient! By right, as you always complained, these two diets are not to be criss-crossed! You are now crossing the line. I told her I want to eat my side dishes though I don't want to eat the rice. And she purposedly GAVE my malay food AWAY. To a chinese diet-ed patient too! I have no words to say.
Thank goodness as Nurse Manager Sister K D amended the situation, scolded R B A for giving my food away because she knows I always eat the side dishes but not the rice, gave me my cup noodles and a watermelon. How kind is Sister K! But how evil us Principal Assistant Nurse R B A I can't believe anyone could like her. She claims she can't give me my food if I want to eat the cup noodles for my dinner as she claims she can't give me my food if I want to eat the cup noodles for my dinner as she claims this is what NM Sister H said. But I was the witness there when Sister H came, SHE didn't say ANYTHING about that! She just said I could only eat my cup noodles during dinner time!

Time and time again these shows that Principal Assistant Nurse R B A shouldn't be a staff at IMH Ward 34A or even step into the grounds of NURSING in the first place.
This is a profession of GIVING, if I would like to eat both my cup noodle and my meat at the same time, then by all means freely give! Yet, they are so fussy and calculated about even giving one patient extra food. This is what service should NOT BE like! So calculative on how much should a person be given for food, so desperate to keep them from patients. That is why people, don't go to R B A's care! You have been warned.
Btw, did I mention, when I told R B A I'll make sure by all the deeds she's doing make sure she's sacked. And you know what she replied? "Okay, you wait long long". I don't want her to "wait long long", shall we? Make it a Reality.

22/7/2012 Sunday 10:27pm
Violence and chewing gum at work.
Nurses chewing gum while at work.
Please take action on these: Principal Assistant Nurse R B A and AN R B N H has ALWAYS been seen chewing gum while on duty. Are they supposed to look "cool" while doing that? Or trying to destress because they think that nursing is a stressful ordeal? Coming to conclusion: Nurses should stay professional and exude or maintain a working image which means eating your gum during your breaks and after work. Living gum-free working lives as an exemplary way of what image you portray to others.

--> I remember yesterday or two days ago - that's why I say Principal Assistant Nurse R B A is terrible! -Because a patient - S WENT inside the nurses counter and SAT there. AND R B A switched on a Malay radio channel for themselves to listen to, so loud I could hear it from my bed. It was about 8:30pm at that time. R B A lways scolds me whenever I step into the nurse's counter, but this example of behaviour shows that she's acting not judicially! She is biased, unprofessional, and -Terrible! Once, she would hug, elbow-hug patients, CERTAIN, (mostly Malays), patients only! And the rest, she would spare them and throw her fiery darts of hostility. She chooses which patients to like/love and she still got the cheek to ask them if they love her too. Terrible.

3/7/2012 Tuesday 3:41pm

I was sitting comfortably on the chairs in the dayspace/pantry. I was eating Tudor Gold Hazelnut chocolate bar and suddenly a patient F K H grabbed my chocolate bar, broke it into half and snatched it to her body. THEN Principal Assistant Nurse R B A said: "GOOOD!". She was standing by looking at this!
Good? I'll make sure it's good you get the management slap a reprimand across yr mouth.
Is that what a nurse should say? Especially when you see another patient snatching people's chocolate??!

9/8/2012 9 August 2012 Thursday 12:53pm
I saw the unspeakable. Nurses and allied healthcare professionals aren't supposed to take photos of people and things in the ward right? Sur, a patient was sitting on the nurses' counter because the nurses had allowed her to be there singing and moving to their handphone radio. As I was standing behind Principal Assistant Nurse R B A ehind the nurse counter's side glass partition, (and she doesn't know I'm standing behind her, able to see her every move), I saw clearly what R B A was doing: In a sleeping desk position, she took out her IPhone, entered into camera mode and took a picture of Sur while she was singing. Having fun? Or just breaking the promise? First she takes a picture of me, then she takes a picture of Sur, in out IMH shirts in IMH! In the wards! What absurd! I hope something would be done to her. Amz.

5/8/2012 Sunday 7:55pm
Next, when I got tied up today, due to some disturbed, aggressive and violent issues, Principal Assistant Nurse R B A stood from afar and it caught my eye! She held up her leopard print IPhone and took a video and a picture of me in this shirt and being tied up! It was so obvious and I am so definite about it because she held up her phone and stood there for a good few seconds, pointing the camera towards me, And when I looked at her and she noticed it, she shrugged uncomfortably and hastily remove her phone from that position.
It was very obvious and her reactions proved it. I hope the management do about this and her.

25/8/2012 25 August 2012 Saturday 12:38pm
This is the third occasion Principal Assistant Nurse R B A took a picture of me in the ward. She wanted to capture me with two watermelons in my tray! Saying that "Who gave me the permission to take two watermelons at one go?" That is not a valid reason to take a photo of me. I saw with my own eyes, she fixing the phone in a camera mode and aiming her IPhone camera to me, she took a picture of me! She later owned up in front of Nurse Clinicians F and N and was forced to delete the picture.
It is not a matter of whether she deletes the picture. It is a matter of professionalism and how the staff behaves. This behaviour gives me a bad impression of how a Principal Assistant Nurse should behave like.

27/7/2012 27 July 2012 Thursday -Friday 3:03am
34A's Principal Assistant Nurse R B A "Coffee with Uncle"

You know I can't forget the time, about 1/2 weeks ago, Principal Assistant Nurse R B A went and talked extensively to my third uncle Mr Rudy/Rudi Tan Seng Kok. My father's older brother. This is what she did: Rosnah to my uncle: "Can I talk to you later? Privately", after talking to me, while visiting me, Uncle said: "Ok, where's that nurse who wants to talk to me, I'm gonna have coffee with her". Then R B A urried towards my uncle and ushered him out of the ward, door by door. And when she's doing that you know what she did? She SMILED cheekily at me and gave me eye to eye with that cheeky smile for more than 5 seconds! So they went off to have their little tete-a-tete.
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to a quarter of an hour, and then, half and hour. It's nearly dinner time and she hasn't been back yet. She finally gets back when they were serving out dinner halfway. My uncle is an uncle who calls me I look like a pig and I can't be a model etc and R B A akes it worst by talking to him, with that cheeky smile on her face, bad things about me that leaves a further bad
impression of me to my uncle that he wouldn't let my mum bring me home. And is she supposed to talk this long to my uncle? And behind my back too? Why can't they talk in front of me? Why do they have to talk in the lift lobby? or God knows where they went together.
So, Charge-Complaint - Nurses having 'private' and discreet talks with patient's family member when there is a chance to be open and transparent about it. And for making it more than a few minutes, forsaking their duties as a nurse. R B A being inconsiderate and rude when giving that kind of smile to me before pouring patient's rubbish to the relative. Said. Done.

8/8/2012 8 August 2012 Wednesday 9:00pm
34A's Principal Assistant Nurse R B A scrupulous methods to please a patient.

I see Principal Assistant Nurse R B A coming into the ward with a packet of chips in her hand, turns out to be Tao Kae Noi - a packet of seaweed. She beckons to patient Yeo YC: "Come Y C", walks to the counter and took from the packet one whole stack of seaweed and passed it to Y C. Discrimination? Is she supposed to just simply buy food for any-o-how patients with any-o-how
food at an any-o-how time? I have asked nurses to buy food for me and have asked for their chips at night but their answer to me to that was "no, who knows what will happen if we give food to you at night, you may even choke and we'll be responsible for it!" What an excuse-answer! And now I see R B A buying food for other patients, is this not going according to what they say then? Unfair? Unjust? Scrupulous.

19/6/2012 19 June 2012 Tuesday 7:50am
Then suddenly Sr AN R B A checked my toothbrush and asked me "Genevieve, where's your toothbrush?" I took it out from under my bed. Sister/NM H got into a fit and said "You're not supposed to keep toothbrush under your bed". R B A purposely framed me out in front of Sister NM Ho to prove I have the toothbrush. What absurd!

7/9/2012 7 August 2012 Friday 9:14pm
I went back to the nurse's counter and pass back my leg cream. Then R B A and R the nurses with patient Jo laughed. R B A said: "She wants my chips!", loudly saying, "She wants my chips!" pointing to the packet of potato chips on the table. She had asked me "Why are you asking for MY things?" while she freely gives others. She don't have to discriminate me!

5/8/2012 Sunday 7:29pm
At about 4pm today... So you see, here's the thing: We are not supposed to climb up the chairs to change the TV channel, however awful the TV channel can be. BUT, the funny thing is when I changed the channel from 8 to OKTO, Principal Assistant Nurse R B A CLIMBED ATOP of the chair TWICE to change the channel again! Now, if patients climb up the chair and they fall down, they would get tied up and there'll be a hoohaa about it. But when staff climbs up the chair and falls down? EHOR? Staff should set an exemplary behaviour and give an example from herself! This is terrible service shortcoming.

17 June 2010 Thursday 10 am
Experiences of Mistreat by Nurses in the hospital

For a file of record of activities conducted by nurses for patients,

I looked into that file and to my surprise, it states "Games – Passing Ball". – Conducted by Sr AN (Senior Assistant Nurse) R B A edited from Rhondah-wrong name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) Bte Aziz and AN R (it's not the malay R N H, it is an indian Assistant Nurse, who seems to be attached to ward 34A for that day only)

Because I have witnessed the conducted activity to be of the lower than sub-standard!

What I saw was, AN R(it's not the malay R N H, it is an indian Assistant Nurse, who seems to be attached to ward 34A for that day only): "Anyone wanna play ball?" No answer. *tossing the ball up and down* No one. Then a patient just came along and received the ball and tossed back.

AND, the worst thing is Sr AN R(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) Bte Aziz was just sitting on her laurels and writing her daily charts for monitoring! And with this answer "Oh, no one wants to play, ah "

And you dare to record down you conducted A GAME of PASSING BALL? When there is no fun and joy to the patients there. There is NO PARTICIPATION or MINIMAL INVOLVEMENT. And in the first Fact is Sr AN R(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) B A wasn’t even INVOLVED in CONDUCTING the Game!

Is there a unfair statement of activities conducted written down in black and white?

There will be Gen to fair that statement in black and white.

The file was opened up by Staff Nurse A C with me beside – inevitably looking at all the untrue black and whites. "What are you looking at?" replies Staff Nurse A C, covering her Staff Name Tag Card.

Charge-Complaint: Nurses writing down black and white of activities conducted that are actually not the expected professional standard.

11.11am

Sr AN R(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) B A handed her some sweet & sour yellow chewable candy to Jurita – a malay patient sitting beside me on the blue resting chair drugged and drowsy.

And the thing is, She Approached Her. The Nurse Gave the Patient. And.. particularly……

All of a few moments, patients ‘rushed’ to Sr AN R(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) B A to ask "Give me one". She gives.


But when I went up and presented my question to her, she said . "No."

I wonder, is this the first sign Singapore can’t get tolerance and acceptance with love Between Different Races.

It’s obvious da nurse cares for that race.

?!??

Charge-Complaint: Senior Assistant Nurse R B A of Purposed-Unfairness.

11.27am

Healthcare Assistant K n

– went to IMH’s foodcourt to buy a packet of Mee Rebus. As I saw her coming in to the ward from the outside with that packet of food. I’m not sure is that supposed to be though too…
Sr AN R B A gave that food and spoke to patient A. "This is for you" she whispers. I heard. A: *shocked* *pushing the food a little away from her*. But in the end, she and her food landed up together at the visitors’ area. Lunging away at that hard-to-get food in the hospital.

I saw that, I was like "OMG. Unfairness reveals. You know that patients like the rest are dying away with the lowclassed food at Wd 34A … Isn’t the nurses and HCAs being unfair?" It’s not trying to be unfair. It IS Infairness.

I burst. I followed A, walked, sat and asked her whether I could have a bite. The 10 days staying in a ‘C-class’ ward eating ‘C-classed’ food burst me.

Her bowl was full. She was very self-..ish. "Bu ke yi, wo bu share shi wu with beah ren de" = "No.. cannot.. I don’t share my food with others one." This is something I go "Are you sure? -.-" I persist.

Next second, Sr AN R B A strided into the visitors area where there are only me and A sitting. But she only said to me: "Go. Away." I replied: "Did she give you money for the food? Never? Yeah? And Sr AN R B A replied "IT’s My Own Money. I buy for HER. NoT YOU." I replied: "But why, that you buy for her only?!"

Charge-Complaint: Healthcare Attendant K and Senior Assistant Nurse R B A edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) of Unfairness/Indemocracy.

In my mind, I was thinking, "Bribery? Cos A always sitting at the visitor’s area, and I need her to open the door for me, rest at the visitor’s area is better than in the pantry! well if she is… ……"


And you know what the nurse did? "Get Off" *PULLED MY SHIRT, PULLED THE CHAIR, UP I GO PUSH SHE WENT. !


"You wanna go in or not" - Sr AN R B A(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm)


"WHY? A’s sitting down here and I Must go in?!" - Gen


"Because you’re disturbing her eating" – She talks in a horse’s voice, high pitched horse’s voice. - Sr AN R B A(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm)


"I am NOT! I’m just asking if she could give me some!" - Gen


"No, she’s not gonna give you some, it’s I bought it for her" - Sr AN R B A edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm)

"STOP PULLING AND PUSHING ME!" – Gen


"Go! If not I’m gonna call the crisis ah! To TIE YOU" - Sr AN R B A(edited name 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm)


And that’s the end. That threaten. That tying. I don’t want to get tied. Bang. There goes the door by me as I stomped into the pantry.


Charge-Complaint: Senior Assistant Nurse R B A name edited 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) of Violence, and Threats. Inappropriate handling of patients!


12.30pm


At lunch.


As I stood to collect my lunch. Sr AN R B A name edited 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm) swept past me and said "No One Will Sayang You"


I took that INSULT.


Charge-Complaint: Senior Assistant Nurse R B A as Nurses, speak forth encouragement and wellness to PATIENTS not Bitching and Words that breaks people down!


Ok fine, I have my bloody food now, So what. I replied back the medicine that she gave me "No One Will Sayang You"


And you know what she did? She SNORTed. "hern! Hahhaha"


?Is that a Bitch or Bitching?


I took my food and proceeded to the chair and table.


Irritatingly, she stood beside me to make sure I don’t share food with people and that people don’t share food with me.


And she said after my food’s half finished – "You are an abandoned child but you don’t feel abandoned at all"


My reply: "Yeah! I don’t feel abandoned at all!" =D


Sr AN R B A(name edited 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm)replies: "Cos you are thick skin plus plus!


My reply: "Yeah! Cos I’m thick skinn + + √ =D =D =D"


Charge-Complaint: Senior Assistant Nurse R B A name edited 9 Feb 2012 7.29pm), as Nurses, speak forth encouragement and wellness to PATIENTS not Bitching and Words that breaks people down!

I hereby Certify that all these things reported are true By The Vog.


NURSE MANAGER H S K.


19/6/2012 19 June 2012 Tuesday 7:50am
Ward 34A's Nurse Manager H S K s deep hurtful remarks about a patient's parents and home that shouldn't be said.

Sister H/Nurse Manager H S K pointed out that at this time "why you haven't wake up and bathe?" and that I should be up and bathing by 7:15am. So I mentioned all the cubicles are taken except for the third cubicle near the toilet bowl which I said I don't want to bathe in it because I complained the water hose is spoilt. Very little water comes out. Then she said nobody is complaining except for me which I said I've been complaining to the community meeting about this every Saturday, She says she gives me FIVE minutes. I everybody bathes finish and I don't, she won't let me bathe anymore. I said the water's too small and I have ezema, so I need full blast water. And if you are not gonna let me bathe, my ezema will go on worse, so that's not the best interest in your heart.

17/8/2012 Friday 7:27pm
Just three days or so ago, Nurse Manager Sister H slapped me with a charge - that I stole. All for me who just reach out to take and consume a WATERMELON without asking my nurses' permission. So I am STEALING because I got a watermelon without asking? Ms Ho said: "You are, if I would say, STEALING." I could take a watermelon without asking, anyway, do I have to always ask when everyone have seemingly taken their share? And how is it called stealing when watermelons are made available for all? Why not make a cage for the watermelons to prevent "stealing".

2/8/2012 Thursday 8:19pm
I wanna say, the nurses here are T.e.r.r.i.b.l.e. Just 3 weeks ago, C J H, a patient, was wailing very badly because she's complaining that she has never taken the new injection that the doctor is changing for her before. She doesn't want her new injection, the change. Sister Nurse Manager H S K did the T.e.r.r.i.b.l.e thing - heard her cries, came out of her room and told her to stop it. Instead of understanding her, to coax her into quietening down and comfort/console her, she did a very un-understanding thing - scolding the patient like a blood-feud. I've witnessed it! NM Sister H was like firmly scolding her,: "Stop your nonsense. Stop crying now." As a nurse, when you see such a sad thing happening to a patient, and the patient is so devastatedly visually unhappy already, you should comfort and console the patient! Instead of demanding her to shut up, as it seems! Sister NM H also wants to "tie her up and give he a jab la" whenever people are "hard to handle" on several occasions as well.

9 June 2012 9/6/2012 12:22pm 34A's NM Sister H S K and 34B's HCA R's deprivation of good food to patients

I am eating malay food/diet. I ate finished the meat but I still have a whole rice leftover. So the chinese diet has tomato cut sausages. I was denied of it by Nurse Manager Sister H and Health Care Assistant R. But if there is extra food from the chinese side, why can't I have some extra? Still want to fight about it. Just let a patient eat! Sometimes the chinese food can be nice too. Other hospitals I've stayed in even allowed us to CHOOSE the food we want today.:( The extras are the leftovers when EVERYBODY has taken their share already.

21/7/2012 Saturday 11pm 
I realised Nurse Manager H S K does not wear her staff card on her neck! But Nurse Manager Sister K D does all the time. Is Sister H trying to escape patients knowing her full name? Or that she wants to escape from reality that she's still a care-giver nurse after all. I don't respect that. And I would like to see her wearing her staff card prominently like she should in front of her chest soon.

Wed 16/5/2012 16 May 2012
When it was lunch time, I beckoned Sister H to look at the liquid soap, she said what is it. I said the soap’s being diluted (with water) she said so what. It is because she said until we wash our hands, she would not let us eat. And that the soap’s diluted, I told her when they press the soap on my hands, it would drip down to my legs when I walk to the sink in washing. And that the soap’s not effective anymore cos it’s diluted. And because of that, she SHOUTED at me to “Go to the sink! Then!” And because of that they call it I was arguing with her. They call this argue, by telling her your diluted handwash doesn’t work and her getting so worked up by my simple telling.
So after my talk with my case manager. S, which was not even a talk at all, I went to the doctor’s room, knocked on the door and went in to confront J – have I shouted at you before? Sister H threatened – if you don’t go out of the room I will press crisis on my hand and ask people to tie you. For once, for what happened I, for once wanted to get tied, to MAKE a statement that hey, you are the one that make me angry and when I’m angry, you call the crisis to tie me. So you have the right to be agitated, I don’t have the right to be? And hey I need the love and attention, so I will want to get tied to show it to you.
But I didn’t get myself tied.
This is a hospital, not a discipline council.

Written in the Analyst on Patient Information Sheet. 30/6/2012 30 June 2012 Saturday 9:05pm
I roughly quote my Nurse Manager Sister H S K 's from my fourth admission ward 34A words "I have 40 over patients here, I can't follow each of your individuality, there are rules and regulations that EVERYONE has to follow." Yes I agree there are rules and regulations that might be for us, but if you just see and for easy management, take us as 40 patients with similar likes, needs strengths, values and beliefs, we are just like a jail like colony with a label that you band us together in a 40 patient pack. What I mean is that when I voice out to that Nurse Manager Sister H S K she shouldn't say "Oh, because I have forty over patients here and therefore..." instead, she should say "I hear you, I will try my best to help you with your needed individual needs and your 'to-be-strengthened' strengths.

Another example would be that when my case manager writes that I could listen to the radio in the mornings, Nurse Manager Sister H S K told me no, all my privileges have been CANCELLED and claims that the radio is SPOILT - which I tried the day before, it was working fine. Radio is essential to me in a ward of nothing-to-doness and devastating boring mornings for a 21 year old.
Wouldn't she know that I can listen to the radio in the mornings as written by my case manager? (purportedly?) No.
Similar example would be when my case manager even TOLD Nurse Manager Sister H S K that she brought magazines for me and that she would give me a magazine per every 3/2 days. And later said I have to exchange the magazine one at a time with NM S. H. Before my case manager said the exchange 'policy', Nurse Manager Sister H DIDN'T give me a new magazine after 2/3 days.
And thereafter NM S.H was not coming out of her comfort of her office much that I have no chance to 'exchange' magazines with her. So that's how she 'works' with me and with each other.



STAFF NURSE M (M-H)
M-H. Her Mistreat to IMH patients: Staff Nurse of IMH Ward 34B. M-H, "M-H".

I have the right to accept or refuse medical care or recommended treatment!
When I don't wanna eat my medicine due to vomiting whenever I eat it, she shouted again "OKAY! Restrain her, two hands and one body, she doesn't want to eat medicine, WE'LL BRING IT TO HER"
I don't want to eat medicine you have to tie me and force it down my throat?!?


25/6/2012 25 June 2012 Monday 8:17am
34B's Staff Nurse M-H's Vulgarities

M-H told N SN "Fucker, nobody knows the code, now go"

34B's Staff Nurse M-H lack of emphathy to tied patients.

When a woman, T. A. T. got tied up ordered by M-H, she, T. A. T. cried. And M-H SAID: "Let her cry, nothing new" Showing no emphathy to the crying patients being TIED UP!

29/6/2012 29 June 2012 Friday 7:17pm
Staff Nurse of 34B M-H's unreasonable shoutings.

When I went to the counter to take my book to lend it to C S C, a patient because she asked me to, M-H SHOUTED at me "Out! Put back the book! You are supposed to ask the staff if you want to come into MY room. I HECK CARE how long you stay here". WHA?

I remembered when I was under her care in the B-side or A-side, (34A/B) she SHOUTED so loudly at me when giving medicine: "SO YOU WANT TO TAKE OR NOT?!" Is this the right way to a patient, you readers decide.

She comes across as a ferocious, fearsome, fierce and scary nurse that can bounce her way to the patients up ON them to tie them up effortlessly because she is very big size.

19/6/2012 19 June 2012 Tuesday 5:15pm
34B's Staff Nurse M-H's maligning way of talking and shouting in the ward.

M-H, the staff nurse from B-side came and told me off "Genevieve, what are you doing? Doing funny things?" And she ORDERED me to sit down. I was just at the food shutters telling Aunty S(Health Attendant) to take out and heat up my KFC chicken for my dinner later. M-H said "YOU THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE ME FROM THE OTHER SIDE YOU CAN DO FUNNY THINGS?" Is this the right way to talk, up to you readers to decide. I was NOT doing any FUNNY things. And the way she orders me to "sit down" is like a military officer, ordering people in the camp.

19/6/2012 19 June 2012 Tuesday 7:14pm
34B's Staff Nurse M-H's unreasonable speech

She said I have NO RIGHT in this hospital to THINK. I think something must be done to her. Because I thought the nurses are talking about me when they called my name for medicine! So I think!

Forcing/Threatening? How uncomfortable and threatened I feel about my stay here!


ASSISTANT NURSE ND

25/6/2012 25 June 2012 Monday 9:27pm

34A's AN ND imminent and angry threats

AN ND told L L Q a patient "I wish I could slap you now" and roughly pushed her due to reason: "You release your hand I didn't say anything, now you release your body". She was tied hand and body. ND said "You bully me!" on top of her lungs. Another patient untied and went to the toilet, AN ND made alot of noise that the patient might fall etc. When I told SN Y O about ND saying the slapping part, she said "Huh, so bad ah".

Also when Ag(a patient) slapped me, ND said, "Very good! More! More!"

STAFF NURSE R D C A

27/6/2012 Wednesday 8:17pm 34A’s Staff Nurse R D C A ignoring of gentle patient’s request

I just talked to Staff Nurse R D C A and she ignored me. I asked “Can you check the case notes that the doctor write it’s for my face and pimples (calamine lotion) and tell the Assistant Nurse to give the lotion to me?” After saying that, she heard it, there was silence for 5 seconds ie she ignored me totally and continued to do her work. Rude and unspeakable. She did reply my previous questions, only after I asked a few times, but this question, she ignored me totally like a dumb ass. It’s irritating and very rude.

I understand I have to do approach their staff (THE HOSPITAL's) if I need any assistance but in actual fact, they don't render assistance, if not, immediately --- when I needed Staff Nurse R D C A to help me check and confirm my case notes that this calamine lotion is for my face, she IGNORED me THREE times before I could have a proper explanation. I felt it was such an uphill task approaching any of the staff for 'assistance'.


ASSISTANT NURSE K K W

25/7/2012 25 June 2013 Wednesday 8:51pm
Ward 34A's Assistant Nurse K K W's ignorings to L L C's diaper screams

L L C, a patient was SCREAMING "Nurse! Can you help me change my diapers, it's wet!" "Nurse!!! Can you help me change my diapers", "Nurse!", "Nurse!! Can you help me change my diapers! It's wet! NURSE!" Assistant Nurse K K W was there at the counter doing her clinical charts and she didn't give a care to the screaming L C. L C was shouting so loudly and so repeatedly, the least you can do is just tell her "hey, wait for a while, I'm coming". No, AN K K W did not bat an eye and as the only one in the dormitory, alone, doing charts. Is the charts or patient's comfort more important? If you can't manage doing charts and caring for patients at the same time, then employ more nurses to take care of us! I've seen throngs of nurses in one ward when I was staying in Changi General Hospital. Why can't this hospital be the same too! I later saw that L C's whole bed was soaked in urine, overflowing from the diapers. L C is an immobile patient. So a nurse from this hospital rather let a patient soak in their urine then attend to her. And that nurse is K K W. SN G S attended to her instead.

28/9/2012 Friday 6:55pm
Assistant Nurse K K W SLAMMED the door at my face, almost slamming my fingers at the door while I approached it to get my deodorant. I asked her to let me use my deodorant, but she told me to go away first. I thought she would let me have it if I do that, but after she slammed the door onto me, she turned around an ignored me totally. Being very rude. I swore to myself, I will definitely complain about her! Being so picky and calculated about things, even when I just started a call, she would accuse me that I've spoken very long on the phone!

1/7/2012 1 July 2012 8:15pm

T B G's accuse to Ward 34A's Assistant Nurse K K W:

T B G- To K K W "You always push me! Grab my hands and roughly push me out of the bathroom. You bully me you know. How many times already, not only the first time, what if I fall down? The bathroom's floor is so wet. Is that how a nurse is to behave?" Then after that, K K W still want to tie B G up after that.

25/7/2012 25 July 2012 Wednesday 8:35pm
Assistant Nurse K K W's unprofessional throwing of temper

After C J H (a patient) threw the phone aside after talking halfway to her mum, I picked up the phone and told her mum, "she's angry". And AN K K W saw that and pulled the phone's wire. As I hold on to it, she called me "stupid". I can't use the phone to call others, I know. But is it right for a professional nurse to call a patient stupid? That nurse's from the myanmars.


HEALTH ATTENDANT D L

18/6/2012 18 June 2012 Monday 8:23am
34A's HA D L removing soap from patients while they bathe halfway.

D L the Health Attendant TOOK away my soap when I was bathing halfway. I said I need the soap still to wash my ears, she babbled like a duck "no no, you use too much soap!" Have you heard of nurses who takes away your soap while you are bathing halfway? More still after I told her I still need the soap.

28/6/2012 28 June 2012 Thursday 8:18am
Man-handling by Health Attendant D L of Ward 34A

Health Attendant D L MAN-HANDLED me today in the bathroom just now. She shoved, PUSHED, hard, jostled me out of the bathroom when I said I want to bathe in the assisted bathroom to just wash my hair because the bathroom cubicle's water us too small to thoroughly rinse my hair. Then she disallowed me and PUSHED me to the door. You can say nicely or if I do not want to go out, let it be! PUSHING me and SHOVING me? Man, I've got man-handled and roughly treated.


ASSISTANT NURSE Tgsny

27/6/2012 27 June 2012 Wednesday 8:26pm

Assistant Nurse Tgsny's playing with her handphone almost all the time when duty is needed.

When I asked Nurse Tgsny "Can I have my calamine lotion?" She says "I'm alone here". I saw that she was browsing through their IPhone pictures and using an app to adjust the picture's brightness grain, intensity and colour. If she is alone, in the ward, she should see the importance of overseeing the patients, moreso alone. Instead of playing handphone pictures which I have been seeing that she does this often behind the nurses' counter.

16/7/2012 Monday 6:52pm//5:45pm

Just now around dinner time, Assistant Nurse Tgsny went and USED my bag. The bag of mine contains my church magazine, my exercise book with name cards, OXY Cover, my stuff toy and a paper. All of them were scattered at the shelf while Assistant Nurse Tgsny selfishly used my bag for, you know what? Hold her water bottle, pampers and restrainers. If I never spot her holding my NUS Alumnus bag, she wouldn't have returned it to me, wouldn't have placed everything back into the bag, with some things missing though my bag doesn't have my name but she should know the bag belongs to me! Because my books inside have stated my name! I am shocked!

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT S T

1/7/2012 1 July 2012 Saturday 1:25am

I woke up. I hear the sound of water dripping, splattering all over the floor. I walked to the sound and saw S A M T standing up and peeing on the floor. Health Attendant S T was beside her and she snapped "What are you doing here? Go back to your bed!" I just heard 'water' dripping on the floor and I was curious that I went to see! Nothing wrong with that right. And she snapped: "People urine you also want to see?", "Don't irritate".

I am displeased, how/when is this IRRITATING???!!

ASSISTANT NURSE Vnwr

11/8/2012 Saturday 8:17pm
I just merely ask Assistant Nurse Vnwr to check a basket and a blue box whether my Bethamethazone Cliquinol cream is in there because they couldn't find it. She told me to check with Staff Nurse D the next morning and she got frustrated, she pushed and banged the nurse's counter's door and flew open the blue box, spilling all the UNO cards inside. I got a shock of my life, my heart almost jumped out. I am concern about applying the important cream to my very sensitive and itchy legs and that's how you treat me? And that's how you behave as a professional nurse? Giving shock treatment to others? Absolutely stunned.


ASSISTANT/STAFF NURSE P Z N

Nurse P Z N of THE HOSPITAL, My Ward in 2009. From Myanmar. I'm not sure if she's assistant or staff.

2/8/2012 2 August 2012 Thursday 11:00am

This is the thing that I almost forgot to write down: about Nurse P from Myanmar. She's a bespectacled, short haired woman. In 2009, 28 Apr 2010 Wednesday 1:20pm to be exact. Bathing Time. when I was bathing in the bathroom cubicle, she, wanting to hurry me up, shouted "Get out!" She was alone in the ward. And then, this is what she did: She Very Violently Kicked the cubicle's door with all her force and all her might! BANG! I think the lock almost broke! Using her legs to kick the door? WHAT kind of action is that? And I'm surprised and shocked that she's still working in this ______ hospital. Still terrorising the patients here. I'd ask again, What kind of action was that??!
I'll like to charge her for aggressive behaviour & disrespect to patients. I have headache because of her.

30 Apr 2010 Friday 8pm

(After medicine time,) Nurses on duty - XM ; L & e unavoided omnipresent P Z N.
Seemingly the nurses forgot about my medication - not oral, but the creams to smooth my itchy, hospitalised skin. So I stepped a foot into the nurses' counter to manually retrieve my long gone medicine from the nonchalant nurses. And B.O.O.M. "Go away. This is not your office, your office is there *points to bed*" scorned P Z N She pushed the door to my foot, grimace forcefully and SLAMMED the door on my face, going back to her paper work.
And then, "P Z N, you cannot do that you know." XM the nurse said. P Z N "She cannot come in what", XM: "I know she cannot come in but you cannot do like that"
P Z N: "silence".
Another testimonial of the service inconsistency of the ward nurses. Kudos to the service orientated, sensitive XM.


STAFF NURSE M W W M

Previous my ward's, currently in Block 6. Advance Diploma Nurse M W W M's visible bad ward behaviour.

I sat on my chair looking on to Nurse M W W M and she as a advance diploma nurse too! I'm shocked, surprised and see no good in her in my ward. I remember Two years ago in 2009 when I was bathing in bathroom, she wanted me to come out of the bathroom immediately in the middle of bathing. As I had just came in and I had mensus, so I had to bathe a little longer. M W W M shouted: "You come out now immediately! Or else I will tell the doctor that you are mentally SICK and you will not go out of the hospital." Really bad? Yes. Really bad.

8/8/2012 8 August 2012 Wednesday 8:56pm
Today, Advance Diploma Staff Nurse M W W M of Block 6 screamed/shouted at patient I T "No sit down, No food ok!" (If u don't sit down, u get no food ok). Living in this ward is already terrible enough, coupled by steely shouts and screaming orders by the nurses makes our day worst! Can't the nurse be gentle at least in speech?!

27 Apr 2010 Tues 10:24am my Ward.
It's the way they treat us.
It's 'outside' time we are not supposed to go into the dormitory but sit outside.
9:30am Violence & Disrespect 1: M W W M Kicked my legs and used violence to push me when I was trying to follow her into the dormitory while she gave G B S, a patient, an injection. She should have not used her bloody legs to kick me or step on my fucking legs & she should have gently told me to step aside. This is care, compassion and professionalism. Damn it.
Violence 2: I spent another hour doing nothing. And my body itches terribly w/o powder 10am When M W W M opened the nurses' counter door, I went in with her too reach for the hard-to-get always avoided powder. M W W M then SHOVED my body out and PUSHED me forcefully, I emphasize again, forcefully. A barbarian with no respect to me as a bloody patient. Slamming the door RUDELY hard IN MY FACE. When the powder was just there available for patients to use. What a professional nurse like her should have done: NOT ***king PUSH me. This is outrageous. TELL me she will give the powder later. Close the door GENTLY. Damn it.
Side note: I am not like some mental patient who forced open the door.
Bullying, terrorising.

Disrespect 1: I ate lunch. Which was plain, mundane and brain-decaying food. I went in, it was bathing time. I was expecting my case manager to arrive to bring me for a shelter home interview. I was taking my clothes (which they call 'baju') to bathe. M W W M says "Better make sure she bathe today" - looking at me "I better see you bathe, later you don't go and tell the nurse to let you bathe after they close the door. Tell them left, right, center. And come to think of it, for the later stated rudeness, I'll see I'll smack the case back at her left, right and center. I, having my clothes with me, waited for the first cubicle to be available for bathing, the first person went and I waited to get a chance to get a shot at getting the Head & shoulders shampoo which the nurses try their best to keep away from dandruff haunted person like me. So I waited for yet another patient to go in to the available cubicle. The Healthcare Assistant (HA) and Assistant Nurse on duty this day looked at me and scream around that I did not go into the bathroom to bathe. *thunder* miss nurse M W W M appeared to me, and SHOUTED: "You better go and bathe, if you don't go in and bathe, FOR YOUR INFORMATION the doctors will be coming later to interview you for your shelter home okay. If you are like this, I WILL WRITE IN YOUR REPORT THAT YOU ARE MENTALLY SICK. And then, we will put a tag there that says you are NOT FIT to go for the interview home."
WHAT IS THIS??!!!

30 Apr 2010 10:10pm Ward 34A
M W W M 3:00pm steps into the dormitory, *Thunder*. After half an hour of serving patients some medicine or something, I stumbled or rather the nurse displayed to me, what might be happening to her, the doctors write... It's the patient who's aggressive what...... They think we're what. Robots. She was hyperventilating to the cleaner Aya - K. And I wonder... So... there's some cock ups in the management and she might be treated as a patient, but please, be professional, do not treat as like a dog or cat. Even a dog or cat gets better treatment then we do.

12/8/2012 Sunday 9:17pm RED FLAG

Also, in 2009, if not for patient-friend-J L W T, I would have forgotten, Staff Nurse M W W M COSTAPED, yes, using a COStape to COStape this patient called K S M's mouth when she was complaining she didn't want to go ECT! She also took pictures of patients tied up and showed it to everyone, being more heartless then R B A of Ward 34A. When patient J wanted to un-COStape K S M, M W W M said if J opens, she will tie her up. She also scolded J "fuck off" when she bathed too long and when she scolds back, M W W M says "you better watch what you're saying, I will remember. If you ever get tied, I will tie you very tight" Wa! Bully ah! Terrible? Wa! Really terrible man!

3. Safety & Privacy

We are entitled to be treated with dignity in a humane environment that affords reasonable protection from harm, including:
- Receiving care in a safe setting,
- Being free from physical restraints or seclusion, unless medically required in situations where there is substantial risk of imminent half to myself or others.
- Being provided with appropriate protection, especially for the disabled, elderly or vunerable children.
I am going to spat on these statements because what I've said will show we have not been treated with dignity in a humane environment. 

STAFF NURSE MERCY JERAYANI
29/7/2012 Sunday 12:51pm
Staff Nurse Mercy Jerayani told me again “That’s why you are like this, your parents don’t want you.” Telling me that hurts my feelings and eventually this is not what a professional staff should say/behave.

NURSE CLINICIAN NARCISSA AQUINO DE LEON

Wed 16 May 2012
On earlier this month Sister Nancy – the Philipino nurse that stayed in Singapore for years took my deodorant and threw it away. Plus my shampoo. I said you have to pay me back for the loss! This is a gift from my friend and it doesn’t come easy! She demanded that because the can is empty. She shook it and then threw it away. But I said no but you didn’t SPRAY it out to check if it’s really empty. And because of my argument she changed her stance and said yeah, she sprayed it too! AFTER I mentioned it to her. So? My not-yet-finished deodorant is to be gone just like that? I use it, I know when it is finished or not. I demand her to return me a bottle of deodorant that my good friend Adeline bought me.

28/6/2012 Thursday 10:24am
Staff Nurse Tang Shi Wei gave me the radio in the morning. She said if I fight with Lim Kim Gek a patient over the radio again, she would take away the radio.
Then I approached NC Nancy (Nurse Clinician Narcissa Aquino De Leon) and explain that because it’s in the morning I can’t on the radio too loud and because Lim Kim Gek wants it loud so that I could share with her. I explain I would listen to the radio on earpiece in the morning and let Kim Gek listen in the afternoon. Sister Nancy then retorted “It’s I set the rules, not you” I dunno why she said that (my explanation). Does this explanation have anything to do with you’re not setting the rules here. Did I say that? No link. Then she said “No radio for you now”. I was taken aback. Did I do anything wrong that makes her have the right to not let me listen to the radio anymore? I MERELY just explain why I don’t share the radio with Kim Gek!
THEN, SN Shi Wei burst in and took the radio away, I didn’t want to give the radio to her and as I place my plastic holder that keeps my earpiece on top of the radio in between the lid and the radio CD player firmly tight, she tore the earpiece plastic holder. She could have pulled the radio handle, instead she pulled the earpiece plastic holder and in the end tore a big hole in the holder that I can’t keep my earpiece in! She destroyed my plastic holder where I safekeep my beloved earpiece!
Yes I admit I was struggling with her not to take away the radio, but she doesn’t have some SENSE to pull the radio away BY THE HANDLE, not tearing away at my beloved plastic holder! Now, I have no plastic holder to hold my earpiece! Because the plastic holder has my name on it to indicate the earpiece is mine. When asked to give me another plastic holder, she says “ask Esther (Assistant Nurse) since she’s the one who gave it to you” and that she doesn’t have it. She’s just destroying everything la!
And moreover, WHAT did I do that the nurse has to take the radio away from me? WHAT? And you forcefully took it away from me, being VERY VIOLENT! I merely just explain to Sister Nancy that I would let Kim Gek listen to the radio in the afternoon! I didn’t still fight with Kim Gek, I didn’t still still quarrel with Kim Gek over the radio! She just took away the radio away from me like that without any reason! O.O. She asked me to ask NC Nancy later for the radio. And when I did, NC Nancy asked me to ASK her back whether I can have the radio cos she’s the one who took it. And then I said SHE is the one who asked me to ask YOU! So there was a responsibility DING-DONG. And then Shi Wei (SN) came along and I asked her, before she could say yes or no, Sister Nancy said “Cos I have to respect her decision, so no”. SN Shi Wei didn’t even said yes or no and even if she did, you as the Nurse Clinician “Set the rules” and have the final say in this decision! Not Shi Wei?!
I felt I’ve been unfairly dealt with and that they have no reason to take away the radio and leaves me with no radio in the devastatingly boring morning.

2/7/2012 Monday 8:31am
Nurse Clinician Narcissa Aquino De Leon did almost the same thing to Tan Beng Gek as what Kyi Kyi Win AN Nurse did – beckoning her rudely in waving her hands out of the bathroom, when Tan Beng Gek (a patient) got agitated, Staff Nurse Marisol Nonod said “Take the restrainers” to Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li. She got frustrated that the nurse always threaten to tie her, and told NC Nancy “I stand here I’m blocking the way ah? (which she ‘s not) I have choice where to walk!” Then look what NC Nancy’s reaction was – she shouted at Tan Beng Gek – “FINE!”. Ookayy... .... Then when I told NC Nancy that “Kyi Kyi pushed her yesterday” She look at me with pleading eyes, as if wanting me to drop the case, and said “No la, she didn’t la”

STAFF NURSE MA HIANG MOE MYINT SHARON JOY

21/7/2012 Sat 3:07pm

Ma Hiang Moe Myint or Sharon Joy said this phrase that makes me boiling just now. "...no wonder your parents don't want you la..." to say that means you're being very unsensitive to my thoughts! I am already very upset that I can't go home because of my parents, and you still want to taunt me about that. I'm furious! And Hurt!

17/6/2012 17 June 2012 Sunday 1:01pm
34A's Staff Nurse Ma Hiang Moe Hyint Sharon Joy and Assistant Nurse Vikneswari's initial refusal to clean shit on the floor despite people stepping on it.

There is shit on the floor but the nurses on duty - SN Ma Hiang Moe Hyint Sharon Joy and AN Vikneswari refuses to clean it up at first. Subsequently the shit is being stepped on by someone. When called to clean it, my cries fell on deaf ears. Please, they should have some responsibility, we don't have gloves, we patients can't clean the shit up for you. Witness: Siti Nooryatima (patient) claims she shouted there's shit but noone cleans it up, eventually its Vikneswari AN.

STAFF NURSE DONG JUN LI

31/8/2012 Friday 7:30pm

Just now at dinner time, I came to consume another watermelon, taking it from the lot. THEN, Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li standing from the side GRABBED violently and forcefully my body. "Who gave you permission to take the watermelons?" I replied: "Do you have to GRAB me like this?" She said: "Ya". Yes, I may admit that it may be wrong to consume "un-permissioned" watermelons, but as a nurse, the nurse should not GRAB me violently and forcefully like that too! Admit it! You can say and advice nicely, the nurses have Always resort to force to resolve things! And it's very bad! It hurts us, and traumatises us. Also Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li had switched off "my" TV when it is not even dinner time yet at 5:20pm when the official time for dinner is 5:30pm. Why, just 10 minutes more of watching my favourite show? That I kept quiet by not writing down about it. But this time, she burst the bubble. My bubble.

ASSISTANT NURSE RAFIDAH BINTE NAZMUL HOQUE

34A's Assistant Nurse Rafidah Binte Hoque's Ridicule

26/7/2012 26 July 2012 Thursday 10:50pm

When Assistant Nurse Rafidah Binte Nazmul Hoque came on duty at night today and saw me tied, her face lit up and she said "Yes!". She also said "You can write a complain letter and send it to HR. You think we care? We don't!" So writing a complain letter about her and sending it to HR is what I will do, because is it right to lit up your face and say "Yes!" when you see a patient restrained??. Absolutely wrong.

20/8/2012 Thursday 9:17am

I stood beside Assistant Nurse Rafidah Nazmul Hoque and by the way looked at what she's doing. I did not purposely looked into what she's doing but since I was beside ber, it was very obvious.
Under the Observation/Management of restrained patients, you have to ensure the circulation of blood under the restrains, hourly provision of fluid or PRN etc. And after you checked on them, you have to tick that you have checked on them.
I see AN Rafidah going through the paper then TICK TICK TICKED all the checks for the have-to-dos but not CHECKING the patients restrained at all! She tick tick and signed that she had ensures everything in quick strokes to finish up the charts. I have never seen her going up to the patient and REALLY checking on patient's restrains, whether it's too tight around their hands or too tight around their waists. I remember Assistant Nurse Rosnah Binte Aziz tied my hands so tighty that it became black and no one checked on that.
So, Charge-Complaint - Nurses blindly trying to finish the checking on restraints checks that they leave aside the very duty of really checking and caring for patients tied up instead! Just fulfiling the charts and being so superficial, but not carrying out any tasks at all!

STAFF NURSE LLAGAS GRACE COLOMA

4/8/2012 Saturday 5:53pm

As I walked into the dormitory, I was greeted with a shrill by Staff Nurse Llagas Grace Coloma: "Hey! Why are you bringing these in here? Hey! JunLi (Staff Nurse), she's bringing all the magazine and newspapers in"
One thing that I Hate about this ward is Even magazines and newspapers, unread ones, can't be brought into the dormitory to be read? Then what are we gonna do then? While away our time while you prepare your medicine? Don't be ridiculous la, Grace. "All these people they cannot understand". So don't be ridiculous la, Grace, give us some space. S_p_a_c_e.

On the 7/7/2012 Saturday 4:01pm,
SN Jeslin Tan Chun Hua gave an education talk amongst some patients on Healthy Lifestyle. People need to be active to be healthy. Physical inactivity is dangerous to our health. Contribution to inactivity
*Sitting around in front of television/computer.
*Riding in a car
*Using elevators
Physical activity means moving about and using up the body's energy.
Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults.
Exercising relieve stress, releases tension, boosts energy level and enables you to sleep well. It prevents anxiety and depression and improves self-image.
However, I remember in my previous admission, I was trying to exercise in a nothing-to-do ward. I did karate kicks in the air. And Staff Nurse Llagas Grace Coloma saw that and said "we gonna tie you" if I do that again. What? I was merely just exercising! I will get tied if I do such things! Their reason being that I might fall. But dancing? If you dance vigorously too, won't you fall too? I dunno. There's a conflict of what the education files black and white and what the nurses are allowing us to do.


HEALTH ATTENDANT ANNIE WOO SUET, ASSISTANT NURSE NURHIDAYU, STAFF NURSE MARISOL G. NONOD

4/8/2012 Saturday 10.33pm

Nurses in IMH have to be more kinder and more caring towards patients here in IMH, Because for example if we are disturbed, aggressive or violent, we get tied up, two, five points, hands, body and legs, and most importantly get an anti-psychotic injection - especially Haloperidol.
Injections can make our eyes roll up, destroy our defence, our ego, and make us vulnerable to anything, even shouts or threats by the nurses.
So when our eyes uncontrollably roll up and we are at our weakest, nurses should be the most understanding of that. Our comfort, our feeling, our restrains. Which I see that from the first restrain I have until now, the nurses don/t understand us and are worst off in caring for mentally ill patients in IMH then in other hospitals I have ever been to and stayed in before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a new patient: ZZJ. She came in, sat down beside me and in front of me eating, she showed signs of irrelevance when she suddenly said "I really hate them". Which I don't understand who are the 'they'".
She kicked the dormitory door twice and got tied hands, body and legs on to the bed at 6pm. Given an injection of Haloperidol - an anti-psychotic medicine at 7:15pm. Two hours passed and she began to cry. Then Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li untied and released her legs only. But when she began to squeeze her hands out of the cuffs and finally untie herself, Staff Nurse Llagas Grace Coloma tied her hand up again. She showed little signs of resistance although she was against getting her hands tied again.
25 minutes later, she released her hands again. This time I think it was stupid - HealthCare Assistant Selvi Tamil took the leg restrainers out - with no instruction for that and tied her legs up to the bed. This time, it was a struggle. And Staff Nurse Dianne Paul Jimenez Rubia, Health Attendant Annie Woo Suet, Assistant Nurse Esther Ngun Vang Men, Assistant Nurse Kyi Kyi Win, Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li and Staff Nurse Gopakumar Sindhu were rounded up to tie the patient! And listen to this: What Health Attendant Annie Woo Suet Heng did was - climb up onto the patient's legs, knelt and pressed on it, and beckoned the others to tie her up. Which when she did, ZZJ became visibly traumatised: saying "Why are you doing this?".
I'd ask now - was it necessary? If the patient just released her hand, just tied back the hand! Why tie the legs again when the legs has already been released? And why go to this extent to make sure she's really totally tied by climbing on top of her and doing the trick?
Did Health Attendant assessed the situation that the leg is to be tied in the first place?
Now, thereafter, after a few hours at 10pm, Staff Nurse Marisol G. Nonod and Assistant Nurse Nurhidayu came on duty. Staff Nurse Marisol said: "Ok, I'd release your hands and legs (because she later said she pity her because she's a new case and that she thought she might feel uncomfortable) but if you don't behave yourself, you go and kick the door again and disturn the rest of the patients sleeping, I will surely tie you back again."
So she removed all her restrainers but did a very wrong thing - still tying her at her body. Staff Nurse Marisol said "If you kick the door again", I really thought she was going to completely let her go free, because how are you going to kick the door if your body is still tied up on the bed?
So she stood up beside the bed with her body still tied on the bed, trying to untie the "strings" attanched to her body. That's when Staff Nurse Marisol came again and said "I give you chance already but you didn't keep your promise."
So Assistant Nurse Nurhidayu and her proceeded to tie her hands and legs again. Then Z-ZJ protested: "But you didn't untie all!" Which is true. Normal people when tied, even the body, would get up and try to untie themselves. Because of that, she gets tied up hands and legs again.
This time, ZZJ is not giving in. She feels angry and betrayed. She shouts "Why are you pushing me?", as the nurses are pushing her back to the bed. And she beats Staff Nurse Marisol's hand when she held her. She became irritated and tried to bite her.
Then Staff Nurse Marisol pulled the crisis alarm and two male AETOS guards, one male nurse, a female nurse from 34B, two male Health Attendant and Nurse Manager Sister Ho Soo Kim came and forced ZZJ on the bed. It is controlling the patient as she shouts "I don't want to be controlled!" which is true. You have no right to 'control' us when we don't want to be tied.
With the sight of the blue colour uniformed AETOS guards, she was negatively smittened.
I agree with her when she said: "How can I sleep like this?" If we are not crazy, we'd become crazy in here. "I just want to be free" she said.
A doctor came later and asked her: "Are you hearing any voices?" Which she replied "No, why are you treating me like an insane person? I'm perfectly sane and normal person!" which I agree as well.
Staff Nurse Marisol told the doctor: "We have given her an injection and she has eaten Activan and promethazine, but it didn't knock her out" Knock her out? Pause. This is what nurses want to do with us? Knock us out? When we're conscious and alert? Instead of counselling and emphatising with us, you want to "knock us out?!".
Anyway, as the doctor left and she was given another injection, she growled like a lion and whined terribly.
I felt like she was like a guinea pig, tied up and all restrained for an experiment.
Because her cry escalated into a wail, and she felt maligned, bruised and extremely hurt, and she cried out "Somebody help me? Somebody?", the Assistant Nurse on duty, Nurhidayu who was doing her charts in front of ZZJ, didn't blink an eye while she continued to do her own things. She did not come to the patient, offer some words of comfort, reassured the patients nor gave consolance.
*Is that the right way to operate as a nurse? When you see someone deep in distress, you as a nurse don't go up to that person and comfort that patient in need? You don't even give a single care or bat an eyelid when someone cries? At least give her some consolance? No? No! Assistant Nurse Nurhidayu had the "lucky it's not me" look on her face while she looked on.
And the only words she uttered out was: "Sia la", when ZZJ untied herself again.
In short, nurses have not been very emphatising and helpful to a patient's recovery. Climbing on someone's legs? Knock her out? Looking on like nobody's business? Not offering any words of console of comfort?
Trust me, getting tied hands and body is very uncomfortable, and you "stay in the position for a long time alrd". Moreso legs. And Staff Nurse Marisol G. Nonod is a Phillipino, who had been beaten by her uncle. Is she imposing her Phillipino standards on us Singaporeans? Nevermind that. To suffice, this service in this hospital is the dungeons - chains and restrainers with nurses ready to tie patientd anytime. With enough doctors to hear the story from nurses and execute injections.
ZZJ gave in to the strong effects of the latest injection and went into sleep induced state until now. As I end my write.
5/8/2012 Saturday/Sunday 12:51am
PS, all the while, ZZJ had not been wearing her specs. If I don't wear my specs, everything is a blur to me, I'd feel so deprived and blur! And she's been through it all!
So you see, if a normal and sane person is sane, they go through this treatment, it would be developing a mental illness for them! They WOULD become MAD with illness!

STAFF NURSE MARISOL G. NONOD

2/7/2012 Monday 8:31am
Nurse Clinician Narcissa Aquino De Leon did almost the same thing to Tan Beng Gek as what Kyi Kyi Win AN Nurse did – beckoning her rudely in waving her hands out of the bathroom, when Tan Beng Gek (a patient) got agitated, Staff Nurse Marisol Nonod said “Take the restrainers” to Staff Nurse Dong Jun Li. She got frustrated that the nurse always threaten to tie her, and told NC Nancy “I stand here I’m blocking the way ah? (which she ‘s not) I have choice where to walk!”


STAFF NURSE TANG SHI WEI
28/6/2012 Thursday 10:24am
Staff Nurse Tang Shi Wei gave me the radio in the morning. She said if I fight with Lim Kim Gek a patient over the radio again, she would take away the radio.
Then I approached NC Nancy (Nurse Clinician Narcissa Aquino De Leon) and explain that because it’s in the morning I can’t on the radio too loud and because Lim Kim Gek wants it loud so that I could share with her. I explain I would listen to the radio on earpiece in the morning and let Kim Gek listen in the afternoon. Sister Nancy then retorted “It’s I set the rules, not you” I dunno why she said that (my explanation). Does this explanation have anything to do with you’re not setting the rules here. Did I say that? No link. Then she said “No radio for you now”. I was taken aback. Did I do anything wrong that makes her have the right to not let me listen to the radio anymore? I MERELY just explain why I don’t share the radio with Kim Gek!
THEN, SN Shi Wei burst in and took the radio away, I didn’t want to give the radio to her and as I place my plastic holder that keeps my earpiece on top of the radio in between the lid and the radio CD player firmly tight, she tore the earpiece plastic holder. She could have pulled the radio handle, instead she pulled the earpiece plastic holder and in the end tore a big hole in the holder that I can’t keep my earpiece in! She destroyed my plastic holder where I safekeep my beloved earpiece!
Yes I admit I was struggling with her not to take away the radio, but she doesn’t have some SENSE to pull the radio away BY THE HANDLE, not tearing away at my beloved plastic holder! Now, I have no plastic holder to hold my earpiece! Because the plastic holder has my name on it to indicate the earpiece is mine. When asked to give me another plastic holder, she says “ask Esther (Assistant Nurse) since she’s the one who gave it to you” and that she doesn’t have it. She’s just destroying everything la!
And moreover, WHAT did I do that the nurse has to take the radio away from me? WHAT? And you forcefully took it away from me, being VERY VIOLENT! I merely just explain to Sister Nancy that I would let Kim Gek listen to the radio in the afternoon! I didn’t still fight with Kim Gek, I didn’t still still quarrel with Kim Gek over the radio! She just took away the radio away from me like that without any reason! O.O. She asked me to ask NC Nancy later for the radio. And when I did, NC Nancy asked me to ASK her back whether I can have the radio cos she’s the one who took it. And then I said SHE is the one who asked me to ask YOU! So there was a responsibility DING-DONG. And then Shi Wei (SN) came along and I asked her, before she could say yes or no, Sister Nancy said “Cos I have to respect her decision, so no”. SN Shi Wei didn’t even said yes or no and even if she did, you as the Nurse Clinician “Set the rules” and have the final say in this decision! Not Shi Wei?!
I felt I’ve been unfairly dealt with and that they have no reason to take away the radio and leaves me with no radio in the devastatingly boring morning.
When patient's eyes roll up, nurses dont understand them, shout at them,
- Nurse Tang Shi Wei, want to restrain me when my eyes roll up. She is a short fused nurse.

STAFF NURSE LOUELLE TRESPICO, NURSE CLINICIAN NARCISSA AQUINO, STAFF NURSE MAHESWARI
Staff Nurse Louelle Trespico, Sister Narcissa Aquino and later Staff Nurse Maheswari kept shooing me off when im visiting IMH


9 Nov 2012, Fri 5:11pm Ward 34A
I just went to the ward to pass my friends still in the ward a packet of chips and to try and Say Hi to them. The staff, Staff Nurse Louelle Trespico, Sister Narcissa Aquino and later Staff Nurse Maheswari was very unfriendly towards me. Staff Nurse Louelle kept shooing off, "Oi you go home la" then gesturing me out. But i said i JUST WANNA SAY HI to Joanne, my friend! No doubt, i can't go INTO the ward, the visitor's area, but at least, they didn't even MAKE an effort to call for my friend, who is a patient in ward 34A now, to come to the glass panel and I could wave to her. Now i know staying in the ward is a terrible feeling. It is ego destructive. And one simple wave of friendly gesture can lift their spirits and make them happy. And why can't the staff of IMH do that? I am very disappointed and irritated by them. Moreover I want to do a complain about Staff Nurse Ma-H or Maheswari, she was having a stern, strict, unfriendly tone saying "Louelle, is she discharged? Why is she here?" So ex patients can't even say a simple hi to their ex patients' friends? What ridiculous service and absurd attitude! talk to Staff Nurse Louelle, Nurse Clinician Narcissa and Staff Nurse Maheswari.


On 7 June 2010, Monday
In Rest: 1:20am – I see staff nurse night shift Navi flipping through all the case sheet notes through and through. I was thinking to myself. If nurses can flip through case notes and know hooker, line, sinker and fisherman’s boots about me, that's pretty... knowing everything about me.


You see, what we have to do is to make sure all nurses here are well educated, well respected and worthily professional to be neutral and uphold integrity and jolly well know your dealing with sensitive and private information and patients that needs your understanding, care and love for them.


One irritating part I cannot put off is – why are still so many goodness-gracious-me, impolite, rude, imcubent, insensitive, hurting nurses that carried a bad name of IMH for us. With “oh-muddle-I-am-here-in-the-head” nurses from China, Foreign nurses even stemming from Vietnam, Phillipines, India.

Do they come for a better monetary remuneration in Singapore or do they really love their job – taking care of patients? Pls don’t give us the impression that you are only here for vain conceit but not passion for hurt souls.

I end my write at 1.53am.

____________________________________________________ 

On 24 August 2010 Tuesday 9.30pm,

I was about to sleep, but I can’t because of my very very dry mouth.

So I walked around and waited for them as they tie one of a patient – Jo L – two hands one body after she was pushed out of the nurses’ counter while trying to grab and use the phone situated inside the counter.

I waited and watched and waited and watched.

And you know what? At 9:42pm, this happened:

“Can I have a cup of water pls” – Me to Assistant Nurses Dana and Thurgasigny, and Healthcare attendant Guna

“This is our resting time ahhhhhh!” – Assistant Nurse Dana

“Why we come in here [in nurses counter], you bully us ah” – Healthcare Attendant Guna

In the end, I had to wait for half an hour to just do one simple thing – drink water.

“Hey, this is not your home, it’s a hospital ok!” 

I am flabbergasted! If this is the hospital, all the more you should take care of me!

No one going in and out of the dormitory even bothered to bring one cup of water.

And you know what? I hate to say it in this manner but – The cups of water and the flask are just - Outside The Dormitory!

_______________________________________________________ 

Research is also undertaken in this hospital and I may be invited to participate in clinical research or clinical trials. I am selected and did not decline to participate in a LYRIKS research for at risk individuals during my stay in IMH in 2009. I was given $50 each for drawing blood from me, doing tests on me and the nurse manager and nurses failed to safekeep my $100 in total and it was passed to my uncle - which in turn passed to my mum. I am not happy about it because it's MY money, I go through the pains of needles poking me and I didn't intend to pass my money to my mother.

Complain to Singapore Nursing Board.
Apart from spot checks, I am whistle-blowing as part of the service industry's strategy to flush out errant services.

The core values of nursing is responsibility & stewardship.
I am known to suffer from bipolar disorder. It has to be made sure that I am not discriminated against on the basis of my medical condition. Any such discrimination is prohibited by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Singapore has decided to ratify.
I also ask the nurses of Ward 34A to be sensitive to it's own patient, in the light of my medical condition.

COMMENDING NURSE MANAGER SISTER KRISHNAN DEVAYANI

The following that I'm going to write shows that I not only write about the shortcomings, and mistreats of nurses, but also good points and showcare of nurses too!

1/8/2012 Wednesday 12:27pm
I would like to commend Nurse Manager Sister Krishnan. She has gone the extra mile to lend me a mini transitor radio so that I spend my boring hours listening to interesting pop music on the radio! Kudos to Nurse Manager Sister Krishnan Devayani for the extra-mile service!
She says "I have nieces and niece, so I'd know what teenagers want and need" I'm comforted! Finally someone understands me!

16/9/2012 Sunday 10:47am

I would like to commend Sister Krishnan Devayani, the 34A/B Nurse Manager. She gave me and another patient Joanne a sardine currypuff to eat :) I am very impressed and smitten by her action. This shows that she does go the extra mile to provide for the patients. Unlike Sister Ho. She deserves a commendation for these.
I’m truly touched and impressed.
Previously she gave us a LEXUS cheese biscuit as well. :D

21/9/2012 Friday 10:47am
I am truly amazed, Sister Krishnan, the Nurse Manager, while I was at the counter, gave me a TOP Triple Choc chocolate bar. I was pleasantly surprised. She does go the long way to please patients and make them happy. She understands how we people who stays in here for 5 months is not easy. A chocolate bar, one chocolate bar will light things up! And it has!

I would like to commend on Nurse Manager Sister Krishnan that the very first time I've got admitted to IMH at ward 34B, she informed me that I am in a special team and a case manager and doctors will be seeing me as well.

4/10/2012 4 October 2012 Thursday 4:54pm

With all these happening to us, it's a no wonder it's adding more stress to our already stressed beings being patients in the mental hospital, being mentally ill. So, even if we don't die from mental illness in this mental hospital, we would die of heart attack.

This is a letter of demand. To the nurses in IMH, it's doctors and allied healthcare workers, that including case managers. Charging that their recent conduct amounted to act of negligence and abuse and I demand that they compensate me. That includes a compensation from IMH itself and that they issue a public apology.

Any punishment or action imposed must be substantial enough to reinforce the message and should not be just a mere slap on the wrist under the Hospital and Medical Institutions Act.
I would like the prosecution to agree with me that there is a need to send a strong message to service provider institutions like IMH that the law will have zero tolerance if mental patients in their care are treated inappropriately. This includes verbal and non-verbal actions. And physical or non-physical abuses. And that the welfare of these patients, including their dignity, must be upheld at ALL times.

I demand that Principal Assistant Nurse Rosnah Binte Aziz, Staff Nurse Maheswari (Ma-H), Staff Nurse Ma Win Win Mar, and Assistant Nurse Pao Ze Nam be SACKED.


I am serious in every complain I do. Like every complain, feedback and compliment even. Who says I don't compliment.

Posted by g at 8:42 AM No comments:  

 

27/4/16, 11:30:31 PM: ‎Messages you send to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption. 27/4/16, 11:30:30 PM: 🙎: Min Khoo accepted your request. Min Khoo Hey. I know I read through your whole story. Although I personally wouldnt argue or fight for my rights while in there. Because they will think I am being violent. So I kept quiet throughout, tell the doctor what he wants to hear, and was released the next day I'll post the experience on IMH Confessions if u wan I'm waiting for the right opportunity to expose IMH right now, they won't believe in me because they will think it is because I have mental illness and therefore I lie its not that you have mental illness or you lie. So many people experience the same thing, me and you same the same thing. How can it be a lie???.....:) 27/4/16, 11:30:45 PM: 🙎: you can post on fb i can share it 27/4/16, 11:36:56 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: But the thing is... despite the many ppl who complain to imh about it, how come it is still happening? It probably means that while imh tells u they will do someting about it, in reality, they dun believe us 27/4/16, 11:37:06 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Im not too ready to openly share my story yet =( 27/4/16, 11:38:48 PM: 🙎: the structure is still the same in IMH mah... 27/4/16, 11:39:04 PM: 🙎: it's a sad thing..:( i rather die.. it made me suicidal 27/4/16, 11:39:55 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: My plan is to become a successful person first. Then i talk about imh 27/4/16, 11:40:08 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: U know i study psychology right? And my results r very good 27/4/16, 11:40:18 PM: 🙎: yes i know 27/4/16, 11:40:20 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I want to establish myself as a psychologist first 27/4/16, 11:40:27 PM: 🙎: you are distinction. 27/4/16, 11:40:29 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Then, when i speak about imh, ppl will listen 27/4/16, 11:40:32 PM: 🙎: i can see 27/4/16, 11:40:42 PM: 🙎: but ... you and peng... 27/4/16, 11:40:47 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Thats my long term plan 27/4/16, 11:40:51 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Hmm..? 27/4/16, 11:43:56 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: ☺ 27/4/16, 11:49:45 PM: 🙎: honestly speaking, if you wait somemore, yr views might change, things might change.. if u have a urge, say it right here right now. at the present moment when it happens. thats what i really think.  27/4/16, 11:51:36 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I went to approach my lecturers 27/4/16, 11:51:41 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: They r psychology lecturers 27/4/16, 11:51:44 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: They dun wanna help 27/4/16, 11:52:01 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Imagine. Psychology lecturers not caring about the situation at imh 27/4/16, 11:53:27 PM: 🙎: hmm... u can help me.. i can cite you as another voice 27/4/16, 11:53:44 PM: 🙎: someone that resounds with me. to validate what im saying 27/4/16, 11:54:17 PM: 🙎: argh.... nobody cares about the situation in IMH... 27/4/16, 11:54:39 PM: 🙎: i rather just perish 27/4/16, 11:58:37 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: That's why I'm talking to you 27/4/16, 11:58:41 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: You can use my story 27/4/16, 11:58:55 PM: 🙎: yes i will use yr story 27/4/16, 11:59:07 PM: 🙎: but u dont hv an identity 27/4/16, 11:59:15 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I wont forget the situation at imh. I will remember it. And will bring it up at the right time 27/4/16, 11:59:20 PM: 🙎: like i cant ... pol cant prove you r nt me 27/4/16, 11:59:24 PM: 🙎: yes 27/4/16, 11:59:29 PM: 🙎: ppl* 27/4/16, 11:59:42 PM: 🙎: u are a good writer 27/4/16, 11:59:47 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: How r u going to use the story? 27/4/16, 11:59:51 PM: 🙎: yr expression is the same as mine 28/4/16, 12:00:03 AM: 🙎: i want to. but i want an identity 28/4/16, 12:00:10 AM: 🙎: thats why i said share on yr fb 28/4/16, 12:00:12 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Use Drake 28/4/16, 12:00:17 AM: 🙎: ahhhh 28/4/16, 12:00:27 AM: 🙎: no... someone real in singapore 28/4/16, 12:00:52 AM: 🙎: ok... 28/4/16, 12:01:09 AM: 🙎: how do i prove its someone else who experienced the same thing? 28/4/16, 12:01:10 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: If not, u can screenshot the email 28/4/16, 12:01:15 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession 28/4/16, 12:01:19 AM: 🙎: maybe u post in the blog? 28/4/16, 12:01:25 AM: 🙎: a blog 28/4/16, 12:01:30 AM: 🙎: ok i can screenshot 28/4/16, 12:01:34 AM: 🙎: thats an idea 28/4/16, 12:01:36 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I can post on a fake fb 28/4/16, 12:01:41 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Yaaaaay~!! 28/4/16, 12:02:06 AM: 🙎: i dont want later ppl think its me sia 28/4/16, 12:02:14 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Heh true =/ 28/4/16, 12:02:16 AM: 🙎: i mean the fake fb 28/4/16, 12:02:18 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Email sounds good 28/4/16, 12:02:22 AM: 🙎: yes 28/4/16, 12:02:27 AM: 🙎: censor yr email right 28/4/16, 12:02:32 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Yeeep! 28/4/16, 12:02:35 AM: 🙎: k 28/4/16, 12:02:38 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: And my name also 28/4/16, 12:02:47 AM: 🙎: ok 28/4/16, 12:02:52 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: ☺☺☺☺ 28/4/16, 12:03:43 AM: 🙎: good 28/4/16, 12:15:28 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I'll keep u in mind. And let u know when we can speak to an audience that will care 28/4/16, 8:55:50 AM: 🙎: like...?... 28/4/16, 9:02:35 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I have my connections 28/4/16, 9:02:40 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Im building up on it 28/4/16, 9:03:57 AM: 🙎: yeah i know. actually i think you're already quite distinction* enough already to talk about it now. dont wait. really. 28/4/16, 9:04:26 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Im waiting for my nus scholarship 28/4/16, 9:04:35 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I get my scholarship first 28/4/16, 9:04:40 AM: 🙎: oh 28/4/16, 9:04:43 AM: 🙎: good 28/4/16, 9:04:49 AM: 🙎: scholarship for?... 28/4/16, 9:04:50 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Yeeeeep 28/4/16, 9:04:57 AM: 🙎: which year r u born in 28/4/16, 9:05:00 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Just a scholarship for school 28/4/16, 9:05:04 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: 1996 28/4/16, 9:05:17 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Nus scholarship very prestigious. It'll boost my credibility 28/4/16, 9:37:19 AM: 🙎: my sister is 1995 28/4/16, 9:37:26 AM: 🙎: she's also studying in NUS. 28/4/16, 9:37:28 AM: 🙎: Utown. 28/4/16, 9:37:35 AM: 🙎: but she doesnt understand abt IMH 28/4/16, 9:38:26 AM: 🙎: but who will know u have a scholarship?.... if we ever got it 28/4/16, 10:14:17 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: The ultimate revenge takes time 28/4/16, 10:38:26 AM: 🙎: I'm worst. I stayed in IMH in 2012 for 6 months. They refused to let me out 28/4/16, 10:46:07 AM: 🙎: because parents don want to take me home and i got no home 28/4/16, 10:46:47 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I know =( i read your story. How are things now? 28/4/16, 10:47:02 AM: 🙎: you read my story?.. 28/4/16, 10:47:22 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: The doctor forced me to be admitted even tho i keep saying i have no intentions of killing myself. Which is true. I even say i need to go to sch later 28/4/16, 10:47:26 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ya. I read it. 28/4/16, 10:47:41 AM: 🙎: it sucks. i had work later that day too 28/4/16, 10:48:23 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Yeah =( 28/4/16, 10:48:33 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Then now you have a place to stay? 28/4/16, 10:49:32  : Min Khoo IMH Confession: Hmmm =/ 28/4/16, 10:50:55 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: 28/4/16, 10:51:18 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Lemme think... 28/4/16, 10:52:21 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession 28/4/16, 10:53:43 AM: 🙎: honestly all of the patients in IMH are well. but they trap them in because they all dont have a place to stay 28/4/16, 10:54:36 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ohhh =( I think people who kena IMH, even if they are sane at first, they will become really insane in the long term 28/4/16, 10:55:44 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: . 28/4/16, 10:56:04 AM: 🙎: yes that's true 28/4/16, 10:56:10 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Other than tht, i have a friend who also can help. He is also seeking treatment at imh 28/4/16, 10:56:32 AM: 🙎: i didnt have suicidal thoughts, after staying in IMH, i want to kill myself 28/4/16, 10:56:42 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I know =( 28/4/16, 10:56:44 AM: 🙎: i rather die den go to IMH 28/4/16, 10:56:57 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Its a prison 28/4/16, 10:57:08 AM: 🙎: cummon. its Worst den a prison 28/4/16, 10:57:20 AM: 🙎: heard of amos yee? 28/4/16, 10:57:27 AM: 🙎: read his blog abt imh 28/4/16, 10:58:01 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ya. I read =( 28/4/16, 10:58:20 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: But even someone like amos yee expose, things r still the same at imh 28/4/16, 10:59:41 AM: 🙎: .. they need to rebuild and wards ... have individual rooms for all patients 28/4/16, 10:59:50 AM: 🙎: i think US one better... 28/4/16, 11:04:30 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Lemme think of a way to help 28/4/16, 11:04:38 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Are u going to get a job or study? 28/4/16, 11:09:25 AM: 🙎: thanks. huh. i already have a job? 28/4/16, 11:11:18 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession:  28/4/16, 11:11:29 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Just try to spend as little as u can 28/4/16, 11:11:57 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I asking my friend got any other ways 28/4/16, 11:12:31 AM: 🙎: i cant get a full time job to pay alot to get rental because i have to settle my family court case. against my uncle.. he's the one that sent me to IMH 28/4/16, 11:13:23 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Wah. When will the case be settled? 28/4/16, 11:14:38 AM: 🙎: im typing an email now... my laptop was being taken away by my uncle. i just managed to get one just last week. case was cut off because i was admitted 28/4/16, 11:15:49 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: W-what.... 28/4/16, 11:16:07 AM: 🙎: why are you shocked?.....:/... 28/4/16, 11:16:17 AM: 🙎: i actually didnt want to tell you this... 28/4/16, 11:16:19 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: How can they do that 28/4/16, 11:16:28 AM: 🙎: i suffered alot 28/4/16, 11:16:36 AM: 🙎: that's why i want to .. die 28/4/16, 11:16:39 AM: 🙎: nvm 28/4/16, 11:16:45 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: What...? 28/4/16, 11:16:46 AM: 🙎: i shouldnt say any suicidal stuff 28/4/16, 11:16:59 AM: 🙎: i mean... IMH caused me alot of trauma 28/4/16, 11:17:01 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Nah. I wont tell anyone. 28/4/16, 11:17:06 AM: 🙎: no la 28/4/16, 11:17:16 AM: 🙎: its been in my mind since 2012 28/4/16, 11:17:31 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I know =( 28/4/16, 11:17:32 AM: 🙎: and its caused by IMH 28/4/16, 11:17:42 AM: 🙎: i am a jovial, encouraging person 28/4/16, 11:17:50 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I suggest that once everything is okay, u change hospital 28/4/16, 11:17:52 AM: 🙎: and also spiritual person 28/4/16, 11:18:01 AM: 🙎: i am forced there 28/4/16, 11:18:23 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I know =( 28/4/16, 11:18:27 AM: 🙎: whenever i quarrel with my parents, they and my uncle wld call the ambulance to send me to IMH to "cure" me 28/4/16, 11:19:03 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: =( 28/4/16, 11:19:34 AM: 🙎: nah... i should bogg you down with all my troubles 28/4/16, 11:19:45 AM: 🙎: i just want to say : IMH fucks. 28/4/16, 11:20:01 AM: 🙎: glad you know. 28/4/16, 11:20:24 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Its okies 28/4/16, 11:20:34 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I need you 28/4/16, 11:20:37 AM: 🙎: yeah.. yr story abt this girl crying to you 28/4/16, 11:20:39 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Because you're another voice 28/4/16, 11:20:44 AM: 🙎: about calling for medicated oul 28/4/16, 11:20:46 AM: 🙎: oil 28/4/16, 11:20:53 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Mmhmm? 28/4/16, 11:21:30 AM: 🙎: and den u said u are very okay to listen cos yr a psychology student 28/4/16, 11:25:37 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Mmhmm? 28/4/16, 11:27:20 AM: 🙎: yeah. same here. me ranting to you. 28/4/16, 11:27:35 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: It's okay =) 28/4/16, 11:27:44 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: That's what i do 28/4/16, 11:27:53 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: And what imh should be doing... but isnt.. 28/4/16, 11:29:26 AM: 🙎: and did you post my confessions in IMH confessions?...... 28/4/16, 6:36:11 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ya. Im abandoning it for a while. 28/4/16, 6:36:14 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Too much dramas 28/4/16, 6:36:17 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Yup. I posted it 28/4/16, 6:38:39 PM: 🙎: what dramas?... lol. hmm... i didnt want my whatnursesdoinimh stuff to be on facebook tho... 28/4/16, 6:40:58 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Eh? But u submitted to the confessions page 28/4/16, 6:41:04 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: U can delete it if u wan 28/4/16, 6:41:21 PM: 🙎: oh 28/4/16, 6:42:12 PM: 🙎: that was then. Facebook now is very widespread... 28/4/16, 6:58:46 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ohhhh=( 28/4/16, 6:58:55 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: But isnt that the purpose? 28/4/16, 9:57:44 PM: 🙎: yeah. but i want to lead ppl to my blog instead... and i think my doctor reads imh confessions too... later he admit me... haha but...yes... i want it to be blog and not for ppl to check out my Facebook... hmm.... and i sound abit crazed at that 2012 write up too... what do you think?:) 28/4/16, 9:58:37 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession:  28/4/16, 9:58:39 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Hmmm 28/4/16, 9:58:47 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: U can delete it if u like. Its up to u 28/4/16, 9:58:48 PM: 🙎: haha 28/4/16, 9:58:53 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: If not, write a better version 28/4/16, 9:59:49 PM: 🙎: yeah its liked by ppl i dunno... i would like to know the people who reads abt me:) haha.. sorry i shocked u...:P 28/4/16, 10:01:04 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Nah its okies 28/4/16, 10:01:22 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I can imagine that it is hard to trust ppl. Especially after being in that hell for years 28/4/16, 10:04:16 PM: 🙎: lol. you shock me with the sudden posting no la its not that i don trust ppl!... its that i plan to make a police report ... and i already make my whatnursesdoinimh very big already.. IMH is after me already.. i made it big enough already... time to lie low and wait for the opportunity to make a police report. i intend to do it after i meet the CEO again. and ask him if i can and can he do it. haiya... 28/4/16, 11:14:53 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: Ohhhh oops =( Hmmm. If u need a second voice for the case, lemme know. I can be additional witness 28/4/16, 11:32:21 PM: 🙎: ok... we shld talk on the phn soon!... 9/5/16, 6:20:50 PM: 🙎: What caused you to be admitted to IMH?... 9/5/16, 7:37:13 PM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I was trying to seek help =( 12:48:04 AM: 🙎: You went to IMH willingly?... you volunteered to be admitted?... and then you told them you were suicidal?... 10/5/16, 10:43:38 AM: Min Khoo IMH Confession: I went there to seek help as an outpatient. Then i dunno why they forcefully admit me even tho i told them i am not suicidal 10/5/16, 12:21:33 PM: 🙎: They thought you were suicidal?.. what did you tell them when you went there?...?.... 

Basically I got very upset with how abused people end up being written off, while abusive people get off scot free and end up being the ones told they are justified in their abusiveness. My reaction to what they were saying was just written off as me having the problem because I have a ‘diagnosis’ (the psychiatrists at the hospital broke confidentiality in an attempt to protect themselves). So I wrote this possible advocacy plan. I think there is a gender angle, but it’s also more than that. I would be interested in working on it.

ADVOCACY PLAN

Italics indicate ways to further support the testimonies of those whose stories we collect, in case the establishment tries to discredit survivors’ stories because they have been labelled as mentally ill. 

Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, the modern equivalent of Victorian-era ‘hysteria’, in the 20^th century (supported by evidence of diagnoses that have been changed from BPD to CPTSD, and discourse that previously asserted that those who had BPD were coming up with their stories of abuse because they were ‘easily suggestible’ and – perhaps while supported by science that false memories can be created… can this be verified in any way, that the memories were not false by looking into social security records, foster care system records, etc.) 

E-mail from NUH, Kerry’s testimony of my reaction when I read the e-mail that had been sent to my aunts. 

Subsequently it was denied that it had been ever sent. Not sure if can verify this. Might be traumatic for third aunt on mother’s side. I think big aunt might also have received, she might deny if we spoke to her. But maybe she will rescind the argument that I was grossly ill when I go. So. Perhaps I need to ask questions first. 

Non-normative sexualities

C.’s story

B.’s story on the pathologisation of those who are experiencing adverse family environments and subsequent claim that they have to take medication for the rest of their lives. Check books on the issue, check diagnostic manuals and treatment guidelines by DSM, APA, ICD. 

Or want to keep to more narrow focus?

A.’s experience of being restrained for 18 hours and having nightmares for months as a result.

The hearing she had with IMH when she filed a formal complaint. 

Those who have to witness the verbal abuse of domestic workers, the installation of security cameras at home, and the pathologisation of those who are affected by this, the pathologisation of human rights activists. Cf. Mental Capacity Act when they are dismissed by others in their activism even when they have mental capacity on this, simply because they are departing from social norms.

Documents from Alexandra Hospital or other hospitals, not sure if I was talking to psychologist at this point, not sure what their reaction is but good to know

Others’ testimonies

DSM diagnostic criteria, either DSM-5 or DSM IV-TR, and the ICD

The question on sexual orientation in the introductory assessment at SGH either happening still now or previously

Get SGH procedures

Get the story of an LGB person who has sought psychological treatment at SGH 

Section 377A

The privacy of psychiatric records in the public hospital system. Are they shared not only with different departments, but also with different health care organisations?  

I wonder

If we can get the Special Rapporteur on Torture when focusing on Disability or otherwise to come to Singapore. Either look into the abuses of psychiatric hospitals – ask Jolene to ask questions during visit and assess to what degree still exists.

Min’s assessment

Or Disability Rights International

IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL 

for the 

UNITED NATIONS 

CONVENTION 

ON THE 

RIGHTS OF PERSONS 

WITH DISABILITIES

WORLD NETWORK OF USERS AND

SURVIVORS OF PSYCHIATRY

FEBRUARY 2008 WORLD NETWORK OF USERS AND

SURVIVORS OF PSYCHIATRY

IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL for the 

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE 

RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry is proud to proclaim the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as a major victory for users and survivors of psychiatry all around the world.  

Our biggest victory – a paradigm shift away from a model based on paternalism to one based on respect for our human rights – is in the text of Article 12 on legal capacity.  States have to recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others.  What does this mean?  We understand legal capacity in the sense of capacity to act, which is both the right to make decisions, and a legal status equal with other adults in one's society.  Deciding whether to accept medical treatment or go into a hospital is an exercise of legal capacity.  If someone else, whether a doctor, court, or imposed guardian, is authorized by law to substitute their will for your own, this deprives you of the right to exercise legal capacity on an equal basis with others.  Mental health commitment laws violate Article 12.  In addition, the whole system of guardianship violates Article 12.  Sometimes people are put under guardianship and the guardian can put them into a psychiatric institution and consent on their behalf to forced ECT and drugs.  Instead of a guardian, the person should be offered support if he or she chooses it; and the support has to respect his or her will and preferences (from Article 12.4).  

OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE DRAFTING AND 

NEGOTIATION OF THE CONVENTION

Users and survivors from the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP), MindFreedom/Support Coalition International (MF/SCI)

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

This manual is intended for users and survivors of psychiatry, and user/survivor organizations, as an informational guide and reference for working with the Convention.  Users and survivors have the opportunity to work with their government, through a national consultation process, on implementing the Convention, and also incorporate the Convention into advocacy they are doing (for instance, to get people out of institutions or stop forced drugging or electroshock).  The Convention is a rich document and people may choose to focus on one or another area, depending on circumstances and priorities.  

We have highlighted the aspects of the Convention that address the human rights violations especially targeted against users and survivors of psychiatry, in the areas of legal capacity, liberty and right to live in the community, freedom from forced psychiatric interventions,  

A: The concept of legal capacity has been used to deny personhood and to disqualify users and survivors from managing our own lives.

Q: Does the Convention prohibit forced drugging and electroshock?

A: Article 17 grants to all persons with disabilities the right to respect for their physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others.  It is this right which protects persons who do not have disabilities from unwelcome treatment, forcible confinement or any other unwelcome invasion of their body and mind.  Article 17, by its guarantee of equality and non discrimination, also makes these available to us.  This guarantee is further strengthened by the fact that article 25 obliges health care professionals to provide treatment only on the basis of free and informed consent.  Free and informed consent can only be given by the person concerned, and not by family members, courts or others.  (This follows from the guarantee of legal capacity).  In addition under article 15 the Convention protects the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, which includes medical or scientific experimentation without consent.  The cumulative effect of these provisions is to oust forced psychiatry.   

Q: Does the Convention allow forced institutionalization/ hospitalization? 

A: Persons with disabilities have the right to liberty on an equal basis with others, and deprivation of liberty cannot be justified on the basis of disability.  People with disabilities also have the right to live in the community, and to choose where and with whom to live, on an equal basis with others (and legal capacity ensures that each person can exercise this right directly and not have a guardian or family member substitute their decision).  Forced institutionalization or hospitalization on the basis of disability is therefore prohibited.  

We prefer to use the term “psychosocial disability” and would like to introduce it into the vocabulary rather than use the term “mental impairment” when we are lobbying for implementation of the Convention.  We recognize that there may be difficulties in translating the word “psychosocial” into languages other than English.  We urge members of WNUSP to confer with each other and use their best judgment in making the translation.      

3. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONVENTION

(a) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;

(b) Non-discrimination;

(c) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;

(d) Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;

(e) Equality of opportunity;

(f) Accessibility;

(g) Equality between men and women;

(h) Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

There are some important concepts in the preamble that do not reappear in the binding articles.

Preamble:

(e) recognizes that disability is an evolving concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full participation in society on an equal basis with others

(i) recognizes the diversity of persons with disabilities

(j) specifically includes those persons with disabilities who require more intensive support

(p) concerned about multiple forms of discrimination and specifically mentions discrimination on the basis of indigenous origin

(t) highlights that the majority of persons with disabilities live in poverty and recognizes the critical need to address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities.

The application of these principles will radically alter the lives of persons with psychosocial disabilities.  Some of the consequences will be:

- the abolition of mental health commitment laws, guardianship, and the insanity defense

​

- the creation of a wide range of healing support, and

- the liberation of our people from institutions.

4.  SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE CONVENTION AND GUIDE TO IMPLEMENTATION

​•   “discrimination on the basis of disability” (a distinction on the basis of disability that has the purpose or effect of limiting human rights or fundamental freedoms, and discrimination includes the denial of reasonable accommodation) 

​•   “reasonable accommodation” (adjustments needed in a particular case to ensure equal enjoyment and exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

​•   Individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one’s own choices

•   Respect for disability as part of human diversity

•   Non-discrimination

Article 4 guarantees all human rights and fundamental freedoms to people with disabilities without discrimination,

What needs to be done:

Article 4 can be used by itself or in conjunction with other articles of the Convention to do away with laws, policies and practices that violate the human rights of people with disabilities.

1) All discriminatory laws must be repealed.  This includes guardianship or incapacity laws, provisions disqualifying people from legal acts based on disability (such as exercising the right to vote or to marry), and mental health laws authorizing deprivation of liberty or psychiatric interventions without the free and informed consent of the person concerned.

2) Discrimination against people with psychosocial disabilities must be prohibited by law.  Psychosocial disability must be included on an equal basis with other types of disability in anti-discrimination legislation.

3) Governments must ensure that public officials and agencies do not discriminate based on disability or otherwise violate the Convention.  Governments must also take measures to eliminate discrimination by individuals, organizations or private enterprises. 

4) Coercive and violent psychiatric interventions constitute discrimination and must be abolished.  

5) Organizations of users and survivors of psychiatry have a right to be consulted on implementation of the Convention and all other matters of law and policy of concern to us.  

6) Enforce the guarantees in the Convention and provide legal remedies for violations.  

Article 5 guarantees equal protection and equal benefit of the law and prohibiting discrimination based on disability, and requires reasonable accommodation to be provided.
 

What needs to be done:

1) Prohibit all forms of discrimination and enforce anti-discrimination laws.    

2) Identify what reasonable accommodation means for people with psychosocial disabilities and ensure that such accommodation is provided.  Situations where reasonable accommodation may be needed include interactions with government agencies (including police and penal law systems), education, work, and exercise of legal capacity (supported decision-making).

Article 6 guarantees to women and girls with disabilities the equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and requires measures for the advancement, development and empowerment of women.
 

What needs to be done:

1) Protect women and girls from discrimination based on gender, disability or the interaction of gender and disability.  

2) Identify areas of multiple or intersecting discrimination affecting women and girls who are users and survivors of psychiatry, and take appropriate action.  

For example:

Gender-based violence and discrimination is mutually reinforcing with psychiatric violence, such as:

•   Psychiatric labeling of the experience of rape survivors

•   Institutions confining women and men together, facilitating rape

•   Effect of electroshock and psychiatric drugs in destroying women’s ability to resist oppression

•   These violations are not limited to women, but are a defining part of women’s experiences as survivors of psychiatry; obligations to prevent violence (Article 16) and combat cultural stereotypes (Article 8), as well as similar obligations under the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), should be addressed from a gender and disability perspective to include such matters.  

Article 7 guarantees to children with disabilities the same rights as other children, including the right to express themselves freely and have their views taken into account on matters concerning them, and to have age- and disability-appropriate support in exercising these rights.

What needs to be done:

1) Ensure that children are listened to and their wishes respected regarding the use of mental health and other services.  

2) Children must not be subjected to electroshock, psychosurgery, or neuroleptic drugs.  Any other psychiatric interventions must include the participation of the children with respect for their right to health care on the basis of free and informed consent (see Article 25) in the context of their evolving capacities as defined in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  

3) Provide children with appropriate support to understand matters concerning them and to express their views.

Article 8 addresses awareness-raising and requires governments to foster respect for the rights of people with disabilities and to combat prejudice and harmful practices, at all levels of society including families and communities.
 

What needs to be done:

1) Promote language and concepts that are positive and non-judgmental about states of mind and ways of expressing oneself.  

2) Assist communities to develop the capability to support and interact with people in crisis.

3) Develop and teach non-violent and non-discriminatory methods of conflict resolution.  It is not acceptable to use psychiatric labeling, institutionalization, or interventions, or legal incapacitation, to resolve conflicts.  

Article 9 requires states to take measures to ensure access by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, and other facilities and services provided to the general public. 

What needs to be done:

Ensure that the access needs of people with psychosocial disabilities are identified and addressed, in consultation with user/survivor organizations.

Article 10 reaffirms the right to life of all human beings and obligates governments to ensure its effective enjoyment by people with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

The right to life (Article 10) does not override the right to liberty (Article 14) when it comes to issues of suicidality.  The right to life cannot be superseded by the right to liberty.  Both rights must be respected.  

What needs to be done:

1) Prosecute murders of people with disabilities, and ensure the means of survival for people with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

2) Suicide and assisted suicide are controversial in the disability community. Suicide may be a valid personal choice, but it can also be a response to preventable conditions of deprivation, violence and discrimination.  Neither criminal sanctions nor coercive psychiatry is an appropriate response to suicidal attempts or wishes.  People with experience of suicidality should be considered experts on this issue when developing law and policy.

Article 11 requires governments to respect international human rights and humanitarian law in situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, and take measures to ensure the safety of people with disabilities in these circumstances.

What needs to be done:

1) Ensure that people with psychosocial disabilities have access to needed support systems and to safety measures and the necessities of life, and are not restricted any more than the general population.

2) Until such time as persons with psychosocial disabilities are not held in institutions, governments must develop emergency plans to ensure the safety of such persons during situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.     

Article 12 guarantees the right to enjoy legal capacity, including both the capacity to have rights and the capacity to act (to exercise rights and responsibilities and make decisions in everyday life), and requires governments to provide access to support in exercising legal capacity for those who may need it; any measures related to the exercise of legal capacity must respect a person’s rights, will and preferences, and safeguards must be established to prevent abuse.

Article 13 guarantees access to justice for persons with disabilities, including through accommodations to facilitate acting as a witness or party in court proceedings and investigations, and requires training for police and others involved in the administration of justice.

What needs to be done:

1) Provide accommodation to people with psychosocial disabilities in investigations and court proceedings.  Such accommodations may include access to support networks, avoidance of emotional provocation, and acceptance of non-conventional types of communication. 

2) Repeal laws whereby persons with psychosocial disabilities are disqualified from being complainants or witnesses.  

3) Abolish provisions whereby the trials of persons with psychosocial disabilities are postponed indefinitely and replace them with provisions that protect the due process rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities.

Article 14 guarantees liberty and security of the person on an equal basis with others, ensuring that disability cannot justify a deprivation of liberty, and that people with disabilities deprived of liberty are entitled to human rights guarantees on an equal basis with others and to reasonable accommodation.

What needs to be done:

1) Repeal any laws that use disability as a factor to justify a deprivation of liberty (e.g. mental health commitment laws).  

2) Release all individuals currently deprived of liberty in psychiatric settings or based on psychosocial disability.

3) Ensure equal access for people with psychosocial disabilities to procedures to determine guilt or innocence of crimes, including the presumption of innocence and due process.   (See also “What needs to be done” under Article 13, subsection 3.)

4) Provide reasonable accommodation in law enforcement procedures, court proceedings and penal system. 

Article 15 prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including medical experimentation without consent, on people with disabilities.
 

What needs to be done:

Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is one of the most well established principles of international human rights law.  Medical experimentation without consent was first recognized as a form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 7.   

1) Psychiatric drugs and other invasive methods such as electroshock are inherently experimental and endanger the mental and physical capacities, autonomy and personality of an individual.  Use of such methods without free and informed consent constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  The practice of forced, coerced or deceptive psychiatric interventions must be stopped immediately and criminally sanctioned.  

2) Ensure that psychiatric interventions are not used for purposes of interrogation, coercion or intimidation, punishment, preventive measures, for any reason based on discrimination of any kind (these are the purposes of torture as defined in the UN Convention Against Torture, Article 1), or for any purposes relating to the convenience of third parties.  Such use must be prohibited whether in psychiatric settings, prisons, residential services, facilities for children or older persons, or in any other setting.

3) Some psychiatric methods may be inherently inhuman and degrading, and should be banned.  For example, direct electroshock makes the person experience the full force of the convulsion without anesthesia, in addition to the brain-damaging effects of the shock itself, and it should be considered a form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, regardless of whether consent was sought or obtained.   

Please note that Article 25 requires that health care be provided on the basis of free and informed consent.  This may be a more direct basis for stopping forced, coercive and deceptive psychiatric interventions, but advocates should be aware that the freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is relevant and applicable.

Article 16 requires prevention of exploitation, violence and abuse, including monitoring of programs designed to serve people with disabilities, prosecution of violations where warranted, and measures to promote recovery and reintegration of victims.

What needs to be done:

1) Prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse in family settings, communities and service provider facilities.  This includes sexual abuse and violence, economic exploitation and all other forms.  

2) Psychiatric interventions such as administration of drugs, electroshock or psychosurgery, done against the person’s will or without free and informed consent are forms of exploitation, violence and abuse that must be addressed by preventive measures, monitoring, prosecution and services to victims, as required by this Article.

3) Survivors of exploitation, violence and abuse should have access to social support and services of their choice, which should not be conditioned on acceptance of a psychiatric diagnosis.  

4) Support should be provided to withdraw safely from psychiatric drugs.  

Article 17 guarantees to people with disabilities the right to respect for physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others.
 

What needs to be done:

1) The right to respect for integrity on an equal basis is violated by violent or degrading practices done to people with disabilities.  This right can be broader than the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and may also be seen as its more positive expression. 

2) The right to integrity can be used to reject the administration of psychosurgery, electroshock and neuroleptic drugs on the grounds that these procedures and drugs have a harmful effect on healthy organs and human autonomy and creativity.  

Article 18 guarantees liberty of movement and freedom to choose one’s own residence, the right to a nationality and the right to use processes such as immigration proceedings.

What needs to be done:

1) Free all our people from institutions.  Ensure that no one is kept in an institution against his or her will, and that housing and services are provided in communities.    

2) Ensure that housing and services, including residential services, respect individual autonomy.  End coercive medication policies in residential and outpatient services.  

3) Community services must be accessible and open to people with psychosocial disabilities, and be responsive to their needs.

4) Provide a wide array of services, developed in consultation with user/survivor organizations, that may include peer support, crisis hostels and places of safe respite, and advocacy.

What needs to be done:

Protect persons with psychosocial disabilities from being pressured to release medical records during custody litigation and other court proceedings on an equal basis with others.  

What needs to be done:

1) Take all necessary measures to realize an adequate standard of living for people with psychosocial disabilities, including adequate food, water, clothes and housing.  No one should be forced to enter an institution for lack of the necessities of life.

2) Ensure that development and poverty reduction programs include, and are responsive to, people with psychosocial disabilities.  

Article 40 provides for the conference of states parties to consider matters related to implementation of the Convention. This is a new feature for a human rights Convention and will facilitate regular exchange of information and capacity building by governments and civil society, including organizations of people with disabilities.

What needs to be done:

1) Support the active participation of disabled people’s organizations in the Conference of States Parties when it considers matters related to implementation of the Convention, for example to contribute to setting an agenda, making presentations, and participating in panels and discussions. 

2) Contribute financial support for people with disabilities from the Global South to attend these meetings.

HOW CAN WE ACCOMPLISH WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

1.  POSITIVE MEASURES RELATING TO KEY ARTICLES OF THE CONVENTION

Article 12:  Models for supported decision-making and totally voluntary services

1)  Supported decision-making.

2)  What can we learn from traditional models of healing?

The local healing centers deal with personal agitation, anger and violence in a gentler, playful ritualized manner that brings the person back to the community quickly and does not fully rob the person of dignity, freedom and liberty.  Violence is seen as a part of existence and is attributed to external causes (e.g. spirits or demons) and so individual labeling or criminalizing does not occur.  The individual healers had sufficient inner stability and confidence in their practice and healing traditions to tame the angry spirits or demons and return the person intact and whole to the community.  Healers who believe they are protected by the divine are not afraid of human follies.  They do not exhibit anger or anxiety or fear when confronted with the violence of the evil spirit.  An angry and evil spirit spells trouble and destruction for the whole community, not just for the person – so the community has a stake in the safe return of their relative.  Any imputed or actual violence that happens in the context of suffering is understood as an indicator of external forces and as a community issue and remedies are sought within the healing and ritualized network rather than within an individualistic punishment framework. 

3) Non-coercive alternatives; reframing notions of ‘safety’ and ‘risk’ with regard to shared risk and responsibility; and pre-crisis planning 

  

“In hospital I was treated as though I deserved to be punished. People treat their animals better than many psychiatric patients are treated. Any self-respect I had quickly disappeared. As a result of a rather long hospitalization I lost my well-paid management  job, custody of one of my children, my friends and social supports, and ended up having to rely on benefits, the food-bank and other charities. It has taken me many, many years to regain my sense of self, and to this day I still struggle with the sense of shame and ‘otherness’ this experience created. The sad thing is that if someone had lent me a caring ear and helped me to see the options, none of this would have happened.”  (user/survivor of psychiatry)

The best-intentioned use of coercion can lead to irreparable damage. 

“I was forced into hospital, held down and drugged. I now have post-traumatic stress and flash-backs from that time that are worse than any ‘diagnosis’ I was given before then. I would far rather have been sent to the police station and borne the consequences of a person who had violated the law than treated as person who is unable to reason.” (user/survivor of psychiatry)

Some crisis alternatives provide a venue- usually a home-like environment in the community where people can stay for a few nights in the company of peers. Others provide home-based services or peer-run options at a venue open during the day.

5) Advanced directives

Currently legally binding advanced directives are being developed for use in circumstances when a person is incapacitated.   Advanced directives can include the designation of an agent to make decisions on one’s behalf as well as specific directives regarding health care.  

Supported decision-making will necessitate the development of advanced directives that are not based on incapacity but are designed to communicate a person’s desires while retaining his or her legal capacity. 

Article 14: Reasonable Accommodation in the Criminal Justice System for Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities 

What is needed:

1) To guarantee the right of due process for persons with psychosocial disabilities

a) Some people need support to be guaranteed effective access to information

and communication (see Article 21).

For example: 

support for getting legal services,

peer support for self advocacy, or 

family support both before and after being prosecuted.

Friends or family are often denied access to persons after they have been arrested and in many cases during interrogation before prosecution.  Only lawyers have access to the person who has been arrested, but many lawyers do not know how to communicate effectively with persons with psychosocial disabilities.

2) In prison

a) Some people need support to guarantee effective access to information and communication.  See examples as above in 1 a).

b) Access to education, medical treatments, therapies, exercise, and other activities should be guaranteed to persons with psychosocial disabilities on an equal basis with others.

c) Persons with disabilities should not be put into isolation cells on the basis of disability.

d) Persons with psychosocial disabilities should not be segregated into “special prisons”; however, persons with psychosocial disabilities who are in prison should have access to support of their choosing to accommodate their disability.  

Reasonable accommodation in the criminal justice system is a subject that clearly needs further discussion.  Please contribute your thoughts and experience.

2.  DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR USERS AND SURVIVORS TO OPPOSE COERCIVE PSYCHIATRY

• Regional organizations

Promote young users and survivors to take leadership roles in our organizations to build the ongoing strength of the movement

“Nothing About Us Without Us” (motto of the International Disability Caucus): We users and survivors are the experts on our own experiences.

5.  EDUCATE OURSELVES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS [TO BE ADDED]

6.  DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE

Information about the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations can be found at:  www.ohchr.org

Human rights law:

Motto of the International Disability Caucus (IDC)

“NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US”