Government documents uncovered from more than 20 years ago have shown Treasury earmarked more than $130 million to resolve legal claims from former patients of psychiatric institution Lake Alice.
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“My mother told me later that she never knew I was getting ECT and never agreed to it.” Medical records showed that Richards had been admitted to the Lake Alice adolescent unit between October and December 1975 where five ECT treatments were recorded. But Richards said patients also received ECT as a punishment, some of which would not have been listed in the medical records. He was shocked on the head, legs and genitals. As a result, he received burns to his genitalia, but said ACC would not cover his injury claim. “ACC said the burn could have been done by almost anything at anytime,” Richards said.