http://exhibits.library.stonybrook.edu/mfp/files/original/bac1b52297a022bc4183fd9171885ce4.pdf 8d1d3f6f3899fb60c1fe3a69d592b113 PDF Text Text ‘55“: ._ November 7, 1979 Hon. May w. Newburger N.Y.S. Assembly Albany, New York Dear Ms. Newburger, It was kind of you to remark on my award for my 25 years of research into the mode of action if convulsive therapy. I hesitate to presume on this kindness, but in the same mail, copies of legislation being considered by the Assembly Ways 8 Means Committee came to my attention which led to this flatter. The proposed legislation ire amendments to the mental hygiene law establishing standards for consent and disclosure for the administration of psychosurgery and convulsive therapy (Amendments to Sections 33.03). The amendments for ECT are badly intentione-, seeking to deprive the mentally ill of the State of this specifically effective and safe form of treatment. The regulations propose to make more difficult the task of administering treatments to voluntary hespdtdiized patients and to render almost impossible to administer the treatment to involuntary patients. The law is patterned after legislation in California, which has led to the present traffic of patients from California going to Oregon and New Mexico for treatment. This, of course, provides that only the wealthy and self—insured are able to obtain this treatment. The legislation is based on the erroneous belief that convulsive therapy is unsafe and ineffective; the contrary being true, since all evidence finds that this therapy is the most effective and the safest for endogenous depression. In our 1976 survey, 5% of admissions to University centers in New York City received this treatment (and only 1% of admissions in V.A. and State facilities; clearly evidence of some reasoned use at University settings.) The amendment for psychosurgery is also flawed. This treatment is still an experimental one, and is at present only available in Descarch setting where cases are reviewed by Institutional Review Boards. The legislation adds additional onerous requirements for consent, making the research even more difficult. At this time, the reports from Great Britain suggest that this therapy has a usefulness with patients with severe obsessive compulsive and phobic states. Thése data need verification. The legislation will serve to reduce the studies, not encourage them. �Hon. May Newburger......... November 7, 1979 .......... page 2 I hope that you will have an opportununity to review these proposed laws and do what you can to prevent their adoption. If there is any question regarding theta objections, I will be pleased to meet with you in Great Neck to discuss it further. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely yours, Fink, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry Max 39 Arleigh Great Neck, Road 516 #66 sunu New York � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence to: Newburger, Hon. May W. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context mfp-05-00-029-8-289 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource <a title="Fink, Max, 1923-" href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79039548" target="_blank">Fink, Max, 1923-</a> Subject The topic of the resource Correspondence -- Correspondence Relation A related resource The Max Fink Collection Description An account of the resource Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a title="IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED" href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/" target="_blank">IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED</a> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries. Stony Brook University Libraries (State University of New York). Language A language of the resource en-US Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Correspondence