Hello,
I have not contacted you before, but have been an interested reader
of Skeptic Magazine for a few years now. I thought Skeptics might
take interest in the following mail that I received about using
"recovered" memory in a criminal trial, since you've covered this
topic in the past.
Glad to see your website, btw, and will look forward to scrutinizing
it closer in the future!
Chuck Dodson
-=-
September 7, 1998
Dear Media Person,
This is to alert you to the fact that the first CRIMINAL trial
concerning "false" or "recovered" memory issues begins Tuesday,
September 8 in Houston, TX. Enclosed is a press release outlining some
of the issues. The trial is an important one and is expected to go on
for three months. You are receiving this because of your interest and
your coverage of false memory issues, but please feel free to share
this information with any interested colleagues.
You may also want to obtain a copy of Ofra Bikel's documentary video
"The Search For Satan" which was aired on PBS on October 24, 1995 for
background on this case.
To cover this event and other unfolding news, the False Memory
Syndrome Foundation has established a website:
http://www.FMSFonline.org
It is designed as an on-line media center for this trial and other
breaking events. [There are some big ones coming up!] This site will
have background information, copies of important documents,
commentary, suggestions for slants and sidebars, breaking news, and
on-line access to some of our experts. It is the Foundation's first
major effort since the Scientific and Advisory Board voted in May to
continue the work of the Foundation with special attention to media
issues.
Dozens of civil suits for malpractice have been decided or settled
against psychotherapists whose false or recovered memory therapy has
done enormous harm to patients and their families. Some of these have
brought in substantial settlements. Most notably, there was a record
$10.6 million settlement to a Chicago-area woman and her family in a
similar case last December.
Unfortunately from a media standpoint, many of these cases have been
settled out of court, the settlements have placed gag orders on the
plaintiffs and their attorneys, and the records have been sealed. As a
result, the public has generally been deprived of information about
how widespread these false memories cases have been, how extreme and
damaging the clinical treatments have been, and the extent of the
involvement by highly credentialled professionals and large urban
teaching hospitals. Perhaps this is partially responsible for the
fact that some of the major professional associations in the U.S. and
some of the licensing boards have failed to take concrete steps to
eliminate these treatments. Although public opinion is slowly
changing, there are still many innocent people who need to be freed
from prison and still more who are alienated form family members.
We believe this criminal case provides an unprecedented opportunity
for full media treatment. Please check into our website and feel free
to contact us if there is anything else we can do to assist you.
CONTACT:
PHILADELPHIA, PA. On Tuesday, September 8, 1998, the first CRIMINAL
trial involving "false" or "recovered" memories will open in Houston,
TX. A sixty-count indictment has been brought against five former
employees of Spring Shadows Glen Hospital. One count is for
conspiracy, the other 59 for mail fraud. Each count carries a maximum
penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Officials
estimate the trial may go on for three months.
Named in the indictment are Dr. Judith Peterson, psychologist, Gloria
Keraga and Richard Seward, psychiatrists, therapist Sylvia Davis and
hospital administrator Jerry Mueck. The prosecution intends to
establish that the defendants (among other things):
Conspired to defraud health insurance providers of millions of
dollars for the treatment of patients falsely diagnosed as
suffering multiple personality disorder said to be caused by
severe ritualized sexual abuse in satanic cults
Paid several thousands of dollars out in health insurance
premiums to keep the patients' policies in effect with the
intent to file claims amounting millions of dollars against
these policies
Directed subordinate members of the clinical staff to falsify
patient records in order to justify these claims
Established a hospital ward with the express purpose to
defraud insurance carriers
Abused their status as professionals, applied techniques
associated with mind control or "brainwashing", used hypnosis,
administered drugs for untested uses and in untested dosages,
and used restraints to coerce patients into believing they had
been ritually abused in cults
Used the U.S. mails to send out fraudulent bills for treatment.
The prosecutor in the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Eastepp.
In a copyrighted article in The Houston Chronicle of October 29, 1997,
Eastepp said the case is based on medical records and insurance
billings for seven patients treated at Spring Shadows Glen. The
identities of the seven patients are not revealed in the indictment,
which refers to the patients by numbers. However, all of the patients
had generous or unlimited insurance policies.
According to the October 29 article by Mark Smith in The Houston
Chronicle, "more than a dozen other patients have made similar civil
claims involving the former Spring Shadows Glen Hospital." In August
of 1997, plaintiff Lynn Carl was awarded $5.8 million dollars by a
federal jury for damages suffered as a result her treatment at Spring
Shadow Glen, believed to be the second highest award granted in a
false memory case. Carl testified that during her stay at Spring
Shadow Glen she became convinced that she had 500 different
personalities as a result of ritual satanic abuse. In December, a
similar suit was settled against treaters and a major teaching
hospital in Chicago for a record $10.6 million.
NOTE: The False Memory Syndrome Foundation has established a website
for the use of media to follow this trial and other breaking news on
this issue. Check the website at:
http://www.FMSFonline.org
Return to The Skeptic Tank's main Index page.
From: CHUCK DODSON
To: frice@raids.org
Subject: important news on "recovered" memory for criminal trial in Texas
Pamela Freyd, Ph.D.
Phone: 215-387-7944
FAX: 215-387-1917
_____________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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