Vol. 6, No. 1 - Psychiatric Survivor Archives of Toronto

InstitutionalanguishEach time I correspond withan inmate at 'Penetang'(officiallyknown as thePenetanguishene MentalHealth Centre), there's astrange urge to writePenetANGUISHene. Funnyhow these things come overyou, isn't it?Adding insult to injuryWhat's in a medical chart?Well, just about anything, froma patient's political opinions toidle gossip from neighbours.".Take the example of a .Toronto woman wlitotold herdoctor she was opposed toextra-billingby Ontariophysicians, and later - inanother doctor's office ­noticed these entries on hermedical chart: "Has a chip onher shoulder. Antagonistic toneagainst doctors opting out.Wants to know what we areplanning to do toinconvenience our patients."What such remarks had to dowith treatment for the sorethroat and earache, shecouldn'tfathom; baffled, angry,and worried that the entrywould affect the quality of hermedical care in the future,Fiona Stewart cried foul, andtook her concerns to the press- with ample justification.But what about people whodon't get a chance to see theirrecords, or have to wait years tofind out that medicalinformation isn't always asconfidential as it's supposed tobe?A friend of mine, who wasrecently allowed to read therecords pertaining to abreakdown she suffered 25years ago, found out thatamong those who evaluatedand discussed her conditionwere neighbours, teachers ofher children, and other"interested groups."Presumably, she didn't evenhave to beg her doctor to showher the charts; she could justhave asked neighbours andother "interested groups" whatwas in her medical records!lOWE, I OWE - IT'S OFF TOWORK I GO (seen ona youngbass player's case at a bus stop)Chamberlin, Judi. "Women's oppressionand psychiatric oppression." In Womenlook at psychiatry, ed. by D. Smith andS. David. Vancouver: Press GangPublishers, 1975.Chesler, Phyllis. "Men drive womencrazy." Psychology Today 5(2), July1971.Chesler, Phyllis. Women and Madness.New York: Avon Books, 1973.Ehrenreich, Barbara and English,Dei~dre. Witches, midwives and nurses: ahistory of women healers. Old Westbury,New York: The Feminist Press/GlassMountain Pamphlet (No.1), 1973.Ehrenreich, Barbara, and English,Dierdre. For her own good; 50 years ofthe experts' advice to women. New York:Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1978.Fine, Paula. "Women and shocktreatment." Issues in Radical Therapy2(2) (1974): 9-11.Greenspan, Miriam. A New Approach toWomen and Therapy. New York:McGraw Hill 1983 .Hanisch, Carol. ''The personal ispolitical." In The radical therapist, ed. byJ. Agel. New York: Ballantine, 1971.Joyce, Barbara. "I'm not crazy after all."In Women look at psychiatry, ed. by D.Smith and S. David. Vancouver: PressGang Publishers, 1975.Martin, Del. Battered Wives. SanFrancisco: Glide Publications: GlidePublications, 1972.Millett,Kate. Sexual Politics. New York:Doubleday, 1970.Packard, Elizabeth P. Ware. "Madnessand marriage." In The age of madness:the history of involuntary mentalhospitalization presented in selectedtexts, ed. by T.S. Szasz. Garden City,New York: Doubleday/Anchor, 1973.Smith, Dorothy E. and David, Sara J.,eds. Women look at psychiatry.Vancouver: Press Gang, 1975."Women's Issue". RT: A Journal ofRadical Therapy 5(5), 1974."Women and Psychiatry". PhoenixRising Vol. 5, No.1, Feb., 1985.Wyckoff, Hogie. Solving Women'sProblems. New York: Grove Press,1977.Phoenix Rising 7