Fri 6 Apr 2012 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Joan Bellingham on holiday in Brisbane A Christchurch lesbian says she’s “on cloud nine” after finally receiving an apology from the Crown for being wrongly diagnosed as schizophrenic and given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), plus soap and water enemas. The Crown Health Financing Agency (CHFA) has ruled 59-year-old Bellingham was wrongly labelled a drug user, an alcoholic and a schizophrenic. As a 17-year-old nursing student who was open about being lesbian, Bellingham was targeted by one of her tutors who took her to Princess Margaret Hospital where she was committed and diagnosed with "neurotic personality disorder". Between 1970 and 1982, Bellingham was admitted to hospital 24 times and had about 200 ECT treatments, and kept highly medicated. In 1984 Bellingham refused any further treatment, weaned herself off heavy drugs and started creating a life for herself, with the support of a new GP. She has been fighting for an apology and compensation for the past ten years, so the decision comes as a massive relief. “That was amazing for me, and I think a first for the Crown … it’s just a neat feeling,” she tells GayNZ.com Daily News. Bellingham says monetary-wise, the decision isn’t amazing. “They bound me to not say how much it is, but it’s not worth saying anyway.” However she says what means ‘a hell of a lot more’ is the apology and the fact the claims she was a schizophrenic, an intravenous drug user and an alcoholic can be removed from her medical records. She has been diagnosed with hepatitis C since her rough treatment, and now it has been acknowledged she wasn’t an intravenous drug user she can go back to ACC with her claim for medical misadventure. “But I’m not holding my breath, because you know what the ACC’s like,” she says. But for now, it’s be a happy long weekend for Bellingham after her long fight. “It’s just an amazing feeling, it really is and I have wonderful friends.” You can read more about Joan’s story here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 6th April 2012 - 12:48pm