(CBS) MELVILLE “This has saved all our children's lives”, said a shaken Dorothy Mirro in Melville today. She was among twenty emotional parents supporting controversial shock-therapy treatment.
“The school is a god-send. My wife and I suffer. You don't know what it's like to have a violent son who could kill you--but who you dearly love.”
The school that Jenkin Washington speaks of, The Rotenberg Center, is in Massachusetts but approved by New York State as a facility for extremely troubled youths. It uses modern-day electric shock therapy by way of back packs, belts--sometimes strapped to arms and legs. The shocks can last two to three seconds and are usually administered several times a week.
Ralph Antonelli of the Rotenberg Center was with the supportive parents explaining. He explaioned: ”We use supportive behavior modification fifty percent of the time. But it doesn't aleways work with the most severe cases. This is a last resort. We hate schizophrenic drugs. A judge must pre-approve each individual case”
But Antwone Nicholson, 17, began complaining to his adoptive mother Evelyn, and to his sisters, that ever since the Freeport School District sent him out of state for therapy, he's been suffering emotional and physical injuries as a result of being repeatedly shocked.
Evelyn Nicholson.told us she was “surprised to learn “ in phone calls ”he was scared, pitiful sounding., fearful and in pain.”
Antwone's sister, Joann Nicholson, said,”If anything, his behavior has declined.”
Mrs Nicholson acknowledged although she and all parents must sign a waiver allowing shock treatment if approved by the courts, she now believes it to be” barbaric”, and will sue her village and the state.
Kenneth Mollins, Nicholson's attorney, wonders “why is this abuse-therapy is allowed when it goes against state law. I want answers from the governor and our lawmakers in Albany. $209,000 dollars per child-per year-taxpayer money.”
Jennifer McLogan reported from Freeport: Why they ask, is shock therapy, corporal punishment and this type of behavior modification illegal in this state, but acceptable for New York children elsewhere?
Mrs. Nicholson sees it one way; other parents say their sick children are finally able to be mainstreamed if they are wearing the shock therapy packs.
