[mind games] psychiatrist under scrutiny again
The controversial Melbourne child psychiatrist, Dr Selwyn Leeks, faces a second investigation by the Victorian Medical Practitioners Board, as well as possible criminal charges in New Zealand.
Dr Leeks is already being investigated by the board following claims that he allowed children to be punished with electric shock treatment and pain-inducing injections while in charge of a psychiatric hospital unit in NZ in the 1970s.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Crown Law Office is expected to decide soon whether to recommend police pursue charges against Dr Leeks and several former psychiatric hospital staff. Dr Leeks was in charge of Lake Alice hospital's child and adolescent unit near Palmerston North in New Zealand between 1972 and 1977.
A spokeswoman for the NZ police said the department had received complaints from 34 former Lake Alice residents and would determine its position in about two weeks.
The complaints include allegations of assault by staff, the use of electroconvulsive therapy and pain-inducing injections on children as well as sexual assault.
NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark apologised in 2001 to about 100 former Lake Alice patients and the Government paid $5.3 million in compensation to settle a class action.
Dr Leeks moved to Australia in 1978 after inquiries into his practices at Lake Alice hospital. One investigation found that a boy, 15, was given unmodified electric shocks against his will and without his parents or welfare officers knowing.
The inquiry found the boy had been dealt a grave injustice and that the treatment "may have been contrary to law".
Dr Leeks at the time defended his methods in a newspaper, saying his unit was full of murderers, rapists and liars. He had an open hand to do what he could with them because they were too much for social welfare institutions and too destructive for the Education Department.
When Dr Leeks came to Melbourne in 1978 he was the director of child psychiatry at a child guidance clinic. From 1982 to 1984 he lived in Canada, and returned to Melbourne in 1984 to establish a private practice in Cheltenham. In 1986, he worked as a part-time psychiatrist at the Children's Court outpatients clinic.
The woman who made the allegations of sexual misconduct told The Sunday Age that Dr Leeks had complained to her that he had been hounded by authorities in NZ. He said the children he had treated were feral and psychotic and were future murderers and thieves. Society would realise one day that he was ahead of his time.
The Victorian Medical Practitioners Board is reviewing complaints against Dr Leeks by 50 former patients.
Dr Leeks is already being investigated by the board following claims that he allowed children to be punished with electric shock treatment and pain-inducing injections while in charge of a psychiatric hospital unit in NZ in the 1970s.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Crown Law Office is expected to decide soon whether to recommend police pursue charges against Dr Leeks and several former psychiatric hospital staff. Dr Leeks was in charge of Lake Alice hospital's child and adolescent unit near Palmerston North in New Zealand between 1972 and 1977.
A spokeswoman for the NZ police said the department had received complaints from 34 former Lake Alice residents and would determine its position in about two weeks.
The complaints include allegations of assault by staff, the use of electroconvulsive therapy and pain-inducing injections on children as well as sexual assault.
NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark apologised in 2001 to about 100 former Lake Alice patients and the Government paid $5.3 million in compensation to settle a class action.
Dr Leeks moved to Australia in 1978 after inquiries into his practices at Lake Alice hospital. One investigation found that a boy, 15, was given unmodified electric shocks against his will and without his parents or welfare officers knowing.
The inquiry found the boy had been dealt a grave injustice and that the treatment "may have been contrary to law".
Dr Leeks at the time defended his methods in a newspaper, saying his unit was full of murderers, rapists and liars. He had an open hand to do what he could with them because they were too much for social welfare institutions and too destructive for the Education Department.
When Dr Leeks came to Melbourne in 1978 he was the director of child psychiatry at a child guidance clinic. From 1982 to 1984 he lived in Canada, and returned to Melbourne in 1984 to establish a private practice in Cheltenham. In 1986, he worked as a part-time psychiatrist at the Children's Court outpatients clinic.
The woman who made the allegations of sexual misconduct told The Sunday Age that Dr Leeks had complained to her that he had been hounded by authorities in NZ. He said the children he had treated were feral and psychotic and were future murderers and thieves. Society would realise one day that he was ahead of his time.
The Victorian Medical Practitioners Board is reviewing complaints against Dr Leeks by 50 former patients.
By William Birnbauer April 18, 2004
posted by James Higham @ 14:04
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