Sunday July 27, 2008, 12:32 pm
i tried to reduce the font size, it taken like an hour to do this, c2 pages aren't loading, I usually put the news item in the message so people know to note it but not taking a chance, can you PLEASE HELP GET THSI TO FRONT PAGE ASAP, I having hard time on c2, and phsycially difficult 4 me to forward to everyone on freinds list and just did one af ew days back. Any one that can forward to ur friends please do, THIS CLOSE TO MY HEART, I HAVE BEEN ABUSED BADLY IN HOSPTIALS AND BRAIN DAMAGED FOR LIFE. PLEASE HELP, EMAIL, GO TO VIGILS, START ONE, DONATE TO MINDFREEDOM. THANK YOU

CHERYL/SUNSHINE

Sunday July 27, 2008, 1:59 pm
k looks like most the vigils are over, depends where u are in the world thou, pls still email and phone calls, I just got this in email today, or yesterday and was in bed

Sunday July 27, 2008, 2:38 pm

Please take emergency action about the death of Esmin Green

Governor Patterson:

My name is Cheryl Benson and I am still surviving living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which is a proven neurological illness which the psychiatric community deemed psychiatric. I was repeatedly misdiagnosed and labeled, and the extensive damage from psychiatric medications has brain damaged me repeatedly. What has affected me even more is the systemic abuse from heath staff in hospitals after the first brain, damage and 'labelled' pyschiatric, much in ER rooms and I have been so traumatized I have not been able to get it out or get over it yet, it is a work in progress. The shame I feel is not mine, it is for those who treated me in such devastating manners repeatedly, I will not go into details here. There needs to be mass outcries and changes made. Just the other day someone said I should be in an 'institution' until the damage from their medications is stabilized. I am not psychiatric, I was misdiagnosed, severely over medicated and damaged from psychiatric drugs. Such a word in itself should be warning to anyone of ignorance and stupidity. I urge you to take all the necessary measures needed, to make the changes in the hospitals that all patients are treated with respect and dignity, and to have a public campaign to do so as well. Ms. Esmin Green is an unfortunate casualty and catalyst for change. Do not delay.
Sincerely,

Cheryl Benson

Sunday July 27, 2008, 2:40 pm
Office of the
Governor

Thank you for sending your thoughts and concerns to Governor Paterson. Your email has been received and will be forwarded to the appropriate staff for review.

Sunday July 27, 2008, 7:23 pm

I have noted not only do mental patients get treated poorly in many cases they are also over drugged or given drugs that are addictive such as Effexor
Please do read some of the what people have said and if you haven't signed the petition pleas sign it as well. This drug is horrifying and prescribed to people with mental illnesses.
Somehow i don't see how this helps anyone. many other drugs are just as dangerous.
http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.html
People need to be taken care of much better then they have been. I agree with Cheryl do something about it. Mental illness can get anyone. No one is exempt from it. You just never know when it will come for you so better to get the system that is suppose to help you cleaned up before it does, or you too could end up dead or a drug addict as many have had happen to them.

Monday July 28, 2008, 4:33 am
all right cheryl i have emailed

Monday July 28, 2008, 5:54 am
Thank you Sunshine - will definitely e-mail. Horrible thing to happen!

Monday July 28, 2008, 7:12 am
all those affected adn those that may be affected by such treatment by people and health workers, everyone needs to speak out. When this happened it was on front page asap, with loads of comments, NOW A CHANCE TO MAKE CHANGE, PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, AND LAST NIGHT THIS HAD 21 NOTE ITS. I just checked in this am to see if this went front page yet, it's holding at 28 note it's and to what does that say. You don't have to be one that has been affected or someone you know, the abuse rate for those labelled pschiatric is high so is admissions unless you are suicidal even then often you are ignored. A prior worker told me that once you are lablelled pschyatric, that chances of being admitted when something was wrong with you was a very low percentage. I not up to doing a search for that, she was a worker in the field as we were trying to figure a way to get me hosptialized in honest neuro hosptial without being kicked out, not believed I wasn't now disabled from their drugs, can't push my manual wheel chair, change my clothes, needed help, my hand writing that flucates , my speech, long list. Mine is much because of mjalpratice as well, however, some thought that is the way you treat people. IT'S NOT. Whether you write for Ms. Green and/or the whole the system and human rights for everyone to be treated with respect and dignity is your choice. And I hope this does go front page after what I have witnessed on it the past few days, and as said, when this happened, I can't find it now and who posted it, it went front page asap with lots of comments, Where are they now?

Monday July 28, 2008, 7:15 am
thx to those who have noted, and especially to those that have written, I know people like prefab letters, I certainly do because typing is difficult for me often. please make an effort, thx

Monday July 28, 2008, 10:26 am
Sent letters.

Monday July 28, 2008, 2:11 pm
Thank you for the email addresses. I am still enraged at her cruel death. The apathy in that hospital, unfortunately, mirrors the general public, and we are all going to have to think more carefully about NOT helping someone when we know we should! As for me, there would be no bigger honor than to die helping/saving a person at risk. I wish we could convince Oprah to investigate this. Thanks for post, Sunshine.

Monday July 28, 2008, 8:28 pm
Please, EVERYONE, take the time to write & call as many people as you possibly can. I thank you, SUNSHINE, for working so hard to bring this inforamtion to Care2 so we can act upon it. Everyone was commenting on this when it first happened, & I hope everyone will also stay concerned about this issue.

I just want to add, that this is happening to way more people than just the mentally ill. The ignoring people, and not being concerned about just how sick some people are coming into an emergency room is happening in way more hospitals across this country than you think.

Not to alarm people - but to make them aware!

Monday July 28, 2008, 9:52 pm
I have e-mail them for you and this is a discrace to all humans. Sorry anone to go through this will foward. Thanks Sunshine. Thanks Kat for the send

Monday July 28, 2008, 11:19 pm
E-mailed the Governor, noted thank you Sunshine Ray.

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 4:58 am
Emails sent out-this is an outrage!!!! This was a preventable loss of life. We who have the rights to speak out against this sytem (that Drasticaly needs change now),and do not use our voices,the only outcome will be many many more Esmin Greens. That is a trainwreck that we cannot sit idly by and do nothing to stop ,everyone must speak out against this -Let them know WE Want Change-We Need Change. Thank you Sunshine for posting this and thank you Kat for forwarding this to me.

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 5:12 am
Esmin Elizabeth Green Vigils Held in 3 Nations
by Jeremy Bensman — last modified 2008-07-27 10:28
"VIGIL TO MOURN THE LOSS OF MS. ESMIN ELIZABETH GREEN AND CONDEMN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS." MindFreedom International co-sponsored and supported vigils to remember Esmin Green, who died so publicly in a psychiatric emergency room.
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SOME MORE INFO OUT RE MRS. GREEN WHO WAS INVOLINARY COMMITTED AND WAITING OVER 24 HOURS FOR A BED WHEN SHE DIED, AND THERE IS ALREADY PROOF OF TAMPERIG WITH HOSPTIAL RECORDS, I KNOW ABOUT ALL TOO WELL,
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WE THE PEOPLE Call for an End of Abuse, Torture, and Neglect in the Wake of Ms. Green's Death While Detained at Kings County Hospital Center's Psychiatric Emergency Room.

Advocates, human rights activists, and community members are holding a vigil and demonstration to mourn the death of Ms. Esmin Elizabeth Green. WE the PEOPLE are calling attention to the reported horrific inactions and complete neglect that Ms. Green was subjected to while detained at the Kings County Hospital Center's Psychiatric Emergency Room, 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11203.

According to the Associated Press, after being involuntarily committed to the institution, Ms. Green sat waiting for a bed to become available for nearly 24 hours before she collapsed on to the floor. She lay there helpless for nearly an hour until she received medical attention, which came too late[i]. Further, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, facility staff possibly falsified documents, stating that Ms. Green was "up and went to the bathroom" and was "'sitting quietly in the waiting room' - more than 10 minutes after she last moved”[ii]. The surveillance tape shown on CNN Video portrays Ms. Green dying on the floor as people pass her by[iii]. In fact, on the Internet, one can find a mass of comment on this tragedy by individuals all over the world - a question repeatedly asked, "Where is the humanity?"

All people must be treated with dignity, humanity, and respect. We must not tolerate violations of human rights that individuals who are assigned psychiatric labels often endure.

We ask you, wouldn't you be depressed and possibly even 'agitated' if you were going to lose your home and employment? Reportedly, this is what led to Ms. Green's commitment[iv]. Any one of us could be labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis and subjected to inhumane 'treatment' if we are thought to be 'agitated', particularly if we are poor.

How many more people labeled with "mental illness" will be subjected to torture and neglect before something is done to protect human rights within psychiatric systems? David Oaks, Executive Director of MindFreedom International states, "I encourage us all to reflect on the need for a deep nonviolent revolution in the field of mental health, far beyond the "reforms" that have gotten us to where we are today, with televised death via neglect of a mother of six".

In 1875, a New York Times article cites abuses of inmates at the Kings County Asylum, spurred by Mr. Nelson Magee, a former inmate. Then-Commissioner Norris reacts to the investigation, "This sort of thing is very common among lunatics; they are always imagining themselves in great danger of being killed by their keepers"v. How many more centuries have to go by before action is taken to end these abuses and neglect?

WE the PEOPLE stand for change. We have been abused by the psychiatric system. Our brothers and sisters continue to be abused and murdered, as evidenced by Ms. Green's untimely demise. Massive human rights violations happen every day in psychiatric institutions but this horrific inaction was captured on videotape. We will call attention to the every day tortures committed in the name of psychiatric "help" including diagnosing life's challenges as ''illness," forced pharmaceuticals, restraint, seclusion, and electric shock treatment (ECT) with a Vigil to honor Ms. Green's memory beginning at 2 PM.

There are many questions as to what led to Ms. Green's death. Was it in any way related to the toxic and debilitating drugs that people labeled with "mental illness" are intimidated, coerced, and forced into taking? A thorough investigation is necessary to determine the extent of the torture, ill treatment and other human rights violations involved in this case and in the practices of the institution as a whole. We must stand united to demand social justice, equal rights, and environments free from torture and detention.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/new-york/esmin-green/eg-vigil

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 5:20 am
thanks to those noting, especiallythose writing, and to those forwarding to others, Katus K, I was stunned to see how many had prior chatted it up about it when it first happened and went to front page in minutes, while this sat here going ever so slow, like the system. Many words need to be replaced as well, mental health problems for mential illness, hosptials for institutions

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 10:22 am
I aappreciate all my friends here on CARE2 who are writing their letters to the NY Governor! REMEMBER this is the same state that has so much CORRUPTION in their GOVERNOR"S OFFICE! Be firm about NY being the leader on HUMAN RIGHTS when you write. Let's FLOOD his office with our personal messages!


Thanks!

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 1:52 pm
TY Kactus for the forward my friend on Sunshines article. TY my good friend Sunshine for shedding more light on this terrible loss of a human life. Remember, this could have been anyone of us. So, thanks Sun, totally noted. I have written the Governor once before when this first happened. I just emailed him again. Next I will call the office. This is a big NO NO when it comes to Human Rights like Kactus says.

Love to all,
FreeSpiritRunning...

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 4:02 pm
MESSAGE DON WEITZ SENT, HE IS LISTED ON THE BLOG AS ACTIVIST:
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July 28, 2008

Attention: David Patterson, Governor of New York

Dear Governor Patterson,
I urge you to take immediate action re the tragic, horrific and preventable death of Ms. Esmin Elizabeth Green. Ms. Green was a poor, black Jamaican woman and mother of six children, about to lose her home and become homeless. As you probably are aware, Ms. Green died of medical neglect and abuse and subjected to serious violations of her civil and human rights in the psychiatric emergency waiting room of Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY on June 19, 2008. Before Ms. Green died, no doctor, no nurse and no security staff tried to help her - they all callously and willfully ignored her. This is absolutely disgraceful and inexcusable! The last minutes of her horrific death, recorded on an emergency room camera and currently displayed on a CNN video clip, shows Ms. Green suddenly collapsing and convulsing face down on the floor. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, since I understand Kings County Hospital has a long track record of medical, if not criminal neglect and abuse of patients and has been investigated a number of times in the last few years. I urge you to order an independent, comprehensive, and public investigation into Ms.Green's death and Kings County Hospital, so that all citizens entering Kings County Hospital in the future--regardless of racial identity or ethnicity, gender and class—are not neglected and abused by hospital staff, but treated with dignity and respect and receive competent and prompt medical care that they deserve as human beings.
Don Weitz

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 7:04 pm
God bless you sunshine for having the courage to stand up for others

Wednesday July 30, 2008, 7:29 am
thank you, time to get help so i can take a stand too with others 4 me, agian thx to all that helped on this, much gratitde, many people shun fron this and don't know`what to say - speak from the heart - for humanrights

Wednesday July 30, 2008, 4:13 pm
E-mail sent. Good job!!