CHAPTER 14 SCIENTOLOGY AND ITS ATTACKS ON PSYCHIATRY 14.1 Scientology has attacked neuro-surgery, psychiatry and psychiatrists unmercifully over an extended period of time. The originator of these attacks is Mr. Hubbard himself as some of his books such as _Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health_, _Dianetics: The Evolution of_ _a Science_ and _Science of Survival_ clearly show. These original attacks were often destructive and harsh and have been well-sustained up to the present time. They have been regular and, in the words of Dr. M.B. Feldman, a former chairman of the National Group of Psychiatrists of the Medical Association of South Africa who testified before the Commission, couched in a manner "... wicked in its purpose and in its intent and to bear no relationship whatsoever ... to the truth of psychiatric practice."^1 These attacks as a rule emanate from Mr. Hubbard himself but also come from other adherents of Scientology. Counsel who appeared on behalf of the Church of Scientology in South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., stated in the course of cross-examination of Dr. Kruger that his clients condemn psychiatry outright.* 14.2. The attacks are often claimed to be counter attacks in response to attacks of psychiatry on Scientology. However, whatever the position may be in other countries, it cannot in fairness be said that organized psychiatry or even individual psychiatrists took the initiative against Scientology in the Republic of South Africa. The reverse seems to be nearer the truth as attacks on the psychiatric profession in general have been freely and spontaneously published in the Republic of South Africa in Mr. Hubbard's various text books, in the regular publications of Scientology such as _The Auditor_, its monthly journal, _Total Freedom_, a three monthly South African publication, and _Freedom_, a three monthly publication mainly distributed in the United Kingdom and the United States of America and in various pamphlets distributed from time to time. An issue of _Total Freedom_ published during March, 1970, claims that its readership in South Africa alone is well over 100,000.** 14.3. It is necessary to refer at some length to instances and examples of this form of attack which, for reasons which will appear later, the Commission views with concern. 14.4. The following are a few quotations from Mr. Hubbard's books: (a) "According to a modern writer, the single advance of psycho-therapy was clean quarters for the madman. In terms of brutality in ________ ^1Record of Evidence, Vol. 24, p. 59 - Dr. M.B. Feldman. *Record of Evidence, Vol. 37, p. 63 - Dr. C.F. Kruger. **Total Freedom AF No. 5., last page. 219 ------------ treatment of the insane, the methods of the shaman or Bedlam have been far exceeded by the 'civilized' techniques of destroying nerve tissue with the violence of shock and surgery, treatments which were not warranted by the results obtained and which would not have been tolerated in the meanest primitive society, since they reduce the victim to mere zombyism [sic], destroying most of his personality and ambition and leaving him nothing more than a manageable animal. Far from an indictment of the practices of the 'neuro-surgeon' and the ice-pick which he thrusts and twists into insane minds, they are brought forth only to demonstrate the depths of desperation man can reach when contronted [sic] with the seemingly unsolvable problem of deranged minds."^1 (b) "Electric shock and other psychiatric efforts are equivocal. Pre-frontal lobotomy is such certain and complete mind-murder that one cannot be certain thereafter of anything in the patient except zombiism."^2 (c) "The use of electrical shocks upon a body for any purpose is there- fore very dangerous and is not condoned by sensible men. Of course. the use of electrical shock was never intended to be therapeutic, but was intended only to bring about obedience by duress, and, as far as it can be discovered, to make the entirety of insanity a horror. Electrical shock deranges the electronic field in the vicinity of the body and is always succeeded by back health or physical difficulties and never does otherwise than hasten the death of the person."^3 14.5. Examples of attacks on psychiatry in Scientology publications and pamphlets are the following: (a) In a cartoon (a form of attack often used by Scientology) Doc Schoquhem, Psychiatrist, is depicted announcing at a press conference: "Gentlemen, we've reduced the post-operative death rate to 78.4%."^4 ________ ^1Hubbard L. Ron: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. The Garden City Pres Limited, Letchworth, Hertfortshire [sic], Great Britain. (May 1968), p. 4. ^2Hubbard L. Ron: Scientology. Dianetics. The Evolution of a Science. F.E. Bording Ltd., Copenhagen, Denmark. (May 1950), p. 55. ^3Hubbard L. Ron: Scientology. The Fundamentals of Thought. Foundry Press, Ltd., Bedford, England. (Copyright 1956), p. 37. ^4Hare, Fred: Editor: The Auditor No. 4. The Saint Hill Journal of the Auditors Division, October 1964. H.C.O. (W.W.) Ltd., East Grinstead, Sussex, England, p. 2. 220 ------------ (b) A copy of _Total Freedom_ published after the appointment of the Commission on 11th April, 1969, is mainly devoted to attacks on psychiatry. On its first page a request is made to the Government to "... turn its attention to and cease to condone the seizure, torture and death carried out by psychiatry."^1a The statement is made that "We are faced with the government threat of total obliteration on the grounds of pressure from psychiatric front groups whose ambitions and crimes are notorious, who cure nothing, who seize and kill and to whose monstrous violations of human rights, the government remains knowingly and willfully blind."^1a A cartoon appears bearing a banner "Psychiatry's Triumph and Conquest of the World."^1a This cartoon shows devils administering ice-pick leucotomy, applying 50,000 volts of electricity, giving an injection, a schizophrenic patient in a catatomic [sic] state in the centre of a group of either dead or comatose patients - one with a large syringe stuck in his back. The cartoon also shows a sarcastic notice which reads as follows: "MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC NO. 2206389 OPEN IN YOUR AREA 24 HOURS A DAY ELECTRO SHOCK TOPECTOMY AND LOBOTOMY OPERATIONS DONE ON THE SPOT. FAST HELICOPTOR [sic] PICK UP SERVICE."^1a On other pages a death figure wields a scythe labelled "psychiatry" over the Republic of South Africa. Again in another cartoon the same figure wielding the same scythe confronts Christ on the cross with the statement: "Down you come, I'm looking after things now, your kind are no longer needed."^1b An article styled "Today's Terrorism" over the name of Mr. L.R. Hubbard reads as follows: "While Western countries are spending billions fighting terrorist activities abroad they are neglecting the one they have at home. Psychiatry operates straight out of the terrorist text books. The Mafia looks like a convention of Sunday School teachers compared to these terrorist groups. Setting up as a terror symbol, psychiatry kidnaps, tortures and murders without any slightest police interference or action by western security forces. Instead these forces attack churches and peaceful, decent social groups under the direct orders of these terrorists. ________ ^1Editor: Total Freedom. International Edition No. 1. Church of Scientology, Johannesburg. S.A. English Language Newspapers (Pty.) Limited, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. (Copyright 1969), a) p. 1; b) p. 4. 221 ------------ Rape is rape, torture is torture, murder is murder. There are no laws that let even a medical doctor do these things. The men who directed the attacks on Scientology in the press were also directors of the main psychiatric front group. A Scientology preclear has an aunt who says she doesn't like Scientology. Instant parliamentary investigation! Laws banning Scientology! Police raids with drawn guns. Psychiatry kills a young girl for sexual kicks, murders a dozen patients with an ice-pick, castrates a hundered [sic] men. And gets another million appropriation. One can only conclude that psychiatric terrorism is not limited to the families of mental patients. It must extend all the way to the top. Extortion, kidnapping, murder - these are crimes. Yet where are the Security Forces? Thousands of miles away tending to other people's business. Very few people can be brought to testify against psychiatry. Yet 4 out of 5 contacted in a recent US survey had family or friends who had been ruined by psychiatry! They said, in general, 'If I spoke up or complained, they'd take it out on my (son, friend, relative)'. I well recall a conversation I had with a Dr. Center in Savannah, Georgia in 1949. It well expresses the arrogance and complete contempt for law and order of psychiatry. A man had just called to inquire after his wife who was 'under treatment' in Center's hospital. Center asked him. 'Do you have the money ... that's right, thirty thousand ... well you better get it or I'll have to send your dear wife to the state institution and you know what will happen then!' I was there doing work on charity patients the local psychiatrists wouldn't touch. Center had forgotten I was in the room. He looked at me and shrugged. 'He's sold his house, car and business already, and he isn't good for any more. So over she goes to the operating room. It's just as well. The attendants got her pregnant and we'll have to abort her anyway. So we may as well wash her out. Hell of a business to be in for some quick bucks and a few kicks.' Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law every week over the 'free' world, tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name 222 ------------ of 'mental health'. Terrorists never operated more effectively in any land with less interference and less outcry. The evil is so great the public won't confront it. 1984 here 23 come!"^1 An unnamed contributor writes as follows: "Approximately 1,200 patients are accidentally electrocuted while receiving treatment according to Dr. Carl W. Walter, a professor of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Walter said he had obtained the figure on electrocutions from an actuary for a national insurance company which he refused to name; however, he said that this figure was close to his own estimates. He stated that such deaths are listed as cardiac arrests and for that reason there have been few lawsuits over the deaths and the hazards have been little publicized. He said such deaths were mainly caused by surges of high voltage, poor circuit designs and leakage from equipment. We wonder how many such accidental deaths occur annually in our mental institutions. We suggest Dr. De Wet should investigate deaths of mental patients listed as cardiac arrests. Our mental patients do not deserve to be electrocuted by electric shock machines and as no one will speak up for their rights, we will."^1 (c) Another edition of _Total Freedom_ levels a variety of charges against psychiatrists e.g. that they are atheist, against morality, believe in conditioning of human beings like animals and are working to that end. In addition it produces graphs which "... TELL THE TRAGIC STORY"^2 that "ONE OUT OF EVERY TEN MENTAL PATIENTS DIES IN MENTAL HOSPITALS ANNUALLY."^2 (d) Yet a further edition abounds in scurrilous attacks on psychiatry. There is, for instance, a cartoon portraying psychiatry as the devil cracking a whip as the result of which British Parliamentarians readily obey. There are statements such as: "... psychiatry has seized and killed _______ ^1Editor: Total Freedom. International Edition No. 1: _Op_._cit_., p. 2. ^2Editor: Total Freedom AF No. 2. Church of Scientology, Johannesburg. Eagle Press (A division of Caxton Ltd.), Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. (Copyright 1969), p. 2. 223 ------------ tens of thousands of people they don't like."^1 "... psychiatrists call their own rape and death of men's wives 'necessary treatment'."^1 (e) Further examples of the cartoon and photographic method of attack are: (i) A graveyard showing Psychiatry as the killer of countless numbers of victims of lobotomy, drugs, E.C.T., and leucotomy. (ii) A cartoon above a caption suggesting that Psychiatry requires that all churches be done away with. (iii) A cartoon depicting the death figure of Psychiatry with the ghost figure of Adolf Hitler living on within it. (iv) A photograph suggesting that all over the world the murmur that "psychiatry kills" is becoming a roar. (f) In an article entitled "No Rights For Psychiatric Patients" reference is made to two books _Patients are People_ by Dr. A.T. Edwards and _Sans Everything_ by Barbara Robb which "... lift the lid and expose the inhumane, barbaric day-to-day condition existing"^2 in mental hospitals. Extracts of maltreatment of patients in mental hospitals are produced from these books. The ultimate paragraph concludes: "Reading the books mentioned here, studying reports from around the world and hearing the case histories of people who have fallen into their hideous clutches, one thing is very clear. Psychiatrists have a lot to answer for. It is time for a full investigation as to what they are really doing, time for a full expose to be made, and time for them to publish full facts and figures of the results of their 'World Saving' experimentation."^2 (g) In a later edition the "Psychiatry Kills" photograph already referred to is reproduced and repeated. In addition there is an objectionable caricature of a psychiatrist and two anti-psychiatric cartoons one of which depicts two devils administering an injection to a patient. The caption reads: "Members of the strange cult called 'Psychiatry'."^3 There is also an article entitled "The Trend" which _inter alia_ contains the following passage: _________ ^1Editor: Freedom: International Edition No. 2. Church of Scientology, East Grinstead, Sussex, England. (Copyright 1969), p. 1. ^2Editor: Total Freedom: International Edition No. 4. Church of Scientology, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. Complete Press. (Copyright 1969), p. 7. ^3Editor: Freedom, No. 20. Church of Scientology. Adrian James Associates Limited, Brentwood, Essex, England, p. 3. [?]Total Freedom, International S.A. Edition No. 2. 224 ------------ "It is to be hoped that within the next few months Mr. Crossman will set up a full public government inquiry into what actually goes on behind the high walls of our mental institutions. There are too many unexplained deaths, too much anxiety for this state of affairs to continue very much longer."^1 (h) An issue published on about 8th March, 1970, is devoted almost entirely to the case of three Smith Brothers detained at Harmony Home - an institution licensed in terms of Section 48 of Act No. 38 of 1916 (Republic of South Africa). The incident is featured under a subheading "Psychiatric Violation of Human Rights,"^2 it claims to relate "... a story of degradation and infringement of rights."^2; a denial of "... any educational facilities, religion, and personal possessions."^2; and also: "They lived in squalid conditions ..."^2 The generalised claim is made that these things are "... going on in the name of psychiatry in our Mental Institutions."^2 (i) A pamphlet entitled "Inquiry into Psychiatry" dated at Durban, Republic of South Africa, on 14th August, 1967, appears to have been issued by the Executive Council of the Hubbard Scientology Organization in South Africa. It refers to evidence obtained of brutal and harmful treatment of patients at the hands of psychiatrists which proves the degradation and misery to which human beings are subjected in the name of mental treatment not only in the Republic of South Africa, but in other countries. The suggestion is furthermore made that the practice of psychiatry may nullify the achievements of religion, education and physical and mental healing. The pamphlet gives a description of an ice-pick leucotomy which results in the patient becoming a "zombie". Reference is made to psychiatric "kiss and hug" treatment for tensed-up women and then follows the statement which in the context seems to be applied to the Republic of South Africa: "Becoming intimately involved with their women patients is recognised as a legitimate means of treatment." (j) Mr. Hubbard wrote a letter to Mr. Hennie du Plessis, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. The following are a few extracts from this letter: _______ ^1Editor: Freedom, No. 20: _Op_._cit_., p. 2. ^2Editor: Total Freedom AF No. 5. Church of Scientology, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. Complete Press. (Copyright 1970), p. 1. 225 ------------ (i) "They are however _private societies_ pretending to be government bodies. ... They are an advertising front for psychiatry and publish booklets urging shock and other brutalities. The 'Dr. Dale' of the Victoria enquiry is a 'brain surgeon' who does ice pick operations wholesale on committed persons and whose family detested him after they knew of Scientology and couldn't make him stop. He is a prime mover in all this in Victoria. What we have evidently stumbled upon is a multi-million dollar extortion racket whereby the 'patient' or families of the patient are told that unless they pay huge sums of 'keep and special care' their loved one will be shocked or operated upon. Their advertising front is usually a 'National' (though privately owned) and 'Mental Healing' committee or society or association. They have money to burn and so bribe heavily. There is no law legalizing these actions or shocks or operations and 'psychiatry' has no basis in law. They get around it by having some partially earned medical degree."^1a (ii) "If men are given an unlimited and legal right to injure or kill without interference by law they can of course come to dominate the state. We have right now this peculiar situation in Psychiatry. The 'layman' does not look at their statistics and backed off by a fanfare of technical jargon. The psychiatrist in South Africa at the moment pretends the right to pick up, torture, mentally disable or kill any person in the country and maintains it despite its being illegal to injure or kill anyone. If anyone tries to testify against them, they say he is insane and have already rigged the law so the testimony of those of 'unsound mind' is not valid under law. So who can object."^1b (iii) "The hypocrisy of anyone saying Scientology is dangerous when they injure and often kill in their own practice is of course quite evident. In the very least they shorten people's lives. I doubt any layman could watch _______ ^1Hubbard L. Ron: _Confidential_ Letter dated 19th December 1966. Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex, England, a) p. 2; b) pp. 4-5. 226 ------------ their 'treatments' without losing his boots. Their people never get well but have to be re-shocked and always thereafter have to be kept on heavy drugs. As for surgery they usually finish up with an idiot who only lives a few years in the most 'successful' of their 'operations'."^1 (k) In an undated press release a serious attack is launched against mental institutions _inter alia_ in the Republic of South Africa. The allegations made include the following: (i) "Daily the opponents kill thousands of mental patients in a new kind of Belsen or Auschwitz. Using surgery and brutality they are 'solving the mental problem' by killing the insane. Ministers of Health who approve of that without outcry are hardly to be classed as human."^2a (ii) "Try to visit any institution during treatment time. They will not allow it to be seen. Daily their death toll mounts. They have no right to kill. Those attacking Scientology have red hands. Stop listening to their words and look instead at their foul actions. You would understand at once what this fight is all about. Stop the killing of the insane. Stop these savage abuses. Stop sexual attacks on patients."^2b 14.6. The instances cited above of the form of attack employed by and on behalf of Scientology have, to the satisfaction of the Commission, been shown to be either totally false or gravely exaggerated in so far as conditions in the Republic of South Africa are concerned. In regard to the death rate in mental hospitals Dr. Lamont, Commissioner for Mental Health, testified*^a that the rate in mental hospitals is about the same as the general population for Europeans - in fact slightly lower. 14.7. Dr. Feldman pointed out in evidence, and this was at no time disputed, that the ice-pick leucotomy - once utilised in the United States of America - has never to his knowledge been practised in South Africa,*^b that a current of approximately 125 volts is passed through a patient during electro convulsive treatment (ECT) and that the suggested figure of 50,000 volts is a gross falsehood.*^c He also stressed that the insinuation conveyed by some of the __________ ^1Hubbard L. Ron: _Confidential_ Letter dated 19th December 1966: _Op_._cit_., p. 5. ^2Lacey Jan: Public Relations Chief Africa. Telex J7405. _CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY PRESS RELEASE_! _IMMEDIATE_. _THOSE ATTACKING SCIENTOLOGY HAVE RED HANDS_. The Hubbard Scientology Organisations in South Africa (Pty.) Limited, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, a) p. 1; b) p. 2. *Record of Evidence: a) Vol. 26, p. 10 - Dr. A.M. Lamont. b) Vol. 24, p. 41 - Dr. M.B. Feldman. c) Vol. 24, p. 58 - Dr. M.B. Feldman. 227 ------------ cartoons that psychiatry diabolically resorts to the use of drugs is an unfair one, the truth being that psychiatrists currently use modern drugs for the safe and useful management of depression and schizophrenia. The suggestion that ECT, topectomy and lobotomy is resorted to in the Republic of South Africa in reckless fashion is in the view of the Commission incorrect. Likewise the Commission is satisfied on credible and acceptable evidence that it is not the attitude of psychiatry in the Republic of South Africa or anywhere else that churches should be done away with. In regard to the statement that psychiatry kills, Dr. Feldman admitted that calculated risks are sometimes resorted to but explained: "We prefer to avoid these risks unless we have no alternative, and we take every possible precaution should we feel justified in proceeding with a procedure that carries risk, we take every possible precaution to minimise risk."^1 The Commission is satisfied beyond all doubt that it is not the objective of psychiatry to kill. 14.8. The suggestion that psychiatrists in the Republic of South Africa resort to intimacies with female patients and that they freely commit rape in mental institutions is not borne out by a shred of credible evidence. Irrelevant evidence in regard to such practices elsewhere was certainly presented to the Commission. As an example reference may be made to a report by the State Attorney of Cook County, Illinois, United States of America.* This report undoubtedly is the source of many of the allegations published in the Republic of South Africa. Any attempt to convey the impression by _innuendo_ that rape, murder and other wicked deeds are also perpetrated in South African mental institutions by psychiatrists is reprehensible and deserving of the strongest censure. 14.9. It is the view of the Commission that constructive criticism aimed at improving conditions in mental institutions and stabilising and improving psychiatric practice is to be welcomed and can only lead to advancement in the management of mental illness. Irresponsible, inaccurate and untruthful statements of the kind referred to above are unquestionably harmful, tend to discourage patients from seeking professional assistance and give cause for grave concern. Such statements receive wide and extensive publicity through the medium of Mr. Hubbard's books and the publications and pamphlets issued by his organization and may do untold harm by instilling fear into the minds of persons who ought to seek the aid and guidance of trained practitioners. In drawing attention to the probable harmful consequences of the publication of material of this nature, the Commission can do no better than to stress the following passage from the evidence of Dr. Lamont: "... these documents can have a confusing and deleterious effect on unenlightened people. They will tend to spread despondency and alarm _________ ^1Record of Evidence, Vol. 24, p. 56 - Dr. M.B. Feldman. *Hanrahan Edward V., State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois. Report on conditions at Chicago State Hospital and Tinley Park Centre from January 1, 1968, to May 12, 1969. (May 27, 1969). 228 ------------ in a field which is, in any case, one of the most tragic aspects of human suffering. Persons charged with responsibility for the treatment of mental illness are not helped by the undermining of public confidence ... these documents tend to undermine the public confidence in the organisation which by statute is charged with the responsibility of treating mentally disordered and defective people."^1 14.10. Irresponsible criticisms of the kind referred to above are inappropriate regard being had to the stringent safeguards embodied in the Mental Disorders Act No. 3* of 1916 (Republic of South Africa) as amended in regard to the procedures to be followed in dealing with mentally deranged persons. 14.11. The dissemination of inaccurate, untruthful and harmful information in regard to psychiatry and the field of mental health in general should, in the view of the Commission, be prohibited by legislation. It is so recommended. 14.12. In making the above recommendation the Commission has not overlooked the evidence given by Mr. D.B. Gaiman, the Deputy Guardian of the Church of Scientology World Wide. He acted as the chief spokesman in favour of Scientology and he testified in the main on the nature of the attacks on Scientology. This portion of the evidence comprises approximately 647 pages of recorded testimony. His main thesis was that these attacks are the result of propaganda by what Mr. Gaiman termed psychiatric front groups in different Western nations and that in the Republic South Africa the South African National Council for Mental Health and its Director were mainly responsible for the attack and the appointment of this Commission. The evidence was heard in full but the Commission is of the view that its terms of reference clearly do not permit it to make findings or recommendations in regard to Mr. Gaiman's allegations. 14.13. Neither was the startling evidence of Dr. T.S. Szasz, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Syracuse N.Y., relating to his views that mental illness is a myth considered relevant to the terms of reference. The Commission considered itself powerless to widen the scope of its enquiry to embrace these topics. ________ ^1Record of Evidence, Vol. 26, pp. 3-4 - Dr. A.M. Lamont. 229 ------------