HC Deb 05 December 1955 vol 547 cc21-3
34. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health the number of operations for frontal leucotomy performed on involuntary patients in mental hospitals in England and Wales during 1952 and 1953; and, in view of the personality changes caused by such operations, what formalities are necessary for permission for such operations to be performed beyond the decision of the physician superintendent of the hospital.

38. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health what safeguards are used to prevent experimental surgery on the brains of those who are certified to be insane and who are in-patients in mental hospitals.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Figures of leucotomy operations are not available for 1953, and those for previous years include voluntary as well as certified and temporary patients. In 1952, the number of operations performed was 1,355. The decision to perform any operation on a mental patient under detention is one for the medical practitioner concerned having regard to his duty to preserve the patient's life and health. It is normal practice for the consent of the nearest relative to be obtained, if possible, and it is also customary for more than one doctor to be concerned in the decision as to this operation.

Dr. Johnson

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the warnings concerning the results of this operation which have been issued recently by prominent specialists and research workers in mental illness? Can my right hon. Friend ensure that wherever possible the consent of the patient is obtained for an operation like this, for even though certified and in involuntary detention he is in many cases a person enjoying free will and the powers of decision?

Mr. Macleod

I am well aware of those reports and of the anxieties which have perhaps given rise to this Question. I am arranging—indeed we have already embarked on—a follow-up review within my Department of cases of leucotomy. As I have indicated in my Answer, wherever possible the consent of the patient or his nearest relative is obtained.

Dr. Summerskill

Is it not a fact that in Maudsley Hospital a board of doctors considers cases where frontal leucotomy is proposed? Would the Minister not advise other hospitals where possible to arrange for a number of doctors to consider these cases?

Mr. Macleod

I am not awere of the steps taken in the Maudsley Hospital in the consideration of these cases, but I accept what the right hon. Lady says. We have regulations on these matters, available on request to doctors, which have been drawn up by my Board of Control to meet these difficult circumstances. I should be glad to consider whether these rules—or advice is the better term—should be circulated to doctors in view of what the right hon. Lady has said.

Mr. J. Hynd

Is the Minister aware of the very considerable concern caused by Press articles alleging that in an unnamed hospital in England experiments are being carried out for sheer experimental purposes on these patients? Can the right hon. Gentleman make any statement that will dispel that misgiving?

Mr. Macleod

I have seen these reports. In relation to the reference by certain papers to an experiment carried out by Dr. Sherwood, which was referred to in a paper before the Royal Society of Medicine, I am assured that the consent either of the patient or of relatives is always obtained in such cases.

35. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of involuntary patients in mental hospitals in England and Wales who had undergone operations for frontal leucotomy in 1952 and 1953 were alive one year following the operation.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Dr. Johnson

In view of the answer to the previous Question, will my right hon. Friend cause statistics to be gathered from now onwards?

Mr. Macleod

No, Sir. I do not think so. We used to keep statistics of this form of operation until 1952. They are the ones which I quoted in response to the previous Question, but as this has become such a recognised form of treatment, I do not think that any useful purpose would be now served by keeping statistics of this operation.