§ 51. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a circular advising practitioners to follow the guidelines of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in relation to unmodified electroplexy.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Royal College of Psychiatrists' memorandum on the use of electroconvulsive therapy did not specifically mention unmodified treatments: the president of the college said in the 9 February 1980 edition of the British Medical Journal that the memorandum made no reference to unmodified ECT
as it was rightly assumed that under all normal circumstances the treatment would always be given with anaesthetic and muscle relaxants".It was also recognised that in certain exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to use unmodified ECT. It would be a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant as to whether he would be justified in going ahead with unmodified electroplexy. 1 have no evidence that practitioners are not following the Royal College's guidance, that is, using anaesthetic and muscle relaxants under all normal circumstances, and I have no plans to issue a circular.