HL Deb 15 February 1996 vol 569 c55WA
Lord McNair

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arc the recorded statistics for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) related deaths in this country as a proportion of total annual administrations of ECT.

Baroness Cumberlege

There has been one death registered with a mention of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on the death certificate since the beginning of 1993, certified by a coroner. Reliable information on the number of administrations of ECT treatment is not available centrally.

Lord McNair

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are procedures to ensure that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is cited as a cause or contributing factor in the death of a patient, if that patient dies of a heart attack following the administration of ECT, or dies of other causes which could he linked to ECT, and if not, whether they have plans to implement such procedures; and

Whether there are procedures to record the administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in death records if a patient dies within two years of receiving this treatment, if so how many reports have been made since such recording began, and if not, whether they have plans to implement such procedures.

Baroness Cumberlege

There is no procedure specific to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for ensuring that it is cited as a cause or contributing factor in the death of a patient within two years of receiving this treatment. We have no plans to implement such a procedure.