House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

Posted:	August 24, 2017 02:43 PM
From:	Representative Thomas P. Murt and Rep. Stephen Kinsey
To:	All House members
Subject:	Prohibiting use of Electroshock Therapy on Children in Pennsylvania

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation prohibiting the use of electroconvulsive therapy on children across the Commonwealth. Electroconvulsive therapy, also known as electroshock therapy, sends up to 450 volts of electricity through an individual’s brain, inducing a grand mal seizure. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that these seizures can cause complications including heart attacks, difficulties breathing, confusion, permanent memory loss, brain damage and death. The nationwide statistics for electro convulsive therapy are alarming, with an estimated 100,000 Americans electroshocked each year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), in 2014 it was reported that 13 children from birth to five years of age were given electroshock treatment. Additionally, three adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 were electroshocked that year. Please consider signing onto this bill in an effort to protect children and adolescents from electroshock treatment in Pennsylvania.
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Introduced as HB1809