FW: DENDRITE ALERT: "A Human Rights Violation of the Heart" (fwd)

[HANS DESPAIN <HANS.DESPAIN@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 1995 17:07:46 -0400
From: Pattison, Rory <Rory.Pattison@xxxxxxxxx>

Dear all,

I would appreciate your help in sending a copy of the message below to the
people incicated below.
  Sorry for the inconvenience, but thanks for your help in advance.....

A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION OF THE HEART:
YOU CAN HELP REUNITE GERALDINE AND RICHARD SIMA

ACTIONS: FAX - PHONE - WRITE

After nine months, Geraldine Sima is still being prevented from visiting
her husband, Richard, who is in the Nebraska psychiatric system. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Sima so much want to visit each other. Richard sadly joked that
if he ever had a chance to visit Geraldine again, "I'd like to administer
mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation to her."

Support Coalition, an alliance of 30 human rights groups, has investigated
the Sima's complaints, and found them valid. The excuse the system is
using is that more than a year ago, Richard Sima allegedly walked away
from a psychiatric institution without following proper procedure, and his
wife Geraldine accompanied him. Upon Richard's return to the institution,
authorities have refused to allow Geraldine to visit. Continuing to deny
Richard a personal visit after nine months is heartbreaking, especially
because his wife is his main personal support. It is also a violation of
human rights, because visitation can only be denied for so-called "good
cause."

In a public statement released today, Mrs. Sima pleaded for people to take
action: "This hospital has been controlling and demeaning to my husband
and myself, by excessively restrictive procedures. I am Richard's wife,
confidant, soul mate. This separation has caused emotional pain to my
husband and myself, and heightens his multiple mental ailments. It
exhibits abuse to Richard in the most vile form. This is coming from a
hospital that is supposed to dispense 'mental health'?"

A grassroots campaign has started to re-unite the Sima's. Support
Coalition co-coordinator David Oaks stated, "Our office gets reports of
other human rights violations in other states, such as psychiatric drug
deaths or forced electroshock. But there is something that is personally
moving about the Sima's human rights violation. Denying two people in love
a chance to visit is a symbol of institutional wrongheadedness and
heartlessness."

Yesterday, Governor Ben Nelson of Nebraska announced his bid to run for
U.S. Senate. The public needs to ask, "Are this Governor's public
institutions out of control?"


FOR LOVE and FREEDOM:

HERE ARE THREE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE IMMEDIATELY
TO HELP RE-UNITE GERALDINE and RICHARD:

1. FAX or MAIL a letter of concern NOW to the decision-makers listed
below. A sample message is below, though adding your own personal note
will help.

2. During business hours (Central Time), politely PHONE your concern to
these decision-makers. Keep trying.

3. COPY this human rights alert to other appropriate people and places on
the Internet. Print it out and post it for people not on the Internet.


CONTACT THESE DECISION-MAKERS NOW:

Governor Ben Nelson
State Capitol Building
Lincoln, NE 68509

FAX: (402) 471-6031
PHONE: (402) 471-2244


Dale Johnson, Director and
Dr. Steve Higgins, Medical Services Director
Department of Public Institutions
Folsom and West Prospector Place
Lincoln, NE 94728

FAX: (402) 479-5145
PHONE: (402) 471-2851


SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Dear Governor Ben Nelson:

Dear Mr. Johnson and Dr. Higgins:

Please investigate the case of Geraldine and Richard Sima. For over nine
months, Geraldine has been prevented from personally visiting her husband
Richard, who is in a Nebraska psychiatric institution. Visitation,
especially with a loved one, is not only a human right. It is also a
human need.

Please respond as soon as possible. I also ask that you keep me posted
with the results of your investigation into the Sima's tragic situation,
and the general state of human rights in Nebraska Dept. of Public
Institutions. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME/ADDRESS]


-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-

FURTHER ACTION:

To offer personal support to Geraldine Sima, phone her at (402) 333-7113.

Keep Support Coaliton informed of your actions, and any results
<chrp@xxxxxxx>

Support Coaliton
PO Box 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

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* SNOWBALL THIS MESSAGE! *

BUILD THE DENDRITE HUMAN RIGHTS ALERT NETWORK. PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE THIS
MESSAGE FREELY IN AS MANY APPROPRIATE PLACES AS POSSIBLE.

-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-

This human rights alert originated from DENDRITE, a low-volume one-way
e-mail list from Support Coalition. To subscribe e-mail to
<majordomo@xxxxxxx> with just these two words in the message body:

subscribe dendrite

-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-<<<:>>>-
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DENDRITE 23.SIMA end

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Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950908144751.24834F-100000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 8 Sep 1995 14:49:31 -0700
Sender: User voices in public mental health <MADNESS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: CHRP - David Oaks <chrp@xxxxxxx>
Subject: DENDRITE ALERT: "A Human Rights Violation of the Heart"
Comments: To: Topical Evaluation Network Legal List
          <LEGALTEN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, NUVUPSY A Social Not Medical Model of
          Mental Illness <NUVUPSY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Multiple recipients of list MADNESS <MADNESS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



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