Overview

• William Sargant operated the 'Sleep Room' at St Thomas’ Hospital from 1964 to 1973, subjecting patients, mostly women, to prolonged drug-induced sleep and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without proper consent.
• Jon Stock’s new book, 'The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal,' compiles survivor testimonies and historical research to uncover the extent of the abuses and their lasting impact.
• Sargant’s treatments caused severe physical and mental harm, including memory loss, incapacitation, and, in at least five cases, death during narcosis therapy.
• The disproportionate targeting of women and the use of treatments for social correction highlight gendered biases in psychiatry during the mid-20th century.
• Despite widespread condemnation of his methods, Sargant faced no accountability during his lifetime, and much of the scandal has been buried by the medical establishment until now.