New Book Revives Forgotten Scandal of Psychiatric Abuses in Sargant's 'Sleep Room'
Jon Stock's 'The Sleep Room' sheds light on William Sargant's controversial treatments, revealing lasting harm, ethical violations, and the medical establishment's role in obscuring the abuses.
- 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.
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