Alexander Harris Solicitors

LSD

The Background

In the 1950's and 1960's the drug LSD was administered to many psychiatric patients in hospitals throughout the UK. The majority attended psychiatric hospitals as outpatients suffering from comparatively minor complaints. The drug was used to 'open up emotions' and was given to those with symptoms of depression, including those with temporary and transient post-natal depression. The after effects of this drug, which was never licensed by the Government, have continued to blight their lives. Many patients have, since there treatment, suffered long-term side effects including hallucinations, flashbacks, anxiety, depression and chronic paranoia. Many of these patients were given LSD without warning, explanation or monitoring. These people have suffered greatly - many in silence, many with little sympathy.

The Legal Action

Alexander Harris took on a number of cases after being approached by Ken Purchase the Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East. Further media coverage, from the Midlands area in particular, saw over three hundred people initially come forward.

A group action is now proceeding in the High Court of Justice concerning the use of LSD within the National Health Service. Mr Justice Buckley and Master Ungley have been designated to deal with the litigation.

At a Case Management Conference on 21st October 1999 Master Ungley ordered that the cut off point for joining the LSD group litigation is to be the 29th February 2000. In order to join the litigation it was necessary for any claimant, via Solicitors, to have registered a claim. The effect of this Order was that no person would be able to proceed within the litigation unless registered by that date.

On behalf of all the claimants, the group action has been co-ordinated by a team of lawyers at Alexander Harris, led by Senior Partner David Harris.

Initially more than 300 potential claimants contacted Alexander Harris, which extended to cover in the excess of 20 NHS Bodies. Currently those clients who have pursued the matter are undergoing expert psychiatric evaluation in order to establish whether the LSD has caused more damage than that which would have been expected in any event given the on-going psychiatric illnesses that some were suffering from.

On the 8th February 2002 a settlement was reached. David Harris, Senior Partner at Alexander Harris Solicitors said: "We are pleased to advise of the settlement of the LSD group litigation. The group have accepted an overall damages payment of £200,000. Whilst this is not a substantial figure the level of damages ensure that those people who were prescribed LSD in the 1960's and 1970's and for whom expert evidence shoes that they have suffered damage as a direct result of that treatment do receive some compensation taking into account that the treatment took place up to 40 years ago and that the standard of care in pharmaceutical cases was of course lower and different in that era. It should be emphasised that no admission of liability has been or remains forth-coming from the Health Authorities

Help Groups

Stockport Community Health Council have set up a self-help network for people who were treated with LSD in order to offer support for those suffering from the after effects of treatment with this drug. They can be contacted on: Annette Donegani / Fran Culshaw 0161 477 0687; Stockport CHC, Brookfield House, 193-195 Wellington Road South, Stockport Sk2 6NG.

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