Stolen Lives Picnic on Prescribed Harm Awareness Day – July 29th 2024

(Photo of Katinka Newman founder of ‘Antidepressant Risks’)

This event was organised by ‘Antidepressant Risks’ in memory of those who have been lost as a direct result of taking antidepressants and other prescribed drugs which have the propensity to induce suicide. Amongst those of us who attended this very sunny day in Hyde Park, there were parents who despite their unimaginably painful grief at the untimely death of their children, continue to campaign for change. There were also those who have been harmed by ‘antidepressants’ and other prescribed drugs, some of whom continue to experience life-changing symptoms to this day.

Mid-afternoon, we gathered in a circle, and everyone had the opportunity to speak about why they had come to the event. There was a mixture of heart-breaking stories, and breath-taking courage, as every single person who attended described the reasons they had come. There was solidarity as it was clear how motivated everyone is to continue giving from their own lives, to prevent further harm from taking place.

What is abundantly clear is that from the highest levels, including the coroner’s courts to the MHRA, there is a reluctance from the medical prescribers and the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture these drugs, to take responsibility for the harm that ensued. It is extremely worrying that there is so little interest in doing what is right. Surely this starts with a full admission that there is a serious problem of prescription drug induced harm and death. Instead, there have been many half-hearted attempts to appease the complainants, such as ineffective plans to modify the ‘patient information leaflets’ that accompany drug prescriptions. Nobody has ever suggested removing these drugs altogether, which has happened in certain other instances where severe harm has occurred.

Hearing testimony of unanswered requests for meetings, and the apparent indifference of bodies such as the MHRA and the Royal College of Psychiatry intensifies the frustration that we all feel. There is full knowledge that patients rarely read the complicated sheets of paper that are folded into the boxes which contain the drugs. Everyone knows that ‘small print’, is exactly how many industries get away with selling unsatisfactory or faulty products. Yet, when people become patients and are at their most vulnerable, as they seek medical attention – particularly if they are in emotional crisis – they are very likely to trust their doctor (or other prescriber), who signs the prescription, and will take the drug without being aware of the consequences.

There are clear guidelines issued by the GMC which mandates that doctors make shared decisions, and they obtain informed consent from their patients. But, this is not standard practice. Oftentimes, the doctor is under time constraints or other pressures and/or is not even fully aware of the risks which their patients will face when taking the drugs they prescribe. Furthermore, those who are detained under the Mental Health Act have no legal choice, but to take the prescribed and often harmful drugs, including the so-called antidepressants and antipsychotics.

When challenged, the medical profession is apt to throw their hands in the air, and defend their actions saying “well, what else can I do?” The responsibility is dissipated to such bodies as NICE who produce guidelines which do not have to be followed, or even worse, the defensive healthcare professionals concerned pushes the blame onto the harmed patient, re-framing it as evidence of a psychiatric diagnosis. Doctors who have dedicated their lives to helping people get well, seem too frightened to seek alternatives, or make robust changes to their practice to ensure that patient safety is paramount. This may be hidden well because after all, patients who are harmed are apparently in the minority. But surely if you are one of the minority, then you are just as important as the next person and furthermore, you or your family may have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.

The mantra ‘there but for the grace of God go I’, is well known in the medical profession. Oftentimes, when a patient is harmed, it is seen as ‘bad luck’, not bad judgement. Why? Because of our normal propensity for bias. when most people do not appear to suffer serious side effects, those that do, are seen as ‘outliers’. This justifies the doctors’ actions. But thanks to the collective actions of patients and their families, there is growing evidence of the widespread harm directly resulting from pharmaceutical interventions – finally the cat is out of the bag. This is the reason that the people are gathered at this ‘Stolen Lives’ picnic today.

Neither the survivors nor the bereaved families are naïve enough to think that the sole responsibility lies on doctors alone. We all know that behind the scenes lies those who profit from the sales of prescription drugs; there is irrefutable evidence that there has been a calculated lack of transparency when it comes to the publication of research. Furthermore, both the general public and many doctors continue to rely on ‘influencers’ to explain what the research actually means. This is an easy win, when it comes to the sale of drugs, because it is difficult for the majority of doctors, let alone the general public to fully understand the complexity of the data. As a consequence, it is easy enough to manipulate the conclusions of scientific papers and bias them towards obtaining a favourable result. While declaration of ‘conflicts of interest’ remains voluntary, it is impossible to be sure of obtaining objective opinions. A mandatory ‘sunshine act’, which would force this into the open, for those who sit on the MHRA and in other positions of power and responsibility, is long overdue.

It is vital that patient testimonies are gathered, particularly when those (or their families) who have been harmed are told that that they are unusual in suffering prescribed drug harm. Our collective experience, especially when it comes to psychiatric drugs (although we include other drugs which may cause psychiatric symptoms or suicide), leads us to state that there is a serious issue with a number of widely prescribed drugs and further attempts to cover this up are completely unacceptable. While we recognise that some people may benefit from particular drugs, this does not justify the harm that happens to others. There is no way of knowing which individual will die or whether they will suffer serious harm from taking the prescribed drug, so at the very least, every patient needs to know when there are serious risks, and that they are given every support necessary to consider less risky alternatives.

What we have discovered, is that this view is not welcomed by the medical profession. Furthermore, it seems that there is a reluctance to investigate the possibility that we, as the harmed may be right. Where there is acknowledgement of harm, prescribing practices continue with the excuse that there are no other viable alternatives. Those harmed are often left to seek out what other options may be offered to patients who are going to their doctors for help, whether it be with low mood, anxiety, or even skin complaints or anti-malarial prophylaxis. Surely, it is the duty of doctors not only to STOP doing further harm, but to urgently and diligently search for other options.

At the picnic, was a gathering of intelligent, well informed and motivated people, and there are many others besides us in the activist movements. It is people like us who have taken it upon ourselves to do this vital job for the NHS, and who are proposing various alternative ways to help people, so that they have choices. We are not well financed individuals, and we are making no money from our efforts. We are motivated by a common goal, and that is to help prevent others from having to go through the unnecessary pain, suffering or bereavement which we have been forced to endure through no fault of our own. There is strength in numbers and a tipping point will be reached and maybe that is the reason why we refuse to give up hope.