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F M S F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R (e-mail edition)
July/August 2006 Vol. 15 No. 4
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ISSN #1069-0484. Copyright (c) 2006 by the FMS Foundation
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The FMSF Newsletter is published 6 times a year by the
False Memory Syndrome Foundation. The newsletter is
mailed to anyone who contributes at least $30.00. Also
available at no cost on www.FMSFonline.org
1955 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5766
Phone 215-940-1040, Fax 215-940-1042
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Dear Friends,
Month after month after month we repeat the observation: research in
understanding how people may develop false memories continues its
solid move forward, but many who hold the belief in the reliability of
recovered "repressed" memories are not convinced. The public, the
media, and the courts still have difficulty sorting out what is true.
The following is typical of what one sees in the press:
"There is no credible scientific evidence to prove that repressed
memories even exist. And yet they keep clearing the way for these
kinds of trials which have ruined hundreds, if not thousands, of
families."
Elizabeth Loftus
"It is very painful to me to have anyone, especially in the mental
health community, doubt the existence of repressed memories."
David Clohessy
quoted in Barbour, C. Patrick, R. (2006, June 19)
Ruling spurs repressed-memory debate
St Louis Post-Dispatch, A1
Those comments, in fact, capture the essence of the problem --
scientific evidence contrasted with belief and emotion. It's a
problem, of course, that extends far beyond the subject of recovered
memories. Yet, so much has been learned about memory and false
memories in the decade since the professional organizations last
visited the debate, one can't help but wonder if it is time for
professionals to revisit their recovered-memory statements.
In this newsletter we describe an article by Wright and colleagues who
observe that at the time the professional organizations developed
their statements, they looked at research studies that were not
specifically designed to address the recovered-memory debate. They
write that we "now know events can be implanted into a person's
autobiography, that some people are more suggestible than others, that
particular techniques increase the likelihood memories can be
implanted." They state that research has now shown that we should "not
take at face value statements like: 'I have not thought about that for
years.'" And they ask a important question: "How will history judge us
[psychology and psychiatry]?" The authors answer: "What is important
for the discipline is how it has used science to inform this debate."
Wright and colleagues are British and refer to a study done by the
British Psychological Society (BPS) in 1995. The FMSF commented on
that study at the time, and those comments are reprinted this month
(immediately below). The comments, perhaps, reveal how the BPS use
science in 1995 to inform the debate.
How will history judge the American Psychiatric Association and the
American Psychological Association if they do not reexamine recovered
memories in the light of the research of the past decade?
Professionals have an important opportunity to clear up the confusion
that lingers.
Perhaps some comments by Rhea Farberman, the executive director for
public communications at the American Psychological Association, best
capture the need for that organization to revisit recovered memories.
In an article about Harrison Pope's thousand-dollar challenge to find
examples of recovered repressed memories prior to 1800, (see May/June
2006 FMSF Newsletter) she stated:
"The consensus, certainly among researchers and probably also among
clinicians is that although a memory could conceivably be repressed
and then recovered, that would be unlikely; it is far more likely for
someone to confidently believe they remember something, even though it
never occurred. There's a lot of research to show how that can happen.
Memory is very fallible." [1]
But a few days later, Farberman felt that she may have "left readers
with a misimpression," and in a letter she wrote:
"I said that the phenomenon of a recovered memory can happen but is
unlikely. In actuality, the position of the American Psychological
Association is that it is possible for memories of abuse that have
been forgotten for a long time to be remembered. I also used the
word 'skeptical' in describing the attitude of the mental health
community toward the concept of repressed memories. A better
description would have been the community's cautious but supportive
attitude when dealing with a person who has a new memory of
something long forgotten. [2]
It's unfortunate that a spokesperson for the American Psychological
Association needed to back-peddle because that organization's
statement about recovered memories is out of date.
Perhaps the courts will eliminate the confusion about recovered
memories for the professional organizations. Courts have been slowly
coming to grips with the problems of the reliability of recovered
memories, but the steps have been state by state. While most move
forward, some seem oblivious to science. For example, the Missouri
Supreme Court has potentially opened the door for repressed memory
cases in that state. [3] (p. 8) In one of many clergy cases pending in
Missouri, the court decided that the statute of limitations may be
tolled if a person did not know of the abuse or its harm at the time
the statute would normally apply. Although this in no way prevents
scientific evidence from being used at trial, it also means that vast
legal and financial resources will be usurped from cases involving
children in the here-and-now. It means that claiming "repressed
memories" will be a way in which an old case may receive a hearing in
court. The Missouri standard is now similar to that in Ohio. The Ohio
Supreme Court ruled in May that a person could not bring a lawsuit
against the Catholic Church for childhood abuse principally because he
did not allege that he had repressed his memory. [4] It's not
surprising that claims of recovered repressed memories cluster in
certain states.
At the same time, but in a different legal category, a third-party
lawsuit against some therapists and a hospital for recovered-memory
practices is proceeding in Wisconsin.[5] One problem with bringing
third-party lawsuits has always been access to therapy records. The
Wisconsin case has been in the courts for more than a decade and
resulted in Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions. Now a judge will be
reading the therapy records in camera (privately), and the judge will
decide if those records contain evidence of harmful practices. In the
event that the judge finds such evidence, he will provide the
plaintiffs with just those records that would enable the case against
the therapists to proceed. Or the case could end at this point. Almost
certainly, it has been the lawsuits brought by former patients and
their families against the therapists who caused harm that have
resulted in pushing the law in new directions and in fewer new
families contacting the Foundation.
As of this writing, an air date for the CBS remake of Sybil has not
been announced. The release of the 30th Anniversary Edition of the
original movie, is scheduled for release in mid-July. Unless Warner
Brothers and CBS provide information that the Sybil story is highly
fictionalized, the confusion about recovered memories is likely to
increase. FMSF Newsletter readers may want to sharpen their pencils in
preparation.
In the office, we now receive at least three times as many new
contacts through the internet as we do by telephone. Indeed, most of
the people who do phone have already visited the website. It is only
sensible that the future work of the Foundation be done increasingly
on the internet. As we have written in the past, we plan to distribute
the newsletter primarily in electronic version starting in 2007. For
those who like to have the newsletter in hand, it can easily be
printed in a form that is exactly like the printed version you have
been getting.
We understand, however, that some newsletter readers just don't have
access to the internet. Toward the end of summer, we will be mailing
our annual fund raising letter. It will be sent several weeks earlier
than in the past in order to make needed changes in our records. In it
we will inquire if you are able to receive the newsletter
electronically. We will request updated email addresses. And we will
make a special list of people who are unable to use the internet to
get the newsletter. For those people, we can print out the newsletter
in the office and mail it first class. There will, however, be only
four newsletter mailings in 2007, even if there are more frequent
electronic editions.
Best wishes for an enjoyable summer.
PAMELA
[1] Goldberg, C. (1006, June 12). Debate over repressed memories heats
up with $1,000 challenge. Boston Globe, C1.
[2] Farberman R. (2006, June 20). Letter: Revised points on repressed
memory. Boston Globe, A10. 3.Powel vs. Chaminade College No.
SC86875. Supreme Court of Missouri, June 13, 2006, Filed. 2006
Mo. LEXIS 76.
[4] Doe, Appellee vs. Archdiocese of Cincinnati et al., Nos. 205-0702
and 205-0734, Supreme Court of Ohio, 2006 Ohio 2625; 2006 Ohio
LEXIS 1565, Decided May 31, 2006.
[5] Johnson vs. Rogers Memorial Hospital, No. 96-CV-1228,
Wisc. Cir. Ct., Memorandum decision and order, June 14, 2006.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Report of British Psychological Society 1995 Survey |
| (Reprinted from FMSF Newsletter, 4 (7)) |
| |
| The British Psychological Society (BPS) conducted a survey of its |
| membership in conjunction with its report, "Recovered Memories: |
| Report of the Working Party of the BPS " issued in January, 1995. |
| The survey, "BPS Questionnaire on Memories of Early Sexual Abuse, |
| " was sent to all 4005 clinical members of the BPS in February, |
| 1994. There were 1083 returns and the results were based on 810 |
| members who indicated they had clients claiming child sexual |
| abuse. The results of that survey have only recently been |
| published (Andrews, B., Morton., J., Bekerian, D.A., et al. |
| (1995). The recovery of memories in clinical practice: Experiences |
| and beliefs of British Psychological Society practitioners, " The |
| Psychologist,8, 209-214.) |
| |
| #14 To what extent do you think that recovered memories of CSA |
| [childhood sexual abuse] events from total amnesia can be |
| taken as essentially accurate? |
| |
| never 3%, sometimes 53%, usually 38%, always 6% |
| |
| #17 To what extent do you think that clients ' reports of having |
| experienced satanistic ritual abuse can be taken as |
| essentially accurate? |
| |
| never 3%, sometimes 54%, usually 38%, always 5% |
| |
| But the really bad news is the way that the BPS Working Party |
| chose to treat this information in its January report. Question |
| #14 led to the following remarkable conclusion (page 29): |
| |
| "There are high levels of belief in the essential accuracy of |
| recovered memories of child sexual abuse among qualified |
| psychologists. These beliefs appear to be fuelled by high levels |
| of experience of recovered memories both for CSA and for non-CSA |
| traumatic events. The non-doctrinaire nature of these beliefs is |
| indicated by the high level of acceptance of the possibility of |
| false memories. " |
| |
| One would naturally expect a similar conclusion based on #17, |
| about high levels of belief in the essential accuracy of recovered |
| memories of satanistic ritual abuse. There was no such paragraph. |
| Indeed, the January report made no mention at all of the extent of |
| belief in satanic ritual abuse. The distribution of responses to |
| #17 were not mentioned. The very existence of the survey question |
| itself was not mentioned. |
| |
| Actually there's even more. Two other results from the survey |
| (page 211): |
| |
| # 5 Do you ever use hypnotic regression to uncover traumatic |
memories? |
| y = 10% |
| |
| # 9 Of these [clients who had reported history of child sexual |
| abuse], have any experienced remembering CSA from total amnesia "|
| i.e. no conscious knowledge of the occurrence of the event while |
| in therapy with you? |
| y = 23% |
| |
| How were these results reported five months earlier in the report? |
| They were not reported. Instead, the BPS Working Party stated in |
| its Executive summary of the report (page 3): |
| |
| ... "There is no reliable evidence at present that this is a |
| widespread phenomenon in the UK ". |
| |
| (The members of the BPS Working Party are listed as: Bernice |
| Andrews, John Morton, Debra A. Bekerian, Chris R. Brewin, Graham |
| M. Davies, and Phil Mollon.) |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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ANATOMY OF A PROSECUTION GONE AWRY
David Milgaard spent 23 years behind bars for a murder that he did not
commit. What is unusual about this case is not the injustice that was
done. There are now more than a hundred examples of people who have
been wrongly convicted and later exonerated with DNA evidence. What is
unusual about this particular injustice is that the government of
Saskatchewan has held a hearing to learn what went wrong with the
justice system. The government has committed millions for the project.
The Star Phoenix of Saskatoon has reported on the now 18-month-long
hearing.
The results of the hearings remain to be seen, but the examination of
the case is fascinating in both human and investigative terms. In May,
for example, we learned about the discovery of a police file that
outlined the police theory of how Milgaard committed the crime. The
file included a description of the things witnesses had observed. That
file, however, had been written before the witnesses had ever said
anything about those things. The witnesses did subsequently include
all of the information that was in the file in their testimony.
According to an attorney for Milgaard, it was highly likely that the
file served as a script that the police used. It could indeed,
knowingly or unknowingly, have wrongly influenced witnesses to say
what the police wanted or expected them to say. The file had not been
available at the time of Milgaard's trial.
When the inquiry into David Milgaard's case is concluded, will there
be recommendations that affect how future investigations are conducted
in Saskatchewan? Will the results of this extensive investigation spur
other governments to do the same?
Adam, B.A. (2006, May 19). Top court hearing sparked flurry of
activity. Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), A11.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| What Causes Multiple Personality Disorder? |
| |
| For years, some American trauma specialists have claimed that |
| Multiple Personality Disorder is caused by child abuse -- in spite |
| of the fact that there is no solid scientific evidence to support |
| that claim. In March 2006, another theory was offered by Bert de |
| Wildt of the Medical University of Hanover in Germany.[1] Dr. De |
| Wildt said that he had an example of a female patient who had |
| played internet roleplaying games for several hours a day for more |
| than three years. "During that time the invented characters |
| gradually took control over the personality which had been |
| neglected. The patient lost control of her own identity and social |
| life," he said. During psychoanalysis, therapists discovered that |
| she had developed multiple personalities. |
| |
| [1] Internet roleplaying games can cause multiple personality |
| disorder. (2006, March 13). Deutsch Presse-Agentur. Retrived |
| March 14, 2006. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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MUCH HAS BEEN LEARNED ABOUT RECOVERED MEMORIES SINCE 1995
Wright, D.B., Ost, J., French, C.C.
(2006, June). False memories.
The Psychologist, 19(6), 352-355.
In 1995, the British Psychological Society published a report [1,2] on
recovered memories based on a survey of its members [3] and a review
of the scientific literature. They concluded, among other things, that
"while there is a great deal of evidence for incorrect memories, there
is currently much less evidence on the creating of false memories,"
and that "there are high levels of belief in the essential accuracy of
recovered memories of child sexual abuse among qualified
psychologists."
The authors of the current article note that the scientific evidence
at the time was "based on studies that were not specifically designed
to address the recovered memory debate," and they look at how evidence
has developed since that report. They write that we "now know events
can be implanted into a person's autobiography, that some people are
more suggestible than others, that particular techniques increase the
likelihood memories can be implanted." They write that research has
now shown that we should "not take at face value statements like: 'I
have not thought about that for years.'"
Wright et al. caution that the debate about recovered memories should
not be used to deny other research showing that "children often do not
disclose abuse unless specifically asked." They summarize:
* What appear to be newly remembered (i.e. recovered) memories of past
trauma are sometimes accurate, sometimes inaccurate, and sometimes a
mixture of accuracy and inaccuracy;
* That much of what is recalled cannot be confirmed or disconfirmed;
* That, because of these two beliefs, reports of past trauma based on
such recovered memories are not reliable enough to be the sole basis
for legal decisions.
And they ask, "How will history judge us?" The authors answer "What is
important for the discipline is how it has used science to inform this
debate."
[1] Andrews, B., Bekerian, D., Brewin, C. et al. (1995). Recovered
memories: The report of the working party of the British
Psychological Society. In K. Pezdek & W.P. Banks (Eds.) The
recovered memory/false memory debate (pp. 373-392). San Diego, CA:
Academic Press. See Executive Summary in FMSF Newsletter 4(2).
[2] Commenting on the 1995 report: "One welcomed the decision of the
BPS to set up a Working Party to report on the widely debated
question of "Recovered Memories." Indeed, given the deep clinical
and social importance of the question it was prudent for it to do
so. In the event, unfortunately, the Report of the Working Party
is deeply disappointing and, at its most crucial junctures, is
badly flawed. It has helpfully issued a short list of some
sensible guidelines for therapists. But its "preliminary survey"
of BPS accredited therapists, itself incompletely reported, and
its analysis of the problem and its treatment of evidence will do
little to redress anxieties that have been widely expressed about
particular clinical practices.
Professor L. Weiskrantz , Emeritus Professor of Psychology,
University of Oxford
[3] Andrews, B., Morton., J., Bekerian, D.A., et al. (1995). The
recovery of memories in clinical practice: Experiences and beliefs
of British Psychological Society practitioners," The Psychologist,
8, 209-214. See Sidebar p. 4.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| "If memory were a faithful register only of things actually heard |
| and seen, then the record of any event would be a mosaic of |
| scattered fragments (many ill-defined and with broken edges, some |
| with their relative positions not clearly fixed) and the whole |
| would be interspersed with deplorable missing parts. However, what |
| our memory presents to us is a compact and finished picture, with |
| smooth, unbroken surface, in which the ragged edges have been |
| trimmed, the ill-preserved fragments dropped out, and the missing |
| parts filled up. . . . It is this thing of shreds and patches that |
| is presented by lovers of the marvelous.". |
| Frank Podmore. Modern spiritualism |
| London: Methuen, 1902. Vol 2, p. 211. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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IF RECOVERED MEMORIES ARE FODDER FOR SATIRE,
THE SITUATION MUST BE GETTING BETTER.
Repressed-Memory Therapist Recovers Rockford Files Episode
(A Retelling. For original story see
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31044)
According to a June 8, 2005 article in the on-line publication The
Onion, [1] Iowa therapist Brian Marnard helped his patient Joan Spees,
a 37-year-old farm-equipment sales consultant, recover an entire
Rockford Files episode. "from the darkest reaches of her subconscious
mind. "
"Joan, who had suffered from seemingly inexplicable anxiety attacks
her entire adult life, was the perfect candidate for repressed-memory
therapy, " Marnard said. "Under my care, she began recovering vivid
memory flashes from what seemed to be a single, distinct episode from
her past. " But Joan could not see the relationship between the
fragments.
Although Spees said that the flashbacks did not really disrupt her
personal life, Marnard was concerned about what the memories might
signify.
Marnard noted that "Repressed memories, which are stored outside the
awareness of the conscious mind, can usually be traced back to a
traumatic event. " Marnard was concerned that Joan might have been a
victim of childhood sexual abuse. If that were the case, it was
important to excavate the memories and confront them.
Marnard began "an exhaustive, expensive course of drug-mediated
interviews, hypnosis, regression therapy, and literal dream
interpretation. "
It took a long time for him to get the story. He knew he was close to
the climax when during regression she said "...What you gotta do is
just keep laughing. " Then she paused and said "Later tonight on NBC.
"
Immediately after the breakthrough, the patient discontinued her
sessions and refused to pay her bill. She called Marnard a "Quack. "
Marnard thinks Joan should return to therapy. He said that "Joan can
run from her problems all she wants, " but not all of her recurring
memories have been explained.
[1] (2005, June 8). Repressed-memory therapist recovers Rockford Files
Episode. The Onion, 41(23). The Onion is a satirical on-line
publication.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| No Shortage of Belief in Recovered Memories |
| |
| There is no shortage of evidence that some people continue to |
| believe in recovered memories. The examples below crossed our desk |
| in the past few days. |
| |
| GENERAL HEALING TOOLS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE/RITUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS; |
| |
| Grief Work; Anger Work; Bodywork Confrontation and Separation; |
| Forgiveness; Healing from PTSD Reparenting and Learning to Love; |
| One's Inner Child/Parts; Triggers. MV (2006, April).General |
| healing tools for sexual abuse/ritual abuse survivors. |
| Many Voices XVIII (2), 4 |
| |
| (Many Voices still thanks Del Amo Hospital (Torrance, CA); River |
| Oaks Hospital (New Orleans, LA); Sheppard Pratt Health System |
| (Baltimore, MD); Timberlawn Mental Health System (Dallas, TX); Two |
| Rivers Psychiatric Hospital (Kansas City, MO); and Women's |
| Institute for Incorporation Therapy (Hollywood, FL)). |
| |
| MEMORIES IN CELLS |
| |
| "The third step of the therapy involved yoga-type exercises, aimed |
| at releasing the trauma memory contained in the body's cells." |
| |
| Zdeb,C. (2006, June 22) |
| Waiting to exhale: |
| Breathing exercises release the self-healing |
| process, says therapist |
| The Calgary Herald, C1 |
| |
| MEMORIES IN TUMORS |
| |
| "Within the tumor, she says, was an old unresolved memory of |
| childhood abuse she was sure she'd already dealt with. Once |
| finally resolved and forgiven, and the lesson the tumor had been |
| sent to teach her had been learned, her body went about the |
| natural process of healing on its own." |
| |
| Hooper, N. |
| describing the cancer recovery of Brandon Bays |
| Quoted in Consumer Health. (2006, June 20) |
| Bays book offers guide to emotional freedom |
| Irish Times, 4 |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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AARON BECK RECEIVES ADOLF MEYER AWARD
We are pleased to note that Aaron T. Beck, M.D., a member of the FMSF
Scientific Advisory Board, has received the 2006 Adolf Meyer Award,
the American Psychiatric Association's most prestigious award. Dr.
Beck is, perhaps, best known for his development and evaluation of the
cognitive behavioral approach in psychotherapy.
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| "The repression (or suppression) of trauma appears to be a |
| clinical myth in search of scientific support." |
| Kihlstrom, J.F. (2002) |
| No need for repression |
| Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 6, 502 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
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RECOVERED OR DISCOVERED MEMORIES?
The notion that people commonly cope with child sexual abuse by
repressing the memories of terrible events is central to the popular
beliefs that have fueled the recovered memory phenomenon. Many
therapists and patients are absolutely sure that they have seen the
recovery of memories during therapy. How do researchers sort out
whether that is what actually happened?
Cognitive psychologists have approached the question by devising
experiments that can compare the ways in which different groups of
people process certain types of information. They look at groups of
people who believe that they are harboring repressed memories, who
have recovered memories, or who have always remembered their abuse.
Last month we received a copy of a Ph.D.dissertation by Elke Geraerts,
who was inspired by the work of Harvard's Susan Clancy and Richard
McNally that has often been reported in this newsletter.[1] Geraerts
studied with memory researchers in the Experimental Psychology
Department at Maasticht University in the Netherlands, including
Harald Merckelbach
We have space in this newsletter only to touch upon her work, but the
studies will soon be available in at least eight published papers. In
the meantime, anyone who would like more information can contact the
author at: E.Geraerts@Psychology.Unimaas.nl
Geraerts sensitively explains how her studies show that there are two
types of recovered memory experiences. "In one type, people realize
that they are abuse survivors, commonly attributing current life
difficulties to these repressed memories of abuse. Here, abuse events
are mostly gradually recalled over time, often by suggestions of a
therapist. In the other type of recovered memory experience, people
are suddenly reminded of events that they had not thought about in
many years. They are shocked and surprised at their recollection but
not at the content of the memory as such."
In a series of experiments the author shows that repression is not
needed as an explanation for either experience. She explains how
people might develop a false impression of amnesia in either
experience.
We will be hearing more about this research in the near future.
[1] Remembrance of things past: The cognitive psychology of
remembering and forgetting trauma.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| "The notion that traumatic events can be repressed and later |
| recovered is the most pernicious bit of folklore ever to infect |
| psychology and psychiatry. It has provided the theoretical basis |
| for "recovered memory therapy" -- the worst catastrophe to befall |
| the mental health field since the lobotomy era.: |
| |
| Richard McNally (2005, June 3) |
| Amicus Curiae Letter submitted to California |
| Supreme Court in support of Elizabeth Loftus |
| The complete letter may be read at: |
| www.religioustolerance.org/rmtmcnally.htm
\____________________________________________________________________/
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L E G A L C O R N E R
___________________________________
Uncharted Ground in 3rd-Party Case:
Wisconsin Judge Orders that Medical Records Be Submitted to Court
for an In Camera Review [1]
Johnson vs. Rogers Memorial Hospital
Case No. 96-CV-1228
Wisconsin Circuit Court, Memorandum decision and order,
June 14, 2006. [2]
On June 14, 2006, Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Daniel R. Moeser
ordered that Rogers Memorial Hospital, psychotherapist Kay Phillips,
and doctors Jeff Hollowell and Tim Reisenauer give him the therapy
records of the daughter of Charles and Karen Johnson. He will examine
those records privately (in camera) and determine if any of those
records can be released to the Johnsons. In 1996, the Johnsons filed
claims of malpractice and negligence against various therapists and
Rogers Memorial Hospital for the treatment of their daughter. The
Johnsons brought the lawsuit after their daughter claimed to have
recovered memories of childhood abuse, cut off contact, and had her
lawyer send a letter stating that she would sue them unless they
agreed to pay one million dollars. The case has been in the courts for
a decade as the issue of access to patient records has been argued.
[3] Without therapy records, there is no way to determine with
certainty that the treatment was negligent. The daughter and
therapists would not release the records.
In July 2005, the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a split decision ruled
that a judge could decide if the Johnsons' daughte's therapy
records should be made available to the parents over her and her
therapist' objections. The 2005 ruling stated that the Johnsons
could explain to a judge why the victim's records are relevant. If
the judge is persuaded by their arguments, he could then review the
records in camera, and provide to the plaintiffs those sections that
he deems to contain relevant information. The parents might get many
records or none depending on the evaluation of the judge.
Judge Moeser's decision explains that he evaluated the arguments of
the plaintiffs and the defendants and decided that the Johnsons had
made a convincing case that the judge should evaluate the therapy
records.
The Johnsons argued that their investigations showed that the
therapists had not properly explained to their daughter the
possibility of developing false memories. They argued that without
records they could not determine whether such a discussion took place.
They also argued that their daughter had been treated with hypnosis or
something similar, based on the testimony of one of their daughter's
friends to whom she had told this fact. Only the records could confirm
this. Finally, the Johnsons argued that the therapists failed to
gather information from collateral sources (such as her siblings,
parents, or friends) to ensure the accuracy of her memories and thus
the appropriateness of their treatment.
To our knowledge, this is the first time that such a decision has been
made in a suit brought by parents against the doctors and institution
that treated their daughter or son.
[1] Johnson v. Rogers Memorial Hosp., Inc., 283 Wis.2d 384, 700 N.W.2d
27 (2005).
[2] The Memorandum will be available in the Legal section at:
http://www.FMSFonline.org.
[3] See FMSF Newsletter, 14(5) Legal Corner for a review of this case.
________________________________________________________
Ohio Jury Convicts Father Robinson in 1980 Murder of Nun
State v. Robinson, Case No. 2004 1915,
Court of Common Pleas, Lucas County Ohio
After six hours of deliberation, an Ohio jury found Father Gerald
Robinson guilty of brutally murdering 71-year-old Sister Margaret Ann
Pahl on the day before Easter in 1980 in a chapel. Although Father
Robinson had been considered one of the suspects in the 1980
investigation, there had never been enough evidence to bring charges
against anyone at that time. The cold case was reopened in 2004 when a
woman claimed that she had recovered memories of ritual abuse by
priests, including Father Robinson. The Survivors Network of Those
Abused by Priests helped the woman reopen the case.
The trial garnered international media attention and was shown on
Court TV. Not only was the accusation of a priest murdering a nun
unprecedented, the charges also included ritual cult activity.
The prosecution decided not to focus on the satanic cult aspects of
the accusations against 68-year-old Robinson. Instead they tried
Robinson on a straight murder charge. Prosecutor Dean Mandros told the
jury: "Was this part of some ritual black mass? No, I'm sorry to
disappoint you. ? He went on to say that it was a rage killing, the
common scenario of a man getting very angry at a woman. [1]
Prosecutors argued that Father Robinson had been angry because Sister
Pahl had complained about the way he conducted a Good Friday service
the night before the killing. They said that Robinson considered the
victim domineering. Prosecutors said that a letter opener belonging to
Robinson was the murder weapon and they had witnesses that placed him
near the murder scene at the time. The prosecution claimed that the
original investigation has been compromised because the Church had
interfered.
The defense argued that the police botched the original investigation
and that 24 years later they had rushed to arrest Robinson because of
media attention. The defense noted that many of the original witnesses
were dead and many original documents were missing. DNA evidence
excluded him. No one saw him do it. The defense noted that no one
could say for certain that the letter opener had been the weapon and
that scissors could as easily been used.
Robinson's defense appeared to be weakened, however, because he gave
two stories about what he was doing when the body was found, he denied
he had keys to the chapel when, in fact, he did, and he claimed that
he heard the confession of the real killer but later recanted that
story.
Father Robinson was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. His
attorneys have stated that they will file an appeal in this case.
However, his legal problems are not over. The woman who originally
brought the charges to attention has filed a civil suit against Father
Robinson and also the Toledo Catholic Diocese. The Toledo diocese
refused to pay any of Robinson's legal expenses. These were paid by
some former parishioners who banded together to support him.
According to newspaper reports, the "civil suit alleges that between
1968 and 1975, starting when Jane Doe was 5 and continuing through age
13, Robinson and others forced her to perform sexual acts and made her
drink animal blood, 'chanted satanic verses,' and drew an upside down
cross on her stomach in rituals held in the basement of St. Adalbert
Catholic Church and in unspecified wooded areas. ? [2]
Comments about the criminal trial have noted the very great change in
attitude toward the clergy since the original crime. For example,
according to James Davidson, a Purdue University sociologist, it would
have been difficult to convict Robinson in 1980. Since that time
people no longer view priests as being holier than themselves or
better human beings than themselves. The current climate made a
conviction possible. [3]
One effect of the trial may be increased interest in satanic ritual
abuse. For example, retired psychologist Wanda Karriker wrote that
because she spent her career working with ritual abuse survivors, she
was interviewed by Lisa Bloom and Vinnie Politan and asked to tell
viewers how survivors get over ritual abuse. Karriker wrote that she
was able to reach millions of viewers.[4]
[1] Ewinger, J. (2006, May 11). Jurors sort out two accounts of nun's
killing. Plain Dealer, B2.
[2] Yonke, D. (2006, May 14). Convicted priest's legal woes aren't
over: Civil lawsuit accuses cleric of rape and torture from '68 to
'75. The Blade.
[3] Seewer, J. (2006, may 15). View of priests has changed since nun's
murder in 1980. Associated Press State & Local Wire.
[4] Karriker. W. (2006, May 16). Letter. The Blade.
________________________________________________________________
Ryan Ferguson Found Guilty of Murder Based on Recovered Memories
State vs. Ferguson No 165368-01, Boone County, MO Circuit Court
Ryan Ferguson, 21, was found guilty of second degree murder and
first-degree robbery on October 21, 2005 in Boone County, Missouri.
The evidence was based on the recovered memories of his friend Craig
Erickson. What is known for certain is that Columbia, Missouri Daily
Tribune journalist Kent Heitholt was brutally murdered on November 1,
2001. What is less clear to those familiar with the problems with the
reliability of recovered memories, is that Ryan Ferguson was one of
the murderers.
On the evening in question, 17-year-old high school juniors Ryan
Ferguson and Craig Erickson, friends since junior high school, were
participating in a Halloween party at a bar in Columbia. After that,
events are confusing. A witness said that he saw a commotion near the
victim's car but could not make a detailed description at the time. No
arrests were made.
The event that sparked the arrests of Ryan Ferguson and Craig Erickson
was a tip to the police in January 2004 saying that someone was
talking and telling his friends that he had been involved in the
crime. The origin of this, according to Ferguson testimony, was that
Erickson confronted him at a New Year's Eve party on Dec 31, 2003 with
concerns that the two of them had killed the victim. Ferguson said
that Craig told him he had a dream about it.
Craig Erickson confessed to the police. Erickson said that he had
recovered repressed memories, and he pleaded guilty to second-degree
murder in exchange for his testimony against Ferguson. Ferguson was
arrested in March, 2004 in Kansas City where he was attending college.
Ferguson's trial ended in October 2005 when he was found guilty and
sentenced to 40 years. Craig Erickson was sentenced to 25 years.
The story seems straightforward, if a bit strange, until one examines
the tapes of the interrogation of Craig Erickson. Erickson seemed to
know nothing about the details of the crime until the interrogator fed
them to him. See the following examples:
Example 1
MAN: How many times do you think you hit him all together?
ERICKSON: Just the once.
MAN: Just once? Well, the only problem is "the only problem with
that is I know he was hit more than once..
Example 2.
Investigators had to point out where the crime took place.
MAN: Is it possible that you know what he was strangled with and you
just didn't want to tell me? Because I know.
ERICKSON: No, like, I think it was a shirt or something.
MAN: Well, I know it wasn't a shirt.
ERICKSON: Like, maybe a bungee cord or "I don't "some thing from his
car. I don't see why he'd have a rope in his car.
MAN: Well, we know for a fact that his belt was ripped off of his
pants and he was strangled with his belt.
ERICKSON: Really?
MAN: Does that ring a bell?
ERICKSON: Not at all.
By the time of the trial, Erickson had all the details of the crime.
Elizabeth Loftus was an expert for the defense and pointed out
instances where the police told Erickson the details of the murder.
She testified that Craig was an impressionable young man who read
about the murder, then dreamt about it, and then all the details came
from the police. When one of the jurors was asked if that made sense
he replied "Not in my mind. Just common sense. What was the reason he
would make something up like that? ? (48 Hours)
Given the sort of doubt that these and many other examples from the
interrogation raise, it seems puzzling that Ryan Ferguson was
convicted. Perhaps the jury could not understand why Craig Erickson
might be willing to say he murdered someone and take 25 years in
prison, if he did not do it. Although the tapes of the interrogation
were shown during the trial, perhaps the particular suggestive
processes were not adequately explained. Perhaps the inconsistencies
were not clearly mapped by the defense. Most people are not as
familiar with these processes as are newsletter readers.
Attorneys for Ryan Ferguson were Kathryn Benson, Charles Rogers and
Jeremy Weiss. Prosecuting Attorney was Kevin Crane. Boone County
Circuit Judge Ellen Roper presided.
On December 5, 2005, the judge denied request for new trial. Ryan
Ferguson is appealing the decision.
Zagier, A.S. (2005, October 20). Defendant testifies in trial of
slain sports editor. Associated Press State & Local Wire.
Dream killer; Ryan Ferguson accused of killing Kent Heitholt. (2006,
February 18).
48 Hours, CBS News Transcripts.
For more information see: http://www.showmenews.com/Heitholt/ and
www.Freeryanferguson@aol.com.
___________________________________________________________
Missouri Supreme Court Rules Deadline for Filing Lawsuit Is
Not Triggered Until Victim Realizes the Damage
Powel vs. Chaminade College No. SC86875. Supreme Court of Missouri,
June 13, 2006, Filed. 2006 Mo. LEXIS 76
In a 6 "1 decision, the Missouri Supreme Court has potentially opened
the door to repressed memory cases. On June 14, 2006, the court ruled
that Michael Powel may proceed with his lawsuit against Chaminade
College Preparatory School for alleged abuse 30 years ago. Until now,
Missouri courts have held the statute that required filing claims of
childhood sexual abuse within five years of turning 21, or by age 31,
depending on the law in effect at the time of the alleged abuse.
Powel filed suit in 2002 against the school, the order that runs the
school, former Archbishop Justin Rigali, and two faculty members. He
accused the teachers of molesting him when he was 15 to 17 years old.
Rigali was later dropped from the suit. Powel claimed he had repressed
the memory of the abuse until 2000 when he was undergoing treatment
for a brain tumor. In 2004, a circuit court judge dismissed his claims
saying he had filed too late. The judge found that Powel was capable
of realizing damage from the abuse that had supposedly occurred. Powel
appealed, and a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals
transferred the case to the state Supreme Court, saying it would not
follow a 2000 decision of the Appeal Court.
The Missouri Supreme Court found that awareness of abuse and
recognition of the harm that it had caused is independent of whether
the memories of abuse had been suppressed. The decision stated that:
"It is not appropriate for this court to make credibility
determinations on summary judgment....Further, it is premature to
determine whether Michael can meet this standard. ? In a separate but
concurring opinion, Chief Justice Michael Wolff wrote that "Whether
Powel repressed his memory is irrelevant because his injuries were
capable of ascertainment when the abuses occurred... .Powel in his
affidavit says he repressed memory of the alleged sexual abuse, but
Powel also testified in his deposition that he always remembered the
alleged abuse. ? Wolff thought the lawsuit should continue but
wondered whether the case would continue once both sides completed the
discovery process.
Gerard Noce, an attorney who helped represent Chaminade said that "The
statute of limitations is still in place. There's not a new standard
in place that says a person can know something, then 'repress' it,
then know it later. ? He thought that repressed-memory claims brought
by people citing a younger age at the time of abuse might be more
credible to the courts.
Drew Baebler, a lawyer who helped with Powel's lawsuit noted that
every case involving repressed memories would have to be reevaluated.
Patrick. R (2006, June 14). Repressed memory abuse suits supported.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, A1.
Barbour, C. Patrick, R. (2006, June 19). Ruling spurs
repressed-memory debate. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, A1.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Snapshot of the Status of Families in One FMSF Group |
| April 26, 2006 |
| |
| (After a recent meeting in Missouri on April 26, 2006, host Tom |
| Rutherford sent the following note to participants.) |
| |
| Dear Family: |
| |
| It was so wonderful to have you in our home last Saturday We are |
| so thankful for the many people who were there for us during the |
| most horrible time in our lives. Without folks like you, and |
| especially God, we wouldn't have made it. Our daughter Beth wanted |
| to be at the meeting but was called into work early and couldn't |
| get out of the requirement. She sends her greetings along with |
| this letter. |
| |
| Most if not all expressed an interest in getting the current |
| update on the other families, so I'm sending it to everyone. When |
| I was taking my notes, I wasn't thinking about sending the |
| information so if something is incorrect, please accept my |
| apologies. This is shared in the context of continuing to pray for |
| each other and our precious families. |
| |
| |
| Us Son/ When it Update |
| Daughter started |
| |
| Family 1 S 1991 A returner and is planning a big family |
| affair which is good, but his siblings |
| have some bitterness. |
| |
| Family 2 D 1990 Nothing has changed from the beginning. |
| |
| Family 3 D 1993 A returner. They have a wonderful |
| relationship today with daughter and her |
| family, but have never talked about it. |
| |
| Family 4 2Ds 1982/83 Older daughter does communicate, a |
| marginal returner. Younger daughter |
| stays distant, but 2 months ago she told |
| her mom that she loved her over the |
| phone....23 years of waiting and praying |
| Family 5 D 1990 Nothing has really changed. Accuser's |
| sister has gotten messed-up in the same |
| kind of therapy. |
| |
| Family 6 S&D 1995 Both daughter and son are distant; |
| nothing has really changed and seemingly |
| is getting worse. Family is currently |
| working on grandparent visitation rights.|
| |
| Family 7 D 1999 Have had some recent contact with |
| daughter, the first in 5 son-in-law |
| years. Son-in-law is growing worse. |
| Currently a divorce is in process. |
| Legally working on grandparent visitation|
| rights. |
| |
| Family 8 D 1994 Lost 3 daughters to the sick lie, but 2 |
| have recanted and are restored. The |
| youngest of 9 children still remains |
| distant -- nothing really has changed |
| |
| Family 9 3Ds 1992 God worked a parade of miracles and by |
| 1995 each daughter slowly returned, |
| recanted and was restored. This is our |
| continued prayer for all of you. |
| |
| Folks Saturday was a day that we will always remember. |
| You remain in our hearts. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
The chart below is from the Introduction to the 1999 edition of The
Secret Trauma: Incest in the Lives of Girls and Women, by Diana
E. H. Russell (1996, 1999). New York: Basic Books Table I-1:
Contrasting Characteristics of Retrieved, Then Retracted, Memories
versus Continuous Memories of Incestuous Abuse [a]
Retrieved, Then Retracted, Continuous Memories
Memories
1. Fathers are typically the first 1. Only 4.5% of the incest
to be singled out as perpetrators perpetrators in Russell's study
by female clients or by their were fathers, while 12% were
therapists. other relatives.
2. In one study of retrieved 2. In Russell's study, step-
memory cases, biological fathers fathers greatly predominated over
were accused of sexual abuse in biological fathers as
50% of the cases, whereas only 3% perpetrators of incestuous abuse.
involved stepfathers.[b]
3. Mothers are typically named as 3. Maternal incest perpetrators
co-perpetrators or collaborators are extremely rare; many mothers
with the father. are not paware of the abuse by
their husbands; and some mothers
confront or leave their husbands
if they know about the abuse. [c]
4. The sexual abuse is frequently 4. Only 9% t of the incestuous
described as "rape." abuse experiences in Russell's
study involved completed rape
(i.e. penile/vaginal penetration).
5. The sexual abuse is never a 5. 43% of the incest survivors in
single incident. Russell's study were incestuously
abused only once by their
perpetrators.
6. The sexual abuse typically 6. Only 10$ of the incestuous
occurs frequently and over long abuse in Russell's study occurred
durations. more than 20 times, and only 6%
occurred over more than 10 years.
7. Incestuous abuse is frequently 7. Memory experts typically claim
remembered as starting at very that children below the age of
young, preverbal ages. four are not capable of
remembering. [d] In Russell's
study, only 11% were below the age
of 5 when they were abused, and
the mean age was 11-15 years.
8. The sexual assaults almost 8. Only 3% of the incest
always involve multiple survivors in Russell's study were
perpetrators. abused by more than one relative.
9. Significantly more females are 9. In Russell's study, women
accused of perpetrating sexual comprised only 5% of the
abuse in retracted cases. The perpetrators of child abuse, and
sexual assaults almost always only 4% of incestuous abuse.
involve multiple perpetrators.
10. Many of these women come to 10. No case of ritual abuse was
believe that they were victims of disclosed in Russell's study.
satanic ritual abuse.
11. Many of these women become 11. Therapy typically ends
decidedly more disturbed and neutrally or positively for
unhappy during therapy than when clients.
they entered therapy, not
infrequently attempting suicide
and/or requiring hospitalization.
12. Many of these women fluctuate 12. These kind of fluctuations
between believing and not believing were not apparent in Russell's
their "memories" during the course study.
of their therapy.
13. Recovered memories tend to be 13. Very few of the cases in
"built up over time... with more Russell's study were elaborate or
being added at each attempt at bizarre.
recall, often becoming increasingly
elaborate and bizarre.[e]
14. Most of the accusations based 14. No comparative data are
on recovered memories have been available
made since 1990. [f]
15. Many of these women confront 15. No comparative data are
their perpetrators, then sever all available
ties with them.
16. A small minority of these women 16. None of the incest survivors
develop multiple personalities in Russell's study described
(MPD) during the course of suffering from MPD.
treatment, or are perceived to s
uffer from MPD by their therapists.
17. Hypnosis, relaxation states, 17. None of these techniques were
drugs, regression techniques, and mentioned in Russell's study.
dream analysis are often used by Indeed, therapy was only rarely
the therapists of these women to mentioned. This is not surprising
try to retrieve more memories of since it was a community sample.
child sexual abuse.
a Main source: Russell 1986
b Gudjonsson: 1997a, 1997b
c Faller 1988
d Brandon et al. 1998
e Brandon et al. 1998, p.304
f Gudjonsson 1997b
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| "... more is known than has been used intelligently." |
| Miller, G. A. (1969) |
| Psychology as a means of promoting human welfare |
| American Psychologist, 24, 1063 - 1075 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
**********************************************************************
F R O M O U R R E A D E R S
___________________________
Breakthrough after 7 years!
Last Saturday, my husband and I traveled 5 hours to the coast where
our daughter lives. My husband stayed at a hotel while I went to my
daughter's home. Even though our counselor didn't advise this because
of the violation of her boundaries, I felt I had nothing to lose.
After 4 times of ringing the doorbell, I laid my gift on the doorstep
and started to walk back to the car. When my daughter realized it was
me, she graciously and unexpectedly invited me to come in. My tears
flowed as I thanked her for inviting me into her home.
I spent the afternoon visiting with my precious daughter and her
husband. It was a bitter/sweet time with an emphasis on the "sweet".
They told me they have prayed for us to be healed, to stop living in
denial and to get our memories of when we abused her so that our
family can be together again. Until we admit what we did, she said she
cannot be part of our family. She had been through deliverance-type
counseling by an unlicensed person who was part of a very basic,
fundamental Christian church. Her memories of horrific things done to
her by us are very real.
They want to meet with us again to get some answers to some tough
questions. We know the door has cracked open.
In looking back, we have spent the last 7 years writing newsy letters
and cards, sending many gifts and also sending some photos of others.
Most of all, though, we have been on our knees praying and looking up
every Scripture promise we could find to claim as our own! Here, we
found direction and strength as we learned God's will for our
devastated family. Yes, we worked through grief just as anyone would
who had lost a child. There were many lonely holidays. I truly didn't
know that I would ever be able to write a "breakthrough" letter. We
were in for the long haul -- whatever that would mean. We don't know the
timetable of what lies ahead, but I do know that seeing my daughter
doing so well has lifted a weight from my shoulders and put a new joy
in my heart.
A Grateful Mom
___________________________
Thank Your for Your Support
To My Pastor: You will never know the joy that came to our hearts
today when you called and said our son had spoken with you. My wife
and I were having lunch at a local restaurant when your call came. We
make it a practice of being available to answer the phone 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. We started this after our son left us 12 years
ago. In the unlikely event we might get a call during the church hour,
it is on a buzzer.
Our hearts were gladdened and lifted when our son wrote to us in
January and advised us that he was now living in a nearby state and
wanted to drive down and visit with us. We were so excited we could
hardly scratch a letter to him to get in the evening's mail. A few
days later, we got an email from him asking about a particular date.
Do you see the picture? We had not seen him in nearly 12 years, had
never met his wife and could not imagine what he would look like after
12 years. We spent a delightful four hours with him and his wife and
then they returned home. Before he left, he added that he felt that we
had a lot to go over with him and truer words were never spoken. He is
expected back in two months at which time we will hope to go over what
happened. Those who have been through this tell me to let our son make
the first move and just listen and be ready to respond. This will be
difficult for me, but we are so far ahead of where we were beginning
to think we would ever be, I am going to take that advice from people
who have gone through this before us.
My wife joins me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for your call
and your pledge to continue to pray for us. We are so humble and
grateful for the friends who have stood by us in this horrible event
that came so late in life.
A Happy Dad
_______________________________________________
If Your Alienated Child Would Read Your Letter,
What Would You Write?
Dear "L,"
Thirty years ago I was given the greatest birthday gift God has ever
delivered...YOU. You were nurtured and loved with all of our hearts.
Nothing has changed.
I will never fully understand how anything could so completely
separate and tear us apart. Five and one half years and the shock is
still just as painful as in the beginning of this nightmare. As I have
prayed for your happiness and well being since the day you were born,
I continue to do so. Although you have semi-returned after these five
torturous years, you are still so very far away. My fondest wish is to
be able to sit with you and discuss your memories with an open
heart... the bitterness and hatred set aside.
Although dad is gone now, I think I can speak for both of us. Please
give me the chance, my darling daughter, to help us heal and do the
best we can for the life that is left to us. It is up to us how we
live that life and how we share it. I want us to share it as a family.
"L", Talk to me. I love you so much.
Love, Mom
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| The Therapist's Invitation |
| |
| You've been depressed? Don't have it all together? Well come along |
| I've treated many others. |
| |
| I have a great all-purpose diagnosis, and we can start your |
| treatment on that basis. |
| |
| In childhood you were sexually molested, and if you don't recall |
| it, you've repressed it. |
| |
| Your family's treatment of you has been vile, and if they won't |
| confess, they're in denial. |
| |
| Confront them, then break off all contact with them. You must |
| assert your right to be a victim. |
| |
| Your happy memories must be replaced with memories of how you were |
| debased. It will take time and lots of cash, but never mind. The |
| first step is to break the family ties that bind. |
| |
| The memories will come; I have good weapons: Hypnosis, guided |
| imagery, suggestions. |
| |
| You won't get better right away, of course, and my beliefs will |
| be your sole resource. |
| |
| When your insurance will no longer pay, and you're cut loose to |
| wobble your own way, |
| |
| I'll wish you well, but don't expect a handout just because the |
| treatment hasn't panned out. |
| |
| The manufactured memories are yours to keep, for worthless though |
| they are, they were not cheap. |
| A mom |
\____________________________________________________________________/
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Before and After Letters |
| |
| Before: |
| |
| Dear Daddy, |
| |
| I guess I don't get a chance to tell you too often but you're the |
| most wonderful pop in the world! I was sitting in the plane today |
| and heard someone say "Happy Father's Day." I got to thinking how |
| we so seldom get to talk and how I, in my own little world, had |
| forgotten my special man on his special day. |
| |
| I remember how when I was a child, I wanted to grow up and be just |
| like you. I'm almost a married woman now and I can't be Daddy's |
| little girl anymore. But please could I always be Daddy's big |
| girl? You and Mom are so wonderful to us. I hope that I might give |
| to my children the love you two have given us. |
| |
| I love you. |
| "D" |
| |
| After |
| |
| Dad, |
| |
| I have spent 45 of my 47 years feeling sad and flawed and shamed |
| and I never understood why. Did you ever wonder what the abuse did |
| to me? |
| |
| The TRUTH is -- my father sexually abused me when I was little -- |
| for years, night after horrible night. He did it for his own |
| selfish pleasure. It wasn't my fault. I was a defenseless little |
| girl who loved her Daddy. It was YOUR fault, Dad. I'm not bad. My |
| Dad is bad. You are bad. |
| |
| In the past nine months I have talked with ministers and |
| therapists and incest survivors and doctors and experts -- they |
| all agree -- to get well, mentally, physically, emotionally, and |
| spiritually, I have to face the truth! |
| |
| You are not my family. You are the sperm donor who gave me life. I |
| don't want you ever to touch me again. I am finally leaving home! |
| |
| I wish I could hate you, Dad. It would be so much easier. But as |
| much as I want to, as angry as I am, as hurt and terrorized as I |
| was, I always loved you. I guess I still do. |
| "D" |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
* N O T I C E S *
**********************************************************************
* *
* 13th International Conference *
* National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center *
* Child Abuse Allegations: *
* *
* SCIENCE VS. JUNK SCIENCE IN THE COURTROOM *
* Las Vegas, Nevada *
* September 28-30, 2006 *
* *
* A conference for attorneys, judges, investigators and other *
* concerned professionals who deal with child abuse cases and who *
* need to keep abreast of the most current medical, scientific, and *
* psychological research, procedures and studies in order to be able *
* to separate fact from fiction, confession from coercion and harm *
* from hyperbole. *
* *
* Program Includes *
* *
* Doug Peters, J.D.: The Winning Edge/The Right Ethics *
* Zachary Bravos, J.S.: The Ethical Duty to Know: Your Education *
* Does Not End with Graduation *
* Debra Poole, Ph.D.: What Competent Interviewing of Children Can *
* and Can't Do (and Why) *
* Kamala London, Ph.D.: Abuse Disclosure: Delay, Denial, and *
* Recantation of Abuse *
* F. Edward Yazbak, M.D.: SBS: Vaccines or Violence *
* Loren Pankratz, Ph.D.: Unexpected Traps in Munchausen Syndrome by *
* Proxy *
* Stephen Guertin, M.D.: Literature Review of Medical Findings *
* Involving Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse *
* Kathleen Coyne, J.D.: Ethical Considerations in the Investigation *
* and Defense of Child Abuse Cases *
* Richard Ofshe, Ph.D.: Coerced and False Confessions: What to do *
* Other Than Getting Depressed or Over the River and through *
* the Woods doing a False Confession Case *
* Anthony Shaw, M.D.: Burns Bruises, Abdominal Injuries - Abuse or *
* Not *
* Mark Herbst, M.D., Ph.D.: Radiological Detection & Dating of *
* Pediatric Injuries *
* Ronald Uscinisk, M.D.: A Primer on Understanding Head Injury: *
* Terms and Basic Comprehension *
* Faris Bandak, Ph.D.: Pediatric Neurotrauma *
* Kris Sperry, M.D.: What Medical Examiners Can & Cannot Do in *
* Suspected Child Abuse Cases *
* Piero Rinaldo, M.D.: Metabolic Disorders Mistaken for Intentional *
* Abuse *
* Lori Frasier, M.D.: Medical Examiners in Child Sexual Abuse: *
* Training Oversight & Limitations *
* Phillip Esplin, Ed.D., Jeni Feinberg, J.D. & Lorin Zaner, J.D.:*
* Common Dilemma and Practical Tips for Representing Your *
* Client *
* *
* "Regardless of your trial skills level, child abuse cases are *
* unique among other crimes. Staying current with the medical and *
* psychological research in this specific area is imperative to *
* effectively represent your clients. This is the conference that *
* keeps you current and sharpens your skills." *
* *
* Barry Scheck, Esq., NY *
* *
* For registration information *
* NCADRC, P.O. Box 638, Holland, Ohio 43528 *
* FAX: 419-865-0526 *
**********************************************************************
* *
* WEB SITES OF INTEREST *
* *
* http://www.theisticsatanism.com/asp/ *
* Against Satanic Panics *
* *
* comp.uark.edu/~lampinen/read.html *
* The Lampinen Lab False Memory Reading Group *
* University of Arkansas *
* *
* www.exploratorium.edu/memory *
* The Exploratorium Memory Exhibit *
* *
* www.ctnow.com/memory *
* Hartford Courant memory series *
* *
* www.tmdArchives.org *
* The Memory Debate Archives *
* *
* www.francefms.com *
* French language website *
* *
* www.StopBadTherapy.com *
* Contains phone numbers of professional *
* regulatory boards in all 50 states *
* *
* www.IllinoisFMS.org *
* Illinois-Wisconsin FMS Society *
* *
* www.ltech.net/OHIOarmhp *
* Ohio Group *
* *
* www.afma.asn.au *
* Australian False Memory Association. *
* *
* www.bfms.org.uk *
* British False Memory Society *
* *
* www.geocities.com/retractor *
* This site is run by Laura Pasley (retractor) *
* *
* www.sirs.com/uptonbooks/index.htm *
* Upton Books *
* *
* www.angelfire.com/tx/recoveredmemories/ *
* Locate books about FMS *
* Recovered Memory Bookstore *
* *
* www.religioustolerance.org/sra.htm *
* Information about Satanic Ritual Abuse *
* *
* www.angryparents.net *
* Parents Against Cruel Therapy *
* *
* www.geocities.com/newcosanz *
* New Zealand FMS Group *
* *
* www.werkgroepwfh.nl *
* Netherlands FMS Group *
* *
* www.falseallegation.org *
* National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center *
* *
* www.nasw.org/users/markp *
* Excerpts from Victims of Memory. *
* *
* www.rickross.com/groups/fsm.html *
* Ross Institute *
* *
* www.hopkinsmedicine.org/jhhpsychiatry/perspec1.htm *
* Perspectives for Psychiatry by Paul McHugh *
* *
* www.enigma.se/info/FFI.htm *
* FMS in Scandinavia - Janet Hagbom *
* *
* www.ncrj.org *
* National Center for Reason & Justice *
* *
* www.lyingspirits.com *
* Skeptical Information on Theophostic Counseling *
* *
* www.ChildrenInTherapy.org/. *
* Information about Attachment Therapy *
* *
* www.traumaversterking.nl *
* English language web site of Dutch retractor. *
* *
* www.quackwatch.org *
* This site is run by Stephen Barrett, M.D. *
* *
* www.stopbadtherapy.org *
* Contains information about filing complaints *
* *
* www.FMSFonline.org *
* False Memory Syndrome Foundation *
* *
* LEGAL WEBSITES OF INTEREST *
* www.caseassist.com *
* www.findlaw.com *
* www.legalengine.com *
* www.accused.com *
* www.abuse-excuse.com *
* *
**********************************************************************
* ELIZABETH LOFTUS *
* we www.seweb.uci.edu/faculty/loftus/ *
**********************************************************************
* *
* The Rutherford Family Speaks to FMS Families *
* *
* The video made by the Rutherford family is the most popular video *
* of FMSF families. It covers the complete story from accusation, to *
* retraction and reconciliation. Family members describe the things *
* they did to cope and to help reunite. Of particular interest are *
* Beth Rutherford's comments about what her family did that helped *
* her to retract and return. *
* Available in DVD format only: *
* To order send request to *
* FMSF Video, 1955 Locust St. *
* Philadelphia, PA 19103 *
* $10.00 per DVD; Canada add $4.00; other countries add $10.00 *
* Make checks payable to FMS Foundation *
* *
**********************************************************************
* RECOMMENDED BOOKS *
* *
* REMEMBERING TRAUMA *
* by Richard McNally *
* Harvard University Press *
* *
* SCIENCE and PSEUDOSCIENCE in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY *
* *
* S. O. Lilienfeld, S.J. Lynn and J.M. Lohr (eds.) *
* New York: Guilford Press (2003) *
* *
* PSYCHOLOGY ASTRAY: *
* Fallacies in Studies of "Repressed Memory" and Childhood Trauma *
* by Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D. *
* Upton Books *
* *
* ABDUCTED *
* How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens *
* Susan A. Clancy *
* Harvard University Press, 2005 *
* *
* A very readable book recommended to all FMSF Newsletter readers. *
* Chapter 3, "Why do I have memories if it didn't happen?" will be *
* of particular interest. *
* *
* In an article in the British press about her research, Clancy *
* wrote: *
* *
* "We've all been seeing aliens for more than 50 years....Preparing *
* this article, I showed 25 people a picture of an alien and Tony *
* Blair: all recognized an alien, fewer than half recognized Tony *
* Blair." *
* *
* "The trick to creating false memories is to get confused between *
* things you imagined, or read, or saw, and things that actually *
* happened." *
* *
* "For almost all abductees, the seed of their belief is a *
* question.... Why did I wake up in the middle of the night *
* terrified and unable to move?' 'Why are these odd moles on my *
* back?' 'Why do I feel so alone?' 'Why am I different from everyone *
* else?' 'Why are my relationships so bad?' Questions generally lead *
* to a search for answers...and our search is limited to the set of *
* explanations we have actually heard of." *
* *
* "For better or worse, being abducted by aliens has become a *
* culturally available explanation for distress-whether that *
* distress comes from work, relationships or insecurity." *
* *
* "Many of us have strong emotional needs that have little to do *
* with science-the need to feel less alone in the world, the desire *
* to be special, the longing to know that there is something out *
* there, something bigger and more important than you watching over *
* you." *
* October 22, 2005, The Express, p. 45 *
**********************************************************************
_____________________________________
F M S B U L L E T I N B O A R D
Contacts & Meetings:
_____________
UNITED STATES
ALABAMA
See Georgia
ALASKA
Kathleen 907-333-5248
ARIZONA
Phoenix
Pat 480-396-9420
ARKANSAS
Little Rock
Al & Lela 870-363-4368
CALIFORNIA
Sacramento
Jocelyn 530-570-1862
San Francisco & North Bay
Charles 415-984-6626 (am); 415-435-9618 (pm)
San Francisco & South Bay
Eric 408-738-0469
East Bay Area
Judy 925-952-4853
Central Coast
Carole 805-967-8058
Palm Desert
Eileen and Jerry 909-659-9636
Central Orange County - 1st Fri. (MO) @ 7pm
Chris & Alan 949-733-2925
Covina Area
Floyd & Libby 626-357-2750
San Diego Area
Dee 760-439-4630
COLORADO
Colorado Springs
Doris 719-488-9738
CONNECTICUT
S. New England
Earl 203-329-8365 or
Paul 203-458-9173
FLORIDA
Dale/Boward
Madeline 954-966-4FMS
Central Florida - Please call for mtg. time
John & Nancy 352-750-5446
Sarasota
Francis & Sally 941-342-8310
Tampa Bay Area
Bob & Janet 727-856-7091
GEORGIA
Atlanta
Wallie & Jill 770-971-8917
ILLINOIS
Chicago & Suburbs - 1st Sun. (MO)
Eileen 847-985-7693 or
Liz & Roger 847-827-1056
Peoria
Bryant & Lynn 309-674-2767
INDIANA
Indiana Assn. for Responsible Mental Health Practices
Pat 260-489-9987
Helen 574-753-2779
KANSAS
Wichita - Meeting as called
Pat 785-738-4840
KENTUCKY
Louisville- Last Sun. (MO) @ 2pm
Bob 502-367-1838
LOUISIANA
Sarah 337-235-7656
MAINE
Rumford
Carolyn 207-364-8891
Portland
Wally & Boby 207-878-9812
MASSACHUSETTS/NEW ENGLAND
Andover - 2nd Sun. (MO) @ 1pm
Frank 978-263-9795
MICHIGAN
Greater Detroit Area
Nancy 248-642-8077
Ann Arbor
Martha 734-439-4055
MINNESOTA
Terry & Collette 507-642-3630
Dan & Joan 651-631-2247
MISSOURI
Kansas City - Meeting as called
Pat 785-738-4840
St. Louis Area - call for meeting time
Karen 314-432-8789
Springfield - Quarterly, 4th Sat. of
Jan., Apr., Jul., Oct. @12:30pm
Tom 417-753-4878
Roxie 417-781-2058
MONTANA
Lee & Avone 406-443-3189
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jean 603-772-2269
Mark 802-872-0847
NEW JERSEY
Southern
Sally 609-927-5343
Northern
Nancy 973-729-1433
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque -2nd Sat. (bi-MO) @1 pm
Southwest Room - Presbyterian Hospital
Maggie 505-662-7521 (after 6:30 pm)
Sy 505-758-0726
NEW YORK
Westchester, Rockland, etc.
Barbara 914-922-1737
Upstate/Albany Area
Elaine 518-399-5749
NORTH CAROLINA
Susan 704-538-7202
OHIO
Cleveland
Bob & Carole 440-356-4544
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City
Dee 405-942-0531
Tulsa
Jim 918-582-7363
OREGON
Portland area
Kathy 503-655-1587
PENNSYLVANIA
Harrisburg
Paul & Betty 717-691-7660
Pittsburgh
Rick & Renee 412-563-5509
Montrose
John 717-278-2040
Wayne (includes S. NJ) - 2nd Sat. (MO)
Jim & Jo 610-783-0396
TENNESSEE
Nashville - Wed. (MO) @1pm
Kate 615-665-1160
TEXAS
Houston
Jo or Beverly 713-464-8970
El Paso
Mary Lou 915-595-3945
UTAH
Keith 801-467-0669
VERMONT
Mark 802-872-0847
WASHINGTON
Kathy 503-557-7118
WISCONSIN
Katie & Leo 414-476-0285 or
Susanne & John 608-427-3686
WYOMING
Alan & Lorinda 307-322-4170
_____________
INTERNATIONAL
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Vancouver & Mainland
Lloyd 250-741-8941
Victoria & Vancouver Island
John 250-721-3219
MANITOBA
Roma 204-275-5723
ONTARIO, CANADA
London
Adriaan 519-471-6338
Ottawa
Eileen 613-836-3294
Burlington
Ken & Marina 905-637-6030
Waubaushene
Paula 705-543-0318
QUEBEC, CANADA
Chertsey
Mavis 450-882-1480
AUSTRALIA
Evelyn
everei@adam.com.au
BELGIUM
werkgr.fict.herinneringen@altavista.net
ISRAEL
FMS ASSOCIATION fax 972-2-625-9282
NEW ZEALAND
Colleen 09-416-7443
SWEDEN
Ake Moller FAX 48-431-217-90
UNITED KINGDOM
The British False Memory Society
Madeline 44-1225 868-682
_________________________________________________
Deadline for the Sept/Oct Newsletter is August 15
Meeting notices MUST be in writing
And should be sent no later than TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO MEETING.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Do you have access to e-mail? Send a message to |
| pjf@cis.upenn.edu |
| if you wish to receive electronic versions of this newsletter and |
| notices of radio and television broadcasts about FMS. All the |
| message need say is "add to the FMS-News". It would be useful, but |
| not necessary, if you add your full name (all addresses and names |
| will remain strictly confidential). |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
**********************************************************************
The False Memory Syndrome Foundation is a qualified 501(c)3 corpora-
tion with its principal offices in Philadelphia and governed by its
Board of Directors. While it encourages participation by its members
in its activities, it must be understood that the Foundation has no
affiliates and that no other organization or person is authorized to
speak for the Foundation without the prior written approval of the Ex-
ecutive Director. All membership dues and contributions to the Founda-
tion must be forwarded to the Foundation for its disposition.
**********************************************************************
PAMELA FREYD, Ph.D., Executive Director
FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, July 1, 2006
AARON T. BECK, M.D., D.M.S., U of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
TERENCE W. CAMPBELL, Ph.D., Clinical and Forensic Psychology,
Sterling Heights, MI;
ROSALIND CARTWRIGHT, Ph.D., Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical
Center, Chicago, IL;
JEAN CHAPMAN, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI;
LOREN CHAPMAN, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI;
FREDERICK C. CREWS, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA;
ROBYN M. DAWES, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA;
DAVID F. DINGES, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
HENRY C. ELLIS, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM;
FRED H. FRANKEL, MBChB, DPM, Harvard University Medical School;
GEORGE K. GANAWAY, M.D., Emory University of Medicine, Atlanta, GA;
MARTIN GARDNER, Author, Hendersonville, NC;
ROCHEL GELMAN, Ph.D., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ;
HENRY GLEITMAN, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
LILA GLEITMAN, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
RICHARD GREEN, M.D., J.D., Charing Cross Hospital, London;
DAVID A. HALPERIN, M.D., (deceased) Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York, NY;
ERNEST HILGARD, Ph.D., (deceased) Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA;
JOHN HOCHMAN, M.D., UCLA Medical School, Los Angeles, CA;
DAVID S. HOLMES, Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS;
PHILIP S. HOLZMAN, Ph.D., (deceased) Harvard University, Cambridge, MA;
ROBERT A. KARLIN, Ph.D. , Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ;
HAROLD LIEF, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
ELIZABETH LOFTUS, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, CA;
SUSAN L. McELROY, M.D., University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH;
PAUL McHUGH, M.D., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD;
HAROLD MERSKEY, D.M., University of Western Ontario, London, Canada;
SPENCER HARRIS MORFIT, Author, Westford, MA;
ULRIC NEISSER, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY;
RICHARD OFSHE, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA;
EMILY CAROTA ORNE, B.A., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
MARTIN ORNE, M.D., Ph.D., (deceased) U of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
LOREN PANKRATZ, Ph.D., Oregon Health Sciences Univ., Portland, OR;
CAMPBELL PERRY, Ph.D., (deceased) Concordia University, Montreal, Canada;
MICHAEL A. PERSINGER, Ph.D., Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada;
AUGUST T. PIPER, Jr., M.D., Seattle, WA;
HARRISON POPE, Jr., M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA;
JAMES RANDI, Author and Magician, Plantation, FL;
HENRY L. ROEDIGER, III, Ph.D. ,Washington University, St. Louis, MO;
CAROLYN SAARI, Ph.D., Loyola University, Chicago, IL;
THEODORE SARBIN, Ph.D., (deceased) University of California, Santa
Cruz, CA;
THOMAS A. SEBEOK, Ph.D., (deceased) U of Indiana, Bloomington, IN;
MICHAEL A. SIMPSON, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., M.R.C, D.O.M., Center for
Psychosocial & Traumatic Stress, Pretoria, South Africa;
MARGARET SINGER, Ph.D., {deceased) University of California, Berkeley,
CA;
RALPH SLOVENKO, J.D., Ph.D., Wayne State University Law School,
Detroit, MI;
DONALD SPENCE, Ph.D., Robert Wood Johnson Medical Ctr, Piscataway, NJ;
JEFFREY VICTOR, Ph.D., Jamestown Community College, Jamestown, NY;
HOLLIDA WAKEFIELD, M.A., Institute of Psychological Therapies,
Northfield, MN;
CHARLES A. WEAVER, III, Ph.D. Baylor University, Waco, TX
**********************************************************************
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