Psychiatric damage, and a hero for all seasons

by Jon Rappoport

September 23, 2015

(To read about Jon’s mega-collection, The Matrix Revealed, click here.)

I met Dr. Peter Breggin in the early 1990s.

Emerging from the publication of my first book, AIDS INC., Scandal of the Century, I was researching the damaging effects of pharmaceutical drugs across a wide spectrum, and of course I came upon the entire array of psychiatric medications.

I read Dr. Breggin’s classic, Toxic Psychiatry (St. Martin’s Press, 1991), managed to contact him, and we’ve been friends ever since.

He has waged a battle for the truth for 50 years. That’s a long time. That takes saying power. Peter has inspired other psychiatrists, as well, to step forward out of the shadows and pick up the sword. In a nation that talks about heroes but seems to find few, Peter stands out as a towering figure.

Aside from his work as a full-time author, he has done groundbreaking work as an expert witness in cases involving psychiatric drug damage (more than 80 court trials):

“1.5 million awarded in child tardive dyskinesia case [drug-induced motor brain damage], Feb.2014… $700,000 settlement in tardive dyskinesia case in Mass., May 2014… Jury awards $1.5 million for suicide involving antidepressants, Nov. 2012… Judge concludes Prozac caused teen to murder, Sept. 2011… first ever electroshock malpractice trial win, 2005… first ever psychosurgery malpractice trial win ($7.5 million against the Cleveland Clinic), 2002…” [Quotes are from Breggin.com.]

In my Feb. 24, 2014 article, “Dr. Breggin rides again: the dangers of psychiatric drugs,” I wrote:

“A recent jury decision, in which Dr. Peter Breggin testified as an expert witness, highlighted the extreme danger of the drugs.

“The civil case was filed on behalf of a boy diagnosed with autism, who was then dosed with antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications (Risperdal and Zyprexa).

“The boy developed two conditions, called tardive dyskinesia and tardive akathisia. Dr. Breggin’s website (www.breggin.com) depicts these conditions:

“’Tardive dyskinesia describes a group of persistent or permanent movement disorders caused by antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drugs including Risperdal, Zyprexa, Invega, Abilify, Geodon, Seroquel, Latuda, Fanapt and Saphris. In addition to typical tardive dyskinesia spasms and twitches of his face, eyelids, and tongue, the youngster developed a severe case of tardive akathisia involving torturous internal agitation that drove him into constant, unrelenting motion.’

“Tardive dyskinesia can most definitely indicate motor brain damage. (See Breggin, Toxic Psychiatry)

“In this civil suit, the Chicago jury came back with a judgment against the treating psychiatrist, Howard Segal.

“The jury award was $1.5 million.

“(Angel v. Segal, State of Illinois, Circuit Court, Cook County. Law Division No.09L 3496)

“Dr. Breggin was an expert witness in an even more surprising case (2012), in which a psychiatric-drug-induced suicide was acknowledged by a Syracuse, New York, jury.

“The jury awarded $1.5 million to the family of Joseph Mazella.

“Dr. Breggin, on his Huffington Post blog, offers this description:

“’Mr. Mazella was a 51-year-old revered high school basketball coach, teacher and assistant principal; and his self-inflicted death was unexpected and shocking to those who knew him and to the Syracuse community.

“’…I found that a glaring negligence had been committed in the case. Family physician William Beals, M.D., who had a reputation for treating psychiatric and addiction patients, had prescribed Paxil for Mr. Mazella for 10 years without seeing him. When Mr. Mazella began to feel anxious and depressed again, on Aug. 9, 2009 he and his wife telephoned the doctor, who was reportedly on vacation on Cape Cod. Despite having no contact with the patient for a decade, by telephone Dr. Beals doubled his Paxil from 20 mg to 40 mg and added the antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa (olanzapine). This began an escalating decline in his mental condition that ended a little more than one month later with his suicide.’

“Both these cases were suits against doctors. They weren’t built to go up against the drug manufacturers.

“However, in significant measure owing to Dr. Breggin’s work, millions and millions of people are waking up to the fact that the drug companies are engaged in a form of chemical assault against the global population.

“The medical front men for these companies affect an arrogant pose of certainty about the drugs’ benefits.

“But the charade is falling apart.”

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To grasp the enormity of these victories, you need to understand the power of organized psychiatry, its solid alliance with The State, and the influence of drug companies in court cases. To have come out on top in these trials is a legal miracle. Peter was the expert witness who carried the day with his testimony.

On top of all this, Peter has developed and pioneered what he calls Empathic Therapy, which emphasizes the freedom and responsibility of the individual. Imagine that, in an era of collectivism.

Let us salute Peter Breggin.

Note: Dr. Breggin publishes this warning on his website:

“Most psychiatric drugs can cause withdrawal reactions, sometimes including life-threatening emotional and physical withdrawal problems. In short, it is not only dangerous to start taking psychiatric drugs, it can also be dangerous to stop them. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done carefully under experienced clinical supervision. Methods for safely withdrawing from psychiatric drugs are discussed in Dr. Breggin’s new book, Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients, and Their Families.”

Jon Rappoport

The author of three explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29^th District of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free NoMoreFakeNews emails here or his free OutsideTheRealityMachine emails here.