Dr. Susan Finnerty:

ECT, as Mr. Farrelly has said, is highly regulated in this country with the rules and code of practice on ECT. It is an important treatment for a small number of people who have severe depression with suicidal ideation and intent and for people who, because of severe depression, do not eat or drink. Mr. Farrelly mentioned that in those circumstances it is a life-saving treatment. It is life-saving because it acts quickly. If you put somebody on an antidepressant to treat severe depression, it can be up to four weeks before it kicks in. There is no guarantee that antidepressant will work and then you go on to another one. That is not an option if somebody is so suicidal they are a danger to themselves or they are not eating or drinking. You only have days. It is extremely important. There is a body of evidence that shows it is effective, going back decades. Various meta-analyses have been done over the years to test that and see whether it is true. It is. Analyses have found it works in about 60% of people. It is an important treatment.

Regarding involuntary patients, often people who are psychotically depressed or not eating or drinking and totally withdrawn do not have the capacity to consent. It is important that decision be made for them to save their lives.