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The Church of Scientology of Boston will sponsor the New England Conference on Psychiatric Human Ex perimentation on May 4. The event, the second in a series of public interest conferences sponsored by the Scientologists, will be held in the Fairfax Room of the Sheraton Boston. Their first conference, which dealt with drug abuse in New England, was held on Feb. 9 of this year. According to Michael Carlson, the Director of the Conference, the topics of the conference were chosen as the result of a survey conducted in many New England cities and towns, Middlesex County was among the areas surveyed last month. The Conference will feature talks by experts and advocates of psychiatric reform. Notable participants will include Dr. Peter Breggin, Rep. Edward Beard of Rhode Island, and Dr. Robert Shaw. Dr. Breggin, a graduate of Harvard, is the Director of the Center for the Study of Psychiatry in Washington, D.C. He has been instrumental in halting experimental brain operations in Massachusetts. It was Dr. Breggin's patient follow up studies, which led to the current $2 million suit filed against Dr. Vernon Mark of Boston City Hospital and Dr. Frank Ervin of UCLA. He is the author of two books, The Crazy From the Lane and After the Good War. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Breggin will speak about psychiatric human ex perimentation from his own observations and studies within the profession. Rep. Edward Beard is the Chairman of the Rhode Island Governor's Task Force charged with the responsibility of monitoring institutional con ditions. He has become popular with the citizens of Rhode Island for his reform activities with regard to nursing homes and the state mental institution in Rhode Island. Dr. Robert Shaw, a graduate of MIT and Harvard Medical School, is a member of the Research Committee of the Scientific Information and Education Council of Physicians. His talk will be based upon his inquiry into psychiatric activities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. According to Carlson, the Conference will be directed toward interested citizens as opposed to specialized or technical professionals. ‘There are certain basic questions about psychiatric human ex perimentation which are in almost everyone's mind. Are humans being experimented upon against their will in mental or other institutions in New England? Do these ex periments lead to damaging or undesirable results? Are in dividuals’ civil rights being violated in our local mental institutions? With the panorama of guests which we will present, we are confident that the attendees will be able to find out exactly what is going on and to what extent.” The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 and has had a Church in Boston since December of 1960. There are currently over 14,000 con tributing members of the Church from all parts of New England. Local residents are invited to attend the Conference. More information may be obtained from Michael Carlson at the Church of Scientology, 714 Beacon St., Boston, Mass, Phone 262-4914.
Newspaper Details
Assabet Valley Beacon
Acton, Massachusetts, US
Thu, Apr 11, 1974
Page 58
Full Page
Clipped by
Martha C.
USA 26 Jan 2026
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