Brainwashed: The Secret CIA Experiments in Canada - The Fifth Estate

Brainwashed: The Secret CIA Experiments in Canada: Patients at a psychiatric hospital in Montreal were subjected to intensive shock treatments, LSD and drug-induced comas in the 1950s and 1960s. The brutal experiments were funded by the Canadian government and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

The Fifth Estate began investigating the story in 1980 and followed the victims who successfully sued the CIA. Now, as result of our reporting, more and more victims and their families are coming forward.

Newly unearthed documents reveal how Ottawa kept files secret, misplaced vital documents – and forced victims to keep compensation agreements confidential.

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About the fifth estate : For four decades The Fifth Estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Habiba Nosheen, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. the fifth estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians – delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.

[redmouse]

"quietly shut down" means continued in secret.

[sarahwales]

It's not like something from a horror movie, it's been happening in the US and around the world for over 100 years, it's happening right now.

[stefanie]

NEVER send your loved one to a "Behavioral Health" Institute. My brother and I were in separate institutes and both of us were traumatized. A teen was raped in the one I was at and many of us weren't given our blood pressure or heart medications. We were served spoiled food, which we didn't eat. I starved for 4 days before my mom got a lawyer to get me out. Little did I know that they were holding me against my will since I had went there voluntarily. They will make up reasons to force a longer stay.

[yomilalgro]

I've know for over 30 years this existed, a patient told me about it in California. At the time I was so naive, but it never left me, I'll never forget him

[amyrobert]

Since CBC is airing this we know this isn't the whole story, only what they are allowed to show. Makes the reality even scarier.

[klattalexis]

Power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[shawnandersen]

My Dad was one of these poor souls. It was very painful seeing this show. I truly hope that this Goverment does what is right and long overdue. I wish i knew how to make this right for me Dad even if he has passed on.Someone should pay for what was done.

[lindah]

My mother was one of these patients. It affected myself, my older brother and my younger sister. We ended up in foster homes for years because my mother was incapable of looking after us until she met my step-father. Even when we got back together as a family my mother was not a good mother and was very anxious, an alcoholic and fought with severe depression.

[miacat]

This is so evil. How is it that no one was held accountable for this? Preying on the most vulnerable in such a disgusting way. And this really happened not even a conspiracy theory.

[krisofamerica]

Anyone who thinks these type of programs are not going on today is a fool.

[cindyb.]

That broke me about the daughter saying, "Dont touch the covers because mom left it that way."

[karlaruthford]

Oh for God sakes how disturbing! Who ever came up with the slogan of, "Our earth is ruled and run by psychopaths " wasn't joking.... sickos real sickos.

[danjessen]

My parents both worked in mental institutions in Australia. I am sure the same thing happened here in Australia. The things that went on was incredible. We lived close to the facility you could hear the patients screaming all day and night.

[tc]

This still happens . My friend has been held againgst his will at a psychatric hospital in alberta for over 10 years and is still there. If he tries refusing the drugs they strap him down and inject him. He has never been charged with a crime, but theres nothing i can do about it. Its disgusting.

[bcbudGstatus]

the sad part is this is just the tip of the iceberg

[alienonion]

It is my belief that these things that created victims was meant as a secondary purpose to also damage the whole family for generations to come.

[jccucc]

Roman law : It is your duty to know and understand thy enemy

[SongWhisperer]

So when people came back from the war and they showed positive feelings toward the enemy the government thought that there must be something wrong with them? It's still the same way now, if you don't think exactly how the government demands you think they assume something is wrong with you.

Interactions between law enforcement and civilians is a great example of this, as soon as you don't want to cooperate with law enforcement or act like you don't like them, they immediately start asking you if you need to see a mental health professional, like people are not allowed to have a choice when it comes to how we feel about law enforcement and the government.

The government and law enforcement are definitely not our friends, videos like this prove it.

[gvinar]

I was 5 in 1975 : one night after my father tied me and my brother who was 2 to my parents bed and beat my mom with their green dresser drawer. Now my memory of what happened next is bits and pieces. my mom able to call police. They came and took my mom to a (hospital) GALESBURG ILLINOIS RESEARCH HOSPITAL FOR THE MENTALLY ILL. and sent me and my brother with my father for 1 month. It was the 70’s. My mom said my father said she to police she was crazy. My mom admitted to being very angry and yelling trying to get away from police. Obviously she was beaten and my father was going home and she with police. [i remembered the beating and at 8 asked my mom why she went to the hospital.. the rest of the story told to me then] 3.5 weeks later I remember my maternal grandmother picking my brother and I up with our belongings to go get my mom from the hospital. The time at my fathers and his girlfriend my brother and I were physically abused daily. He was mentally challenged and my dad’s girlfriend said he was cursed by the devil. When my father went to work my brother was put in a closet all day and I in the attic with her 7 boys who abused me. We did not get fed and were to act normal when my father came home. Remember we stayed there 3.5 weeks. Anyway... what I remember next was that a old man the doctor that took care of my mom and got her released came to check on her well being and my brother and I. Sometime later my parents were divorced and we moved in with the doctor. He lived on the grounds of the mental hospital where many doctors lived that worked there. I would go to his office with him often. He took care of the adolescent ward. In his office there was a window so he could see them in the day room and they him. They liked him. But when I was there we had to cover the window because they would beat on the door, bang their head, screams and cry if they saw me. I remember being SCARED they were not normal. I remember looking through the window once when he left me in his office alone. They were tied to their bed, in these cream colored coats that wrapped all the way around them and tied down so they could not move even their feet. It gave me nightmares. I was told they acted crazy that was why. Obviously what we now know as a straight jacket. We lived there until I was almost 7 then moved to a house. Our beds at the hospital apt were what the pts had. Solid metal twin beds nearly impossible to move and mattress was single and very heavy as well. My step-dad who became my dad worked at the hospital until early 1983 when they had completely closed the hospital. They closed most all mental hospitals then and sadly those pts were put in group homes that they could find and the others became our homeless population on our streets today. My step-dad was 55 yrs old and my mom 25 when they met. I learned years later that my mom was beaten by staff, tied to a wheelchair and forced to eat the half cooked eggs on her plate and burnt with the cigarette she had lit. The doctor(my dad) was on call for the adult side the night my mom was admitted. He realized she was not mental but a battered woman with 2 children one that was cerebral palsy and other issues and only 2 yrs old. He told her to just do what staff said and when he got there in the morning he would bring her to his office for Puerto Rican coffee and cigarettes. She did not like breakfast in the morning. My mom was a nurses aid at a local hospital. One night at the mental hospital her roommate who was pregnant asked for a glass of milk. The nurse would not give it to her and ended up tying her down because she had walked to the door to ask a second time. My mom was mad. Being a nurses aid she knew if she got hurt she would see the doc. My mom put her fist thru those ice cube tiles and cut open her hand and wrist. The doctor came (my soon to be dad) and stitched my mom up and had the nurses get the pregnant woman some milk and untie her. That is said to be when the doctor told my mom I need to get you out of here. My mom did have some depression and suicidal tendencies as she was sexually molested by her stepfather from grade school through graduation. Became pregnant at 16 and sent away to have the baby and give her up. The father was a man my mom babysat for. His wife never was told and my moms real father although her parents were divorced was in service and did not ever know my mom had a daughter. He was mentally abusive to my grandmother. Anyway the doc became my dad and due to his age and having his own office after leaving the hospital he made his own hours. Beginning in 1st grade we started traveling over seas. I would start school in Illinois then we would pack the house up rent it to a professor or student from Knox college and go to Puerto Rico 2x, Barcelona x2, England 2x and Ireland to live. Obviously that was divided up between years. That was the order. It was the best and my stories are amazing as were my experiences. My step dad and mom divorced but remained very good friends. And ... well many more good and not so good things happened to me but It has all made me the strong and caring person. I have some issues but now 50 have learned to accept what I can not change. My mom has passed as well as the Doc my dad. My biological dad returned to Mexico when he retired from Caterpillar as a Engineer with 3 patents for Engines he built and they use to this day. I have not seen him or spoken to him except 2x when he moved 8 yrs ago. He left my stepmom a beautiful house he built to take care of his dying sister in Mexico Then did not ever return. He stays married to my wonderful step-mom since I was 7 but lives his life with the nurse who cared for my aunt when she was dying. He is 76 now and can not speak due to cancer and removal of his throat, voice box. I will not ever speak to him again. His girlfriend made him sell all 3 homes my dad and grandpa built and I do not even have an address. She wants the money and properties he owns. She is only 58. Ok so sorry I kept writing. Bless each of you during this time and may you stay healthy and positive. Change is happening on Earth and life is going to be better.PEACE

[masterphotog]

This is absolutely shocking and shameful act from any government especially on its own people.