A special panel set up to hear from former psychiatric patients says psychiatric hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s were places of fear for many because of misuse of authority and sexual misconduct.
Former patients also say obtaining consent for procedures was not routine, and electroconvulsive and deep sleep therapy, seclusion and heavy medication were used extensively.
The confidential forum for former in-patients of psychiatric hospitals is meeting patients who want to tell their story.
In reports to the government released under the Official Information Act, it says hospitals were supposed to be safe but that was not the experience for many.
The forum has so far met 150 people.
Chairman Judge Anand Satyanand says people say the experience has been useful, but their stories are sobering.
