Lover's Leap

Shelia Silver's Doctor: When drug therapies do not work, we have to look for alternative approaches.

Mel Silver: Like what?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: Given her age, her physical health and her history, my recommondation would be a short course on of low-level electroconvulsive therapy.

David Silver: What? You mean electric shock treatments?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: It may sound barbaric, but we know a lot more about ECT then we used to, and I have to tell you that we have had some terrific results.

Mel Silver: Isn't this a little extreme?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: Actually, no. She's not coming out of this depression and her current medication is not helping in any dosage. This may help.

David Silver: Come on, Dad. You can't let them do this.

Mel Silver: David.

[to the doctor]

Mel Silver: What exactly is involved?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: First we sedate her with a heavy dose of muscle relaxants. Then, through electrodes attached to her skull, we administer brief pulses of low-voltage electrical current. No more then that would make a 100-watt lightbulb flicker for just a second.

Mel Silver: And what are the side effects?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: There maybe be some short-term memory loss. Studies show that most missing memory returns within six months. I also must tell you that there's a mortality rate: one in 20,000.

David Silver: You mean she could die?

Shelia Silver's Doctor: For someone as depressed as your mother, there's a lot greater chance that without this therapy, she will attempt suicide again... and succeed.