Thursday, June 16, 2022

Cara Wueste, and other details

Some months ago, I wrote about the glaring contrast between certain elements of orthodox psychiatric faith on one hand, and the reality of individual human experience and society, on the other hand. My article was somewhat of a self-reflection, but I tried to assume the point of view, as best I could estimate it, of a representative or typical Elgin Mental Health Center staff member.

Cara Wueste is one low-ranking overseer on the Elgin plantation. Her supervisor is probably (not 100% certain) Peggy Gibble, a somewhat higher-ranking overseer. But in any event, both of them are among a dozen or so people who might have considerable perspective about sexual abuse of psychiatric slaves, and complicity in the institution. I called Cara this morning to see if she would have a simple conversation with my partner and me, at a time of her convenience and place of her choosing. She responded that she would have to check with her supervisor on that.

The fact is, we would prefer to avoid issuing a subpoena for Cara's (or Peggy's) formal deposition under oath. What a supervisor at EMHC might have to do with whether Cara could have an informal conversation with us is a matter of some curiosity. After all, if she's not even under oath she can theoretically lie with impunity; and she's every bit as able to avoid disclosing information that would be confidential or HIPAA protected. 

Are plantation staff so controlled that they must ask permission to talk to anyone who asks them about their work? Certainly there is no liability to the plantation (EMHC/IDHS), and there are potential advantages, if Cara speaks to us informally. She could give us any false information or positive reports that might be to her employer's advantage. She could just find out what we want to know or what we think, or what our current attitude is. And if she's a loyal employee and we are considered to be opponents of the institution in legal matters, Cara could absolutely refuse or avoid giving us any helpful information, while scoping us out and reporting back.

My impression is that the reason Cara Wueste would have to get permission from her supervisor to have any informal conversation with the Law Offices of Kretchmar & Cecala, is that everyone on the plantation has been told explicitly not to talk to us, ever, at risk of losing their jobs. 

The masters up in the big house do not trust the lowly overseers, who actually supervise and care for the slaves, who are the masters' valuable property. The masters don't think the overseers are smart enough to know what to say or what not to say to dangerous opposition lawyers.

Or... maybe they want to hide the truth. Maybe they know that the overseers are not all willing to help with that. maybe they just don't trust their own employees.

And you guys better be careful.... If you read this or hand it around, don't get caught!

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