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House Rejects Study With Ties To Scientology

The Illinois House on Wednesday rejected an attempt to take a closer look at the field of psychiatry and its role in shaping Illinois law. The sticking point for some lawmakers was a group backing the proposal.

As the field of psychiatry publishes its first new diagnostic manual in more than a decade, it's been attracting a lot of discussion.

The House resolution would have created a task force to comb through thousands of pages of Illinois laws and regulations, looking for the influence of psychiatry that "may have been recently discredited."

Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, says she just wanted to start a conversation about psychiatry.

"We've seen the headlines in the newspaper about doctors over-medicating adults, as well as children, because there's money involved," Flowers says.

But Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, told fellow lawmakers one of the groups supporting the effort is backed by the Church of Scientology.

"I bring this up because my family has some issues — has had some exposure — with the church of Scientology," Sullivan says. "And without getting into details, it hasn't been very good."

The final vote was 22 yes — with the majority, 92, voting no.

Correction, May 23, 2013: An earlier version of this story mentioned psychology when it should have been referring to psychiatry. The text has been updated.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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