Waikar et al. in their diatribe against ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) in general, and unmodified or direct ECT in particular, were shocked that our institutional ethics committee permitted an 11-year 'study' of unmodified ECT, where patients whose 'fearful refusal of a hazardous and life-threatening procedure' were 'considered as a mere symptom of insanity, and further treated with sedatives'.