Had the treatment worked, he would've been revolutionary. No heroes are always successful, no villains set out to be one. Harry Bailey failed to convince us with what he believed in but did not fail to leave a name in history of medicine.
Dr Harry Bailey is undeniably intertwined in the Chelmsford Scandal whose horrid events generally portray him as a monster. Despite this, it must be admitted that the good intention behind his actions make him a persistent and ambitious yet misguided man, but a man nonetheless. However, his actions and negligence has caused much suffering, pain and even death. He was never brought to justice for his crimes, instead choosing to take his own life before the long arm of the law closed in. He believed in his cause to the very end.
The blame does not rest entirely on Bailey. The occurrence of the Chelmsford Scandal was further made possible by a lack of regulatory instances within psychiatry as a whole. Both Chelmsford and psychiatry in general was lost in professional isolation, which led to a lack of critique of the methods being used. In combination with a cover up of practice this led to the possible continuation of outmoded treatment at Chelmsford.
The continuously rising death rates caught the attention of the media. Thorough investigations took place and devastated people were given a chance to tell their terrifying encounters of Chelmsford Hospital. The media was the key to raising public alarm. Finally, after years of battle, justice was brought to the victims of the Chelmsford incident.
