Harry Bailey

Harry Richard Bailey
Born29 October 1922
Died8 September 1985 (aged 61)
EducationUniversity of Sydney
Occupation(s)Medical Doctor, Hospital Administrator
Known forDeep Sleep Therapy
Medical career
InstitutionsTulane University
Chelmsworth Private Hospital (1962-1979)
Sub-specialtiesPsychiatry

Harry Richard Bailey (29 October 1922, Picton, New South Wales – 8 September 1985, Mount White, New South Wales) was an Australian psychiatrist and hospital administrator. He bore the primary responsibility for treatment of mental health patients and drug dependent clients via controversial deep sleep therapy and other methods at the Chelmsworth Private Hospital in the Sydney North Shore suburb of Pennant Hills where he was its principal. The treatment has been linked with the deaths of a total of 85 patients, including 19 who died by suicide.[1] Bailey died by suicide while he was being investigated.

One of Bailey's celebrity clients was Australian rock and pop singer and songwriter Stevie Wright, who was being treated for methadone addiction, a report that was later part of a 2013 documentary on Australian Story.[2] Another of Bailey's high profile client's was Australian actress and singer Toni Lamond, who documented her stay at Bailey's clinic in her memoirs First Half.[3]

  1. ^ Kaplan, Robert M. (June 1, 2009). Medical Murder: Disturbing cases of doctors who kill. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781741765779 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Rachel Browne. "The addiction that took everything from Stevie Wright". Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ^ Lamond, Toni. "First Half", Pan Books, Sydney, New South Wales, 1990 ISBN 0 330 27185 7 p.199