The
Human Rights Defender started a discussion proceeding on his own initiative
based on the statement about ill-treatment, including beating of the citizen’s
son in the psychiatric establishment. A hotline call was also received.
Given
that the publications about the incident contain detailed information, the Human
Rights Defender finds it necessary to present the following clarifications:
1. On
April 25, 2020, journalist Gagik Shamshyan called the hotline of the Human
Rights Defender's Office informing that a citizen applied to him claiming that
her son had been subjected to ill-treatment, including beating in the
psychiatric establishment. The young man was transferred from the psychiatric
establishment to a civilian hospital.
The
mother informed the Defender’s Office that while being admitted to a
psychiatric establishment, she was assured that her son did not have any
serious mental health problems and would be discharged after a short treatment. According to her, after her son was admitted to
a psychiatric establishment, he called the department for 7 days, wanted to
talk to her son or see him, but the psychiatric personnel refused her requests
for various reasons.
2.
According to the mother, despite the psychiatric establishment’s assurances, on
April 22 she received a call from the establishment and was informed that her
son had serious health problems and had been taken to a civilian hospital. In the hospital, the mother noticed injuries at
her son's body, mouth sores and broken teethes, and later she noticed
footprints on his son’s clothes that had been provided to her. Her son received
the necessary medical care at the medical center, after which she took him
home.
3. The
mother informed the Human Right Defender’s representative that her son still
needed psychiatric help, however, she did not want to transfer her son to
psychiatric organization. During a telephone conversation, the Defender’s
representative informed that the Human Rights Defender can assist in
transferring her son to another psychiatric establishment. The mother, however,
noted that a psychiatrist would visit them, and if the latter gave a
prescription for inpatient treatment, she would apply to the Human Rights
Defender.
4. A few
hours later, the mother called the Human Rights Defender's Office and informed
that her son had a fever. She was offered an emergency medical service.
5. To
receive information about the health condition of the son, the Office of the
Human Rights Defender contacted the mother on April 26. The latter informed
that she was in the psychiatric institution with her son. According to her, she
received a call from the psychiatric institution that her son was in need of
psychiatric care and was proposed to transfer him to a mental healthcare
center. Immediately after the call, the Human Rights Defender’s Office
contacted the competent representative of the psychiatric organization, who
indicated that the health condition of the citizen is concerning.
6. As a
response to the additional inquiry on April 27, the Human Rights Defender’s
Office received information that the citizen’s health condition deteriorated.
He was transferred to the department of toxicology of a multidisciplinary
healthcare center with the initial diagnosis of “medication poisoning”.
7. As a
response to oral inquiries of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of April 27
and 28, the medical center provided clarifications specifying that the health
condition of the citizen is serious but stable.
8. A
rapid response proceeding is initiated at the Human Rights Defender’s
Office.
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