A mother from Krasnodar achieved a response from Bastrykin regarding the violation of her child's rights.
The management of the psychiatric hospital in Krasnodar refuses to diagnose the child with autism without hospitalization, despite the conclusions of several specialists. As a result, the girl lost her disability status, the benefits she was entitled to, and rehabilitation, her mother complained in her appeal to the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin.
According to the Investigative Committee, the head of the agency, Alexander Bastrykin, instructed his subordinates to report to him on the progress of the investigation regarding the appeal of one of the residents of Krasnodar, who complained about the unjustified deprivation of her daughter’s status as a disabled child, the benefits she was entitled to, and rehabilitation.
Investigators from the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Krasnodar Territory are conducting an investigation into this matter, "Krasnodar Media" reported on October 11.
A video appeal from a resident of Krasnodar, in which she complained about the violation of her disabled daughter's rights, was published today by the Telegram channel "Krasnodar Teletype".
According to her, the diagnosis of "autism" for her daughter was confirmed by ten psychiatrists, including specialists from the Scientific Center for Mental Health in Moscow. Despite the specialists' conclusions, the psychiatric hospital in Krasnodar refuses to diagnose her daughter without hospitalization, the Krasnodar resident complained.
"In Krasnodar, [the administration of the psychiatric hospital] refuses to make this diagnosis, citing that the child needs inpatient care. But according to the law and clinical recommendations, inpatient care is only necessary in two cases – for medication adjustment and when the child's condition worsens. For diagnosis and for extending or obtaining disability status, inpatient care is not needed, hospitalization is not needed," she stated.
Hospitalization of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a psychiatric hospital is provided for severe behavioral disorders and accompanying mental disorders that require medication adjustment. Hospitalization is conducted with the voluntary consent of parents or legal representatives, and refusal of it should not limit the child's right to outpatient medical care, as stated in the clinical recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, published on the portal of judicial and regulatory acts.
A resident of Krasnodar believes that for three years the hospital has refused to establish a diagnosis because the woman filed a lawsuit. She reported that she traveled to Moscow twice to obtain an expert opinion. According to her, as a result of the hospital's actions, on March 1, her daughter was denied an extension of her status as a disabled child.
In January, the medical commission issued a conclusion about the need for inpatient examination to confirm the diagnosis, the Krasnodar resident said. She considered this a violation of the child's rights. The woman also stated that she contacted the Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Territory and received a response indicating that the conclusions of other specialists are not decisive, and the opinion of the local psychiatrist should be prioritized.
According to the resident of Krasnodar, the hospital provided the Investigative Committee, the prosecutor's office, and the regional Ministry of Health with false information about her daughter's treatment. In particular, the medical institution indicated that the child was undergoing medication therapy, after which her condition improved. However, the Krasnodar resident claims that her daughter has never received medication treatment.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that parents from the Krasnodar Territory have repeatedly complained about the violation of their children's rights, who require specialized care and social support. For instance, on February 2 of this year, a large family from Tuapse filed a lawsuit against the regional social protection agency due to the refusal to provide the child with specialized nutrition prescribed for medical reasons. Earlier, in July 2011, the parents of a two-year-old girl with cerebral palsy from the Krasnodar Territory challenged the refusal of the medical and social examination to recognize the child as disabled.