Thread by @alexmoledo

Forced treatment, restraint and seclusion are not mistakes, but torture. Let me try to summarise another tragic story of medical malpractice, in which prejudices against persons with psychosocial disabilities caused the death of a 26-year-old Spanish woman. Thread.

Andreas Fernández suffers from acute tonsillitis. On Tuesday she goes to the hospital emergency room because she hears “noises”. Besides the regular tests, the medical report also includes her mother’s psychiatric history. On Wednesday she returns due to anxiety.

On Thursday she voluntarily enters the psychiatric unit believing that she will be protected and that they will run all the necessary tests. On Friday she asks to leave but her doctor decides to retain her against her will. The deprivation of her freedom will last until she dies.

On Saturday the hospital informs the Court of Andreas’ retention, 30 hours after the doctor’s decision (the legal timeframe is 24h). On Sunday the coroner comes to assess the involuntary retention. On Monday the coroner submits his report in favour of the retention.

That same afternoon Andreas dies because of the meningitis that was never diagnosed and had caused her symptoms all along. On Tuesday, the judge approves the coroner’s report not knowing that Andreas passed away the day before.

Several times Andreas’ family asked the doctors to run more tests, because they were sure it was not psychological. Andreas was heavily drugged and died because of a cardiac arrest (she was not well monitored) with injuries to her elbows inflicted while trying to escape.

Andreas died after 75 hours tied to a hospital bed in Oviedo. April 2017.

Her family have sued 7 doctors and the case is now being studied by the Court.

The story (in Spanish): elpais.com/sociedad/2019/…

We should abolish these kinds of unhuman procedures. @ENUSP @MHESME @hrw