teenager permanently restrained in the netherlands.

[redunderthebed]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12256811

Tethered teenage psychiatric patient shocks Netherlands

Eighteen-year-old Brandon wearing a harness tied by a short strap to a steel bracket on a bare wall at the psychiatric care home in Elmelo, The Netherlands Brandon's mother says he is restrained like a "caged animal"

The Netherlands has been plunged into a debate about how to deal with violent psychiatric patients, after images of a tethered teenager appeared on Dutch TV.

The pictures were taken after a tip-off from a whistle-blower, who worked at the institution where the 18-year-old, known only as Brandon, is confined.

The pictures show him wearing a harness attached to a metal bracket on the wall by a thick leather strap.

He has been confined in this way every single day for three years.

His mother has been quoted saying he lives like "a caged animal".

Brandon, who suffers from severe learning difficulties, has been confined to institutions since the age of five.

He used to be allowed home at weekends but staff became increasingly afraid of his moods as he grew older and, since 2007, with the permission of a judge, he has been tethered daily.

Mental health experts in the Netherlands say this is not an isolated case, and there may be as many as 40 patients held in similar circumstances.

But a number of Dutch politicians reacted with shock when the pictures of Brandon were shown on television and there was an emergency debate in parliament.

The deputy health minister, who visited the institution where Brandon is confined, described the images as truly harrowing.

She defended the practice of continuous restraint, saying sometimes you need to protect people from themselves, but also promised an urgent review, to see if any other methods could be used.

The video of the story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12255049

This is truly shocking to see such things are still used in this day and age.

[maiforpeace]

What's also shocking about this story is that a judge signed an order for it to be permitted. And where was the mother in all this? How come this went on for three years, and was only exposed by a whistleblower and not her?

[tattuchu]

Well just how violent and dangerous is he?

Um...wondering how he goes to the bathroom, how he bathes, how he sleeps

[Thinking Aloud]

I'd need more information before jumping to any conclusion with something like this. Does he leap up and try to bite the ears off people when they come into his room? Does he attempt to harm himself by hurling himself at the walls, or whatever? I've not had chance to watch the video for that article, so I don't know if there's more information there. But if not, we don't know what factors might be cause for restraint.

[Millefleur]

I'd need more information before jumping to any conclusion with something like this. Does he leap up and try to bite the ears off people when they come into his room? Does he attempt to harm himself by hurling himself at the walls, or whatever? I've not had chance to watch the video for that article, so I don't know if there's more information there. But if not, we don't know what factors might be cause for restraint.

Same.. Just mentioned it to the other half who has worked with autistic teens with 'challenging behaviour', only the staff were able to restrain these kids. The worst he got was bitten and various bodily fluids hurled at him but there were other homes where a single resident might live in what you'd compare to a prison with 4 dedicated staff trained in restraint and constantly on guard. While it's incredibly sad to think of a human being chained up you don't know if he'd jump on the first person who walked in and jam his thumb into their eyesocket or attempt to rape them.

[epepke]

Look on the bright side. It's probably free health care. W00T!

[AnInconvenientScotsman]

He seems pretty docile in the video.

[Ayaan]

I'd need more information before jumping to any conclusion with something like this. Does he leap up and try to bite the ears off people when they come into his room? Does he attempt to harm himself by hurling himself at the walls, or whatever? I've not had chance to watch the video for that article, so I don't know if there's more information there. But if not, we don't know what factors might be cause for restraint.

Same.. Just mentioned it to the other half who has worked with autistic teens with 'challenging behaviour', only the staff were able to restrain these kids. The worst he got was bitten and various bodily fluids hurled at him but there were other homes where a single resident might live in what you'd compare to a prison with 4 dedicated staff trained in restraint and constantly on guard. While it's incredibly sad to think of a human being chained up you don't know if he'd jump on the first person who walked in and jam his thumb into their eyesocket or attempt to rape them.

It would be good to have more info, although he doesn't seem to be that violent in the video. Regardless of his condition, I think as little restraint as necessary should be used.

[AnInconvenientScotsman]

It also seems that his human rights have been ignored.

[Millefleur]

I agree totally Ayaan, for all we know he could be managed successfully another way and the home could be shit. Even medicating him to make him more docile, if he is as they say he is, would be preferable to this.

[JOZeldenrust]

Coverage of this case has been massive in the Netherlands, and the case isn't quite what it seems. The boy isn't tethered continuously. Only when other people are about to enter the room, or when it's clear he's getting aggitated he tethers himself. He has a tendency to become very violent when he's overstimulated, a state of mind he has said he hates, especially because of the damage and injuries he might cause.

The image of a tethered human being is disturbing, but it does seem his care is both adequate and reasonable. Both he and his caretakers are safe, and he has as much freedom as can reasonable be granted to him.