URGENT COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED TO HELP FREE AUTISTIC TEENAGER FROM STATE SANCTIONED ABUSE

A 17 yr old teenager with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)  is at risk of death due to three and a half years of severe  institutional, state sanctioned abuse and torture. 

(He will be referred to as O for his own safety)

O, who is currently under a state sanctioned care order directed by Family and Community Services (FACS)  has been forced to undergo cruel and extreme medical and psychiatric treatments, which have now left him unable to walk, talk or move independently. He is injected with immunosuppressive drugs into his joints as treatment for a condition he was misdiagnosed with by the hospital's Rheumatologist. He requires immediate antibiotic treatment for bacterial osteomyelitis that has now been untreated for some time, leading to his severe physical deterioration. All attempts for O to be seen by a specialist for a welfare check and to be provided with the medical help he needs has been denied and ignored by his FACS officers. 

These treatments did not align with O’s physical condition, he was force fed, via physical and chemical restraints, given unsafe doses of off-label antipsychotics, as well as being strapped to a bed in a small and dark locked observation room for refusing to eat under the care of FACS as protest to be taken home. 

FACS and Dr. Sloane Madden at Westmead Children's Hospital repeatedly denied him foods he was comfortable eating, refusing to accept his food requirements as a very normal and valid aspect of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Instead they insisted he had an eating disorder and punished his refusal to eat hospital food he wasn’t familiar with. 

He has been deprived of contact with the outside world, his family, friends and those concerned, he has been robbed of his teenagehood, his right to education and his autonomy. 

Despite countless attempts to appeal and to overturn this care order while investigating the abuse O is suffering, little has been done to address the negligence of duty of care at the hands of Westmead Children’s Hospital and FACS. If nothing is done FACS will be able to have full legal and financial guardianship over him until he is 25.

Before O was taken, he could walk and talk, he was able to go to school where he excelled in his subjects. He is an incredibly intelligent and thoughtful individual, which FACS has sorely misunderstood as someone incompetent of achieving wonderful things.

If a who child fits the description above goes into state care and almost four years later is no longer able to walk independently, speak freely and is deteriorating rapidly, it would be deeply concerning to anyone.

Those in charge of O’s order as well as medical treatment have even caught the attention of ASD specialists, psychiatrists and DRs who too have expressed their grave concerns for O. Some even stated that the likely outcome of these treatments and medications is lifelong negative consequences on O’s wellbeing, physically and mentally.

This is a terrifying violation of human rights, one which has been a cry for help unanswered for three and a half years. 

With the current investigations by ABC into child abuse and neglect in state care, this would be the time to get the attention of our government, our leaders and those in power to enact change and save his life and the lives of other children/young people still suffering in state care.

if anything written here strikes a chord with you or you have had a personal traumatic experience with these same agencies please reach out our strength is in numbers and each other's support ! 

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE with everyone you know, as a community we must demand for immediate action.

refer to the link below to help financially or visit the instagram site for this case.                                                                                                                            *all donations will be directly funded to his chosen lawyer for the impending legal proceedings and medical treatment*

https://linktr.ee/urgentaid

please help to make this go viral, tag abc, media outlets, pro bono firms, human rights group, disability and autism advocacy groups, etc.

 

additional links 

ABC child protection investigation findings

NSW Ombudsman

HealthCare Complaints Commission