Outrage in New Zealand after 11-year-old lady despatched to psychiatric ward and drugged in id mix-up

An 11-year-old lady was restrained, injected with anti-psychotic medication and positioned on a psychological well being ward after New Zealand police mistook her for a lacking girl, a report discovered on Wednesday.

Well being officers and police have scrambled to elucidate the mix-up, which has appalled political leaders and stoked outrage throughout the nation.

The lady – who displayed “restricted verbal capability” – was crossing a bridge in northern Hamilton metropolis when a passing police automotive mistakenly recognized her as a lacking 20-year-old feminine hospital affected person, the assessment mentioned.

Police drove the lady to hospital, the place she was admitted to an “intensive psychiatric care unit” regardless of one nurse suggesting she “resembled a toddler”.

“Affected person A lives with a incapacity meaning she was not in a position to inform folks about herself,” mentioned a assessment by the Ministry of Well being, referring to the lady.

After refusing to take medication provided by workers, the lady was restrained and injected with anti-psychotic remedy that’s “not often administered to kids”.

“Workers had been engaged on the idea that they had been administering remedy to an grownup, not a toddler,” learn the damning assessment of the 9 March incident.

The lady spent greater than 12 hours in hospital till police realised their mistake and known as her household to choose her up.

“I simply want to begin by apologising to this younger particular person and her household for the trauma and misery that was brought about,” mentioned Richard Sullivan, a senior well being official.

“This report is a frank learn. However it’s obligatory to ensure this doesn’t occur once more.”

The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, launched an investigation final week when the incident got here to gentle.

“That’s extremely distressing and extremely regarding,” he mentioned.

“As a dad or mum you establish with what’s a horrific set of circumstances. I’ve large quantities of empathy for her and her household.”