Ernesto, a 15 years old boy, lives in the universe of severe autism, a galaxy where very few words resonate. His mother was struck by the word “llave” (key) that the child repeated like a complaint when he left the Padre Menni psychiatric hospital in Santander. Ernesto suffers from autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability and severe behavioral alterations. He spent a month in this private center after being referred from the public hospital of Valdecilla due to a series of crises that put his physical integrity and that of his parents at risk. While in the center, he was prescribed a treatment that included up to thirty daily doses of antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, and was frequently restrained, even “to promote sleep”, which left marks on his hands and face.
Ernesto’s parents, Jessica and Fredy, have embarked on a fight for a “more humane and specialized” treatment for these patients, to ensure that no child with disabilities goes through the same experience. The Padre Menni center, managed by the Catholic congregation Hermanas Hospitalarias, separated Ernesto from his parents for the first time in his life. Jessica and Fredy have dedicated their lives to understanding their son’s universe, caring for him, protecting him, and seeking his well-being. Fredy has spent a lot of time analyzing the child’s behavior, carrying a notebook and observing him even while he sleeps, in an attempt to understand what Ernesto cannot verbalize.
During his stay at the Padre Menni psychiatric hospital, Ernesto’s mother visited him morning and afternoon as she was not allowed to enter the unit. Ernesto would cry at night when his mother left as he could not process being alone there. The invisible bond between him and his mother transcended the clinic’s walls, with Ernesto calling for her even when she was not physically present. On February 3, 2024, Jessica found Ernesto with a severely bruised face, and despite staff denying seeing any injuries, she took him to Valdecilla Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a frontal contusion attributed to self-injuries.
Ernesto’s parents filed a police report and an investigation was opened by the Santander Court. They also submitted a complaint to the Cantabrian Government and the Ombudsman, seeking legal advice as they believe their son’s rights were violated. The Health Department declined to answer questions citing the ongoing legal proceedings. The Padre Menni psychiatric hospital, the only one in Cantabria with 400 beds, is specialized in treating complex patients that require extensive resources but declined to provide details on Ernesto’s treatment, stating that patient privacy must be protected.
The use of mechanical restraints in the Padre Menni hospital has come under scrutiny, with the need to end immobilization of patients highlighted at a conference organized by the hospital. Ernesto’s parents fear that their son may have been restrained more than reported, with Jessica being handed his stained pajamas, indicating he may not have been able to use the bathroom. The hospital claims to comply with Cantabrian legislation, which considers restraints an exceptional measure, and requires reporting to the authorities and informing the family of its application and effects. Despite some improvement in Ernesto’s condition at Valdecilla Hospital, his parents fear a relapse and are pushing for his transfer to a specialized unit in Barcelona for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, believing that underlying pain may be causing his violent outbursts.
