An autistic boy, who the High Court heard became violent when he was on an anti-psychotic drug while undergoing treatment with the South Kerry Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Services (Camhs), has settled a High Court action for €110,000.
This is the second-highest award so far against the HSE related to the care provided by the South Kerry Camhs.
The boy’s counsel, David Sutton SC with Richard Liston BL, told the High Court on Friday that the child was five-years-old when he was started on multiple prescriptions, including an anti-psychotic drug, and he “turned into a violent individual”.
Counsel said once the young boy was taken off the medication about three years later, he had, over a number of months, recovered well, and “you could not find a better recovery”.
The boy, who has ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, now only needs medication to help him sleep, counsel said.
Approving the settlement, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart congratulated the boy and his mother on his recovery, with the judge adding that it was heartening to hear of the boy’s progress.
In an affidavit to the court, the boy’s solicitor, Adrian Hegarty said the child was referred to Camhs at the end of 2018 and was first assessed in February 2019. He was prescribed different medications in March of that year.
The boy was examined by a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in May of this year, and the mother reported that while on the anti-psychotic drug her son became angry, aggressive, was persistently hungry and reported hearing voices. The mother also reported the boy pulled out clumps of his hair.
The consultant psychiatrist reported that the introduction of medication in March 2019 was multiple and there was an alleged failure by Camhs to listen to and take account of adverse side effects of the medication including sedation, weight gain as well as angry and aggressive outbursts.
It was noted that there was a persistence with medication despite no clear evidence of benefit.
Two after being taken off the anti-psychotic drug, the boy showed a marked change, and he has now integrated well into school and the behaviour he had displayed is gone.
A State compensation scheme was set up last year after the controversy over the care provided by South Kerry Camhs was revealed.
A look-back review of the care of 1,300 young people who attended the HSE-run service also took place. It found that the care received by 240 young people did not meet the standards which it should have and detailed significant harm to 46 children.
