Psychiatric treatment: A Dublin father has appealed to his local health board not to involuntarily detain his 20-year-old son, who has an eating disorder, in the psychiatric unit of a hospital against the wishes of the young man and his family.
Mr Paul O'Beirne, a father-of-five from Perrystown, says he fears his son's life is at risk because of a lack of appropriate treatment in the State and claims a psychiatric setting in Tallaght Hospital will not help his son.
"I'm frustrated, mad and angry. It's not in his best interests. We've tried this before and its proved unsuccessful. That's how we know it won't work. Parents don't seem to count, even though the health board says it works in consultation with us," said Mr O'Beirne.
"I refused to sign the form [for admission to the psychiatric unit]. It's crazy. With the new mental health legislation I thought you couldn't do that. We're the ones who have been fighting for him over the last four or five years."
His son Neil was yesterday admitted to the psychiatric unit of the hospital. In a statement, the South Western Area Health Board said it could not comment on individual cases. However, it added that treatment plans were designed and delivered on the basis of clinical assessment and best practice, and are continually reviewed. The Board's primary concern at all times was the welfare of its clients, the statement added.
An independent assessment Mr O'Beirne obtained from a Chicago-based psychologist has suggested a range of treatment options for Neil, who also has Asperger's Syndrome, sometimes described as a mild form of autism. While Neil has been in the Tallaght psychiatric unit before, he has spent recent months at home.
He received some health board services while living with his family, however, his weight dropped to around six stone and he was admitted to intensive care in St James's Hospital just over a week ago. He was discharged yesterday and admitted to Tallaght.
Mr O'Beirne is seeking what he says is appropriate treatment for his son at the Huntercombe Centre in England, which offers therapies for people with eating disorders.
The Dublin mother of a 23-year-old woman with an eating disorder expressed sympathy with the O'Beirnes yesterday. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said her health board on the northside of Dublin had agreed to fund her daughter's treatment in Huntercombe after several month's of lobbying. "It's harrowing to see your child waste away in front of your eyes, And even more harrowing to know there are places abroad which can help.
"She's well now. We're not out of the woods, but we're on the far side now. I know people have different opinions on this, but I think the illness is misunderstood and being treated as a psychiatric illness when it's a psychological disorder."
Treatment of anorexia nervosa or bulimia is aimed at restoring healthy weight and normal eating habits, as well as the reversal of factors that may have caused the disorder. Figures suggest that around 20 per cent recover completely, 20 per cent remain severely ill and the remainder, while regaining weight, may continue to suffer psychological symptoms.
