Boy with autism settles action over care at South Kerry Camhs for €110,000

The court heard that the boy, when he was five, started on multiple prescriptions including an anti-psychotic drug and he 'was turned into a violent individual'

This is the second-highest award so far against the HSE related to the care provided by the South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. File picture

A boy with autism, 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 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs). 

The boy’s counsel, David Sutton SC with Richard Liston BL, told the High Court on Friday that the boy, when he was five years old, started on multiple prescriptions including an anti-psychotic drug and he “was 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 only now needs medication to help him sleep, counsel said.

Approving the settlement, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart congratulated the boy and his mother on his recovery and the judge said it was heartening to hear of the boy’s progress.

In an affidavit to the court, the boy’s solicitor Adrian Hegarty said the boy was referred to Camhs at the end of 2018 and was first assessed in February 2019 before 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, 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. 

There was, it was noted, a persistence with medication despite no clear evidence of benefit.

The boy, two months after being taken off the anti-psychotic drug, 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 1300 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 it detailed significant harm to 46 children.