Report on Conditions in Psychiatric Establishments in Georgia
complaint system is not duly organized. The situation is complicated by the fact that patients are not informed of
their rights, procedures concerning lodging complaints, existence of complaints box and its usage.
According to the staff members of the establishments, past practice showed that the ill- treatment by orderlies
(now nurse assistant) was a common practice as a result of lack of qualification and skills in managing the critical
situations. Currently most of orderlies have undertaken special trainings. As doctor on duty at the Psychiatric Department of Gudushauri Hospital mentioned, this positive development is based on different approaches towards
patients as well as on modern trends being incorporated into the field of psychiatry. The doctor also emphasizes,
that the very fact of being a member of a multidisciplinary team, which discusses thoroughly conditions and needs
of the patients, is very important for the orderlies / nurse assistants and indeed changes their attitude towards
patients. Despite the aforementioned, the patients of several facilities stated that they were subjected to rude
treatment by orderlies. In the majority of cases the patients did not inform anybody about such facts.
Tbilisi Mental Health Centre. As several male patients placed in the so called social unit of the Centre stated,
some staff members treated them rudely and carelessly. One of the patients mentioned that two years ago one
orderly was dismissed for beating a patient twice. He also stated that personnel is “noisy and they shout”, though
“recently situation has improved and relations are warmer”. After being asked what exactly he did not like therein,
the patient answered that despite the improvements the situation is still bad. “Sometimes I feel aversion and apathy
from their side”.
One of the patients of the female unit mentioned: “Staff members sometimes talk roughly and shout though
there has been no cases of beating”. Another patient of the same unit stated that “those who misbehave are subjected to shouts and fixation to bed”.
The records examined at the establishment showed that 11 employees were reprimanded for ill-treatment of patients in 2011; the same data for 2010 was 12 staff members.
Psychiatric Department of Hospital N5. The interviews with patients placed in the Psychiatric Department
showed several very important issues regarding treatment of patients: One patient claimed that her attending
doctor Natulie treats her roughly and insults her. “She considers me to be a prostitute. This Natulie insults me permanently and often speaks of men in my presence; she has no right to interfere into my private life”. “Once when
I asked for some medicines, she forced into the ward and rejected my requests. She said that I was doing it to show up
in front of men.” “Other doctors and orderlies love me”.
Another patient of the same facility confirmed the rude and insulting behaviour of the same doctor towards
patients.
As other patients said, “Teona beats everybody” (The patient could not specify whether she was nurse or assistant to
nurse).
As doctor on duty at Psychiatric Department of Hospital N5, mentioned last year 3 orderlies were dismissed as
their behavior did not meet the modern standards – they were rude with patients and had conflicts on subordination basis.52 Presumably issue of treatment is still a serious one this facility and the administration have to adopt
all necessary measures to eradicate this problem. In addition the doctors have to express more attention towards
patients not only in terms of medical treatment.
52
Presumably the Establishment, mentioned here is the old establishment on Asatiani Street, as by the time indicated the
psychiatric unit did not exist at the establishment N5.
NPM Report
2012
The same patient stated that security officer Ucha hit him once with hand. “Those who are sick are beaten”, “one
male patient was beaten and hittedseveral times. I approached and saw how he was beaten and then he cried”; “I
think he refused to take medicine, pushed with hand. The security officers have beaten that man. I love him and
cannot tell his name”; “I do not know whether doctors are aware of this fact, they are always in their rooms”. “If you
misbehave you are locked. One patient was locked though he deserved as he misbehaved”.
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