Quebec child on autism spectrum denied access to care because he goes to English school | 24CA News

Politics
Published 22.12.2022
Quebec child on autism spectrum denied access to care because he goes to English school  | 24CA News

A mom in Laval, Que., says she is struggling to search out companies for her 11-year-old little one who’s on the autism spectrum.

Elena Montecalvo says her son Giancarlo Rodriguez has been refused entry to a particular psychiatric program on the Rivière-des-Prairies hospital based mostly on the truth that he attends faculty in English.

“Something needs to be done because my son is paying the price and we desperately need help,” mentioned Montecalvo.

Montecalvo says that Giancarlo is a candy boy however previously two months, his scenario has taken a pointy flip.

“Anything sets him off and then once he is set off, it’s really hard to bring him back down so he punches holes in the walls, he pinches and hits me … He bites and pinches himself,” Montecalvo says. “That’s really heartbreaking to watch.”

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Montecalvo says Giancarlo’s psychiatrist advisable a particular in-patient program solely out there on the Rivière des Prairies hospital. It has a specialised unit for youngsters on the spectrum the place he can get acceptable remedy.

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But Montecalvo says her request for care was denied by the hospital based mostly on his language.

“Complete shock but mostly despair,” she mentioned of her response, “because I believed in our heart that this was our only option and my only hope for things to get better.”


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A spokesperson for the native well being authority informed Global News in an e-mail that individual institutions and repair corridors are designated to adequately reply to well being and social companies for anglophone individuals.

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“Pedopsychiatric services for anglophone clients of the Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal CIUSSS and the Laval CISSS are given by the MUHC. The request for care should be then made to the Montreal Children’s hospital,” wrote Marie-Hélène Giguère in an e-mail.

According to Montecalvo, Giancarlo’s psychiatrist says Montréal Children’s hospital doesn’t present the kind of care that the boy wants.

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“I know that section 13 in the ‘Loi sur les services de santé et les services sociaux’ limits the offer where the English-speaking resources are available,” mentioned Paul Brunet, chair of the Council for Protection of Patients. “But even then, are you telling me that in Laval there are no English-speaking resources that could help this boy? I can’t believe this.”

Giancarlo’s educator says it’s pressing he and his household entry the Rivière des Prairies hospital’s program.

“For them, it’s absolutely crucial because otherwise, they don’t have options,” mentioned Laurie Mitchell, a particular care counsellor who works with kids on the spectrum.

Sophie Jacques-Barma, a spokesperson for Quebec’s minister of social companies Lionel Carmant, says his workplace is conscious of the case however gained’t remark any additional as they’re wanting into the small print of the scenario.

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