Communication of a journalist’s complaint that his father, during his hospitalization at Papageorgiou, on August 26, got out of bed to get dressed because he was cold, and when he returned, two nurses placed bars on his bed and tied his hands for no reason gauze issued by the hospital.

A related report states that a 98-year-old man admitted on August 25 to the emergency department of the Papageorgiou Urological Clinic for hematuria, with a history of calcium prostate and treated with anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation, was tethered to prevent a fall.

Journalist Nikos Aslanidis filed a complaint with the Ministry of Health, as well as through social networks, in which he stated that his father, during his hospitalization on August 26, got out of bed to put on something because he was cold, and when he returned, two nurses they put bars on his bed and for no reason tied his hands with gauze. “He asked in vain why he was being tied up. They didn’t answer him, but they tried to tie him to the bars by force… Although he is 98 years old, he tried to react and pushed the nurse with his right hand, but she started hitting him on the arm, causing bruises that are still visible. After that, he “surrendered” and was tied up…” says Mr. Aslanidis.

The report from Papageorgiou Hospital states that the patient was especially anxious on the afternoon of August 26, 2022, and after being examined by a psychiatrist, he was treated for a diagnosis of organic psychosis. “In order to prevent a possible fall due to repeated attempts to get out of bed, as is usually the case in psychomotor anxious patients and always after medical instructions a) ordinary railings were put up to prevent a fall and b) in connection with a persistently repeated attempt to remove catheters from him , his upper limbs were secured with non-traumatic straps to prevent self-harm,” the hospital said in a statement. The hospital explains the bruises by saying that “they were due to the use of anticoagulants and the patient’s forcible removal of peripheral venous catheters, and not due to violence.”

“Patient A.G., 98 years old, was admitted to the urological clinic on August 25, 2022 at 10:30 pm due to hematuria, with a history of prostate Ca and receiving anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation. For the treatment of hematuria, continuous bladder lavage through a 22 fr triple Foley catheter was prescribed. For patients with continuous bladder lavage, it is standard hospital policy to dress them in a hospital gown, both to preserve their dignity and to ensure the urinary catheter is working smoothly.

Due to laboratory-confirmed hyponatremia, advanced age, and change of environment, the patient was especially anxious in the afternoon of 08/26/2022 and, after examination by a psychiatrist, was treated in connection with the diagnosis of organic psychosis. To prevent a possible fall due to repeated attempts to get out of bed, as is usually the case in psychomotor anxious patients and always after medical instructions: to the persistently repeated attempt to remove the catheters from him, his upper limbs were fixed with non-traumatic straps to prevent self-harm. The bruising was reported to be due to the administration of anticoagulants and the patient’s forcible removal of peripheral venous catheters, and not due to violence as reported.

The Medical Service, in collaboration with the Nursing Service for Hospitalized Patients, has developed a protocol for the effective management of patients with organic psychosis, and the hospital staff makes every day every effort to take effective de-escalation measures and optimally provide enhanced care services, always aimed not to infringe patient’s personality.