How to complain, if you are abused by the personnel at the institution?
If you are in any way abused by the personnel at the mental health care institution, you can submit the following complaints:
You can complain firstly to the administration of the section or the administration of the institution. They should be able to help you, especially if you have been treated rudely or verbally insulted.
If you are not satisfied with the response of the administration you should file a complaint to the Health Inspectorate. The Health Inspectorate will consider your application, make a decision about the next appropriate step and ask you for further documentation, if necessary. The inspectorate must respond to you within one month. If you are not satisfied with the decision of the Inspectorate, you can appeal it according to the order indicated in the decision.
If you have sustained damages to your health or life and/or you have incurred additional treatment costs as a result of the mistreatment, you can ask for compensation from the Medical Treatment Risk Fund. Read more about the complaint to the Medical Treatment Risk Fund.
important If the administration suspects that the mistreatment has resulted in a criminal offence, they have a duty to report this to the police. You also have the right to turn directly to the police. Upon such a complaint, the police must act accordingly and investigate the situation.
It is possible, that a criminal case will be opened against the member of staff involved on the basis of your complaint. In this case you should ask for compensation for damages as a victim in the criminal proceedings.
If the compensation claim in the criminal proceedings cannot, or cannot fully, redress your damages, you have the further right to seek these damages by filing a civil claim. In some cases you, as a victim, also have the right to compensation from the state. Read more about it in the Law on State Compensation to Victims.