Four nurses in custody for death of 32-year-old in Croatia
Thousands of citizens paid tribute to Kristian Josip Peris, who died from asphyxiation in a psychiatric clinic in Zagreb. Four nurses are being held as suspects in a manslaughter case.
Croatia: Anger over patient death from asphyxiation in psychiatric clinic
Four medical technicians are being held in pre-trial detention as suspects in aggravated manslaughter following the death of 32-year-old Kristian Josip Peris at the Psychiatric Clinic "St. John" in Jankomir, Zagreb, according to reports from In.gr.
Surveillance video lasting eight minutes and forty seconds shows between 6 and 8 nurses restraining the patient, striking him on the chest and holding a pillow to his face, resulting in his death from asphyxiation. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic characterised the incident as "murder".
Thousands in the streets across the country
On Saturday afternoon, thousands of citizens in numerous Croatian cities paid tribute to Peris with the lighting of candles and eight minutes of silence — a symbolic response to the duration of his agony, as the organisers emphasised. Large gatherings took place in Split, Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Osijek.
In Split, citizens gathered at Voćni square. Ante Tesija, spokesperson for the Healthy Split initiative, called the event a "turning point" in attitudes towards the most vulnerable citizens. "If this is not a warning, I don't know what else needs to happen for us to move forward," he said, calling for public expression of protest.
Protester Sofija Mentveček stated to the 24sata.hr website: "Today it's him, tomorrow it's us. It's terrible and incomprehensible to send a child to hospital and see him return dead. There simply are no words for it."
Testimonies from patients about care conditions
Individuals with mental health issues also attended the demonstrations. Vítomír Plejts spoke about his own experience in the Split psychiatric hospital, where he was treated against his will for a month while restrained throughout his stay.
Sanja Žekič, mother of a 33-year-old son with moderate intellectual disability, described a decade of experiences with psychiatric hospitalisations in Split, Zagreb and Rab, referring to the use of restraints and medication. "We are here silent for eight minutes now, but in reality we should all be screaming. We must speak out for Kristian and for all the Kristians experiencing these tortures today," she said, calling for changes to the care system for vulnerable groups.
Resignations in clinic management
Following Peris's death, clinic director Majda Grach resigned, as did her deputy and the deputy head of nursing. Four of the seven members of the Board of Directors, including chairman Mirando Mršić, also submitted their resignations.
The Health Inspectorate identified irregularities in the documentation of the patient's physical restraint procedures. His death has raised broader issues regarding the treatment of patients in the country's psychiatric institutions.
Official family memorial on 21 November
The Peris family announced the organisation of an official memorial on Saturday, 21 November, at 18:30, at Ban Josip Jelačić Square in Zagreb, next to the Maduševetec fountain. They emphasised that the event is not related to other protests dedicated to Peris.
Source: In.gr