Mom questions beaten son's release from Waterford Hospital
The mother of a 22-year-old man who was brutally beaten in the Rotary Drive Park area of St. John's late Friday night wants to know why her son was permitted to leave the Waterford Hospital.
"He had his lips busted up, he had his nose broken, his eyes swollen shut, stab wounds in his hand. Just very beaten up," Lisa Fudge told CBC News Tuesday.
Fudge says her son doesn't have access to the mental health services he needs in their hometown of Clarenville, so she brought him to the St. John's hospital for treatment.
She said her son Mitchell suffers from delusions and addiction, and has spent the last year in and out of the Waterford.
After breaking curfew Friday night, Mitchell picked up some alcohol and attended a house party on Jensen Camp Road.
"Mitchell was given a privilege to go out on the grounds of the Waterford ... and we did not know that until later on that night at nine o'clock," she said.
That's when the hospital called Fudge to notify her that Mitchell hadn't returned.
About two hours later, Fudge said, police called to say that a young woman had found him bleeding profusely on the side of the road. He was transported to the Health Sciences Centre for his injuries.
Fudge believes her son was not invited to the party, and was asked to leave.
"I'm thinking, I don't know this, but words were exchanged, and when Mitchell turned to walk away, he was jumped by what we believe was five to 10 men, young guys."
Fudge said her son was knocked to the ground and beaten a total of three times. He's since been referred to a plastic surgeon to repair the damage done to his face.
'This boy needs help'
Fudge said she doesn't understand why hospital staff allowed her son to leave the building.
"My concern is that if you have a really ill patient and they have an addiction problem, I believe that the Waterford should be treating that patient by taking special precautions by not allowing them out on passes several times a day," she said.
"Because if you're still that sick, you're going to go get what you want, to get that next high."
When she recently offered to show a doctor at the hospital a video of her son's erratic behaviour, Fudge said she was told the video would only be viewed at Mitchell's request.
However, she doesn't believe her son is capable of seeking the proper treatment for himself.
"I said this boy needs help. Whatever you guys are doing, it's not working, the medication is not working, he's still showing signs that he's delusional so something has to change," Fudge said.
"The only help he's going to get is by being kept there against his will and being treated properly."
"It's very hard to see your child suffer enough as it is through mental illness and then to go outside and have this done to him as well, it's very difficult."
Justice for Mitchell
Fudge started a social media campaign on Faceook in an effort to find the people responsible in Friday's incident.
"I added a group page yesterday called Justice for Mitchell in hopes that someone with any knowledge will come forward with information that they could pass on to the RNC or Crime Stoppers."
While she hasn't yet received any tips, Fudge said she believes "all it takes is one person."
Police believe there may have been a gathering of people in a wooded area of Jensen Camp Road during the time of the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information on the incident is asked to contact the RNC or Crime Stoppers.
