"Genito-Urinary Medicine"

I found myself needing treatment at the Genito-Urinary Medicine after the Autistic Child I work with as a one to one LSP accidentally bit me when she became scared.

The treatment and care I received were excellent but I found myself deeply offended by comments made by one member of staff.

When I was discussing what had happened with the doctor on duty I explained that the child in question was non-verbal, had a mental age of around 18 months old and was Autistic.

I informed her that the child had bitten other members of staff before although not as bad but it was unintentional.

The doctor made the commented that the child sounded mentally deranged, should be sectioned and put in Bushy Fields.

I asked her to repeat what she had said as I thought I had misheard her to which she repeated her comment.

I explained that the child was a 6-year-old little girl and I didn't believe a mental hospital was the place for an Autistic child.

The doctor argued that if the said child was going around biting people she was obviously mentally deranged and should be put in a place where she is not a danger to others.

I was both shocked and disgusted that a medically trained person could be so prejudiced towards a person with special needs and treat Autism as a mental illness in the 21st Century.

Maybe the staff would benefit from some Autism Awareness training to dispell some of their misconceptions.