Pediatrician from Viciebsk has gone on hunger strike in hospital

Ihar Pastnou is protesting against forced treatment.

The doctor from Viciebsk ended up being forcedly treated in a mental hospital soon after his video address to the countrymen. He expressed his critical judgment on the state of health care in Viciebsk, forced suggestive treatment for alcoholism and that he was being intimidated by forced psychiatric treatment himself.

Ihar Pastnou is not given an opportunity to appeal against the court’s decision on forced treatment in a mental hospital.

A civic activist Siarhej Ryzhou told Radio Svaboda about the new details of the former pediatrician’s case.

“The doctor Ihar Pastnou has 10 days to submit an appeal. Today during the department chief's round he asked for paper and a pen. He was not given those on the grounds that he could intentionally harm his eye. He was actually deprived of the opportunity to appeal against the court’s decision. He declared that he started a termless hunger strike”, - Siarhej Ryzhou said.

The activist said that today at midday a council of physicians would take place at the hospital, where they were going to endorse the forced treatment decision.

“The doctors may now endorse the decision and start injecting him with psychotropic medicines. The doctor Ihar Pastnou’s life is in danger”, - he is convinced.

We would remind that the court of Viciebsk district refused to publicly announce its decisions on Ihar Pastnou’s forced treatment.

The case of the doctor, who repeatedly criticized the city and region’s authorities, was considered on 21 August.