At the beginning of July this year, Karlskrona municipality became aware of suspicions of a malpractice in the functional support administration.

A resident must have used a method where staff with duffel bags pushed down a patient with a disability in order for the staff to be protected from spitting and kicking.

IVO (the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate) has now issued an order that coercive and restrictive measures be discontinued immediately.

In its decision, IVO writes that the method is not compatible with good quality and good living conditions and is inviolable and unreasonable.

- We see it as a coercive measure that is not allowed, says Lars Rahm, unit manager at IVO.

After the injunction, the municipality acted immediately.

- We have taken immediate action.

Among other things, we have begun a lex Sarah investigation, says Linda Olsson, deputy head of administration for the functional support administration.

Investigation work is in progress

IVO believes that certain measures could be permitted if there is consent from the guardian or the person himself, but that such consent does not exist in the business.

- If coercive and restrictive measures have been used in a way other than as agreed protective measures, it is serious and something that should not happen. The Lex Sarah investigation that is being carried out now must show what has happened and what measures we may then need to take, says Linda Olsson.