The condition of the four-month-old girl who was taken to the hospital in Rzeszów (Podkarpackie Voivodeship) with signs of abuse is still serious, but – as the spokesman of the facility said – the child is starting to react to external stimuli. The infant is still in a medically induced coma. He was taken to hospital with broken limbs, scratches and a head injury. The parents were charged with abuse and were arrested.
– There is light at the end of the tunnel, the child is starting to respond to external stimuli – Tomasz Warchoł, press spokesman for the Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, where the girl is hospitalized, told us on Thursday.
He added that her condition is still serious, the child is in a medically induced coma and is receiving respiratory support, and the girl is connected to a respirator. – The condition is serious but stable, we are optimistic – said Warchoł.
The girl is in the intensive care unit. She got there on Thursday (October 19) in the evening with injuries indicating that someone had abused her.
Earlier, the spokesman informed that the child’s condition upon admission to the hospital indicated that physical violence might be used against him. The girl had broken limbs, scratches and bruises, and was hyperactive and fearful. She was operated on.
A four-month-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital. The child’s parents were arrested for three monthsRenata Kijowska/Fakty TVN
Parents of a child with allegations of abuse
The investigation into this case is being conducted by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jasło. She brought charges against the child’s parents: a 20-year-old mother and a 25-year-old father, of abusing their daughter and causing bodily harm to her.
The girl’s father pleaded not guilty to the charge of abusing his daughter, while the mother partially confessed. They both gave explanations, but – due to the child’s best interests and the nature of the case – the prosecutor’s office does not disclose their content. They face up to eight years in prison. Both of them were arrested by the court for three months.
According to the prosecutor’s office, depending on the girl’s health condition, the charges may be modified.
– How the child’s health condition changes will influence the change in the legal classification of the act and, consequently, the charges against the parents – Katarzyna Skrudlik-Rączka, deputy head of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jasło, told us.
Prosecutors are waiting for a full opinion of experts who will assess the girl’s condition. For now – due to her condition – she cannot be examined. Previously, experts assessed that the infant’s “numerous injuries in various stages of healing” may indicate the so-called abused child syndrome.
See the material of “Fakty” TVN: A four-month-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital. The child’s parents were arrested for three months
The family had a Blue Card. For several days
The family was covered by the Blue Card procedure. – A few days before the intervention, when the child was admitted to hospital, the woman reported violence that her partner allegedly used against her. When asked several times whether she also used violence against children, she categorically denied it – Daniel Lelko, press officer of the District Police Headquarters in Jasło, told us.
On October 16, information about the Blue Card was received by the Municipal Social Welfare Center in Tarnowiec. A day later, GOPS employees were to talk to the 20-year-old and her mother, with whom she and her child had been living for the past two weeks after breaking up with her partner. As the manager of the center, Beata Matuszyk, told us, the report concerned only the violence that the 25-year-old allegedly used against his partner. – There is no mention of a child there, this is a case involving these two young people – Matuszyk informed us on October 23.
She added that “there was no indication that anything was happening.” – This lady also had no signs of violence – she emphasized. When asked whether anything in the child’s appearance or behavior aroused the suspicions of GOPS employees, she denied it.
– We will submit a request to the Municipal Social Welfare Center to provide documentation to check what actions were taken under the Blue Card procedure – the prosecutor told us.
SEE THE MATERIAL OF “FACTS” TVN: New regulations regarding the Blue Card. The violence is not only physical
The girl will go to a foster family
A day after the girl was admitted to the hospital in Rzeszów, the Jasło prosecutor’s office applied to the family court to appoint a temporary representative for the child in order to protect its procedural interests and to issue – urgently – temporary care orders regarding parental authority. After leaving the hospital, the girl will go to a foster family.
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Main photo source: TVN24