http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Mother-snubs-apology-son-s-psych...

Mother snubs apology from son's psychiatrist

A WOMAN violently attacked by her son after he left a mental health unit has rejected an apology from the psychiatrist who released him.

Schizophrenic Gerard Avrili, 39, battered his mother with a spade just hours after Dr Andrea Tocca signed him out of Plymouth's Glenbourne unit.

The psychiatrist apologised for what he called a "severe error" at a General Medical Council hearing reviewing the case.

Dr Tocca was found guilty of misconduct by the GMC in 2008 — two years after the attack. The panel allowed him to keep his job but imposed a string of conditions on his practice for 18 months.

With that period at an end, the GMC last week lifted all restrictions, leaving him to practice medicine without supervision.

Constance Avrili, Gerard's mother, told The Herald that she was disgusted with the decision and spurned Dr Tocca's apology.

The 69-year-old, of St Budeaux, said: "As far as I'm concerned, sorry means nothing. My son is more the victim than I am. I have survived, I'm free but he's still locked up. I don't know what will happen to him.

"What little quality of life he had is gone. He finds it very hard to live with what he did to me."

Mrs Avrili said she is disappointed the 15 restrictions have been lifted from Dr Tocca's registration.

"It's disgusting," she said. "I find it incredible that he was found guilty of misconduct and now is considered fit to practise as a consultant psychiatrist.

"I have done everything in my power to get justice and I don't consider the fact that he's kept his position as a consultant as justice for my son."

Dr Tocca apologised to Mrs Avrili through the GMC on Friday, saying: "First of all, I would like to start by asking the panel to convey my personal and sincere apologies for (Mrs Avrili), who was the victim of my misconduct.

...

Dr Tocca, who was working for NHS Plymouth in April 2006, discharged Mr Avrili after he had just attacked a fellow Glenbourne patient, the General Medical Council was told.

Shortly after arriving home in St Budeaux, the schizophrenic told Mrs Avrili: "I know what I have to do to you" and battered her with a spade. She suffered severe head injuries.

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