Courts Order Transfer of Abused Children from Villa Santa Maria Clinic

The Milan and Monza courts ordered the emergency transfer of two children allegedly subjected to abuse at the Villa Santa Maria rehabilitation center in Tavernerio, near Como, amid an ongoing judicial investigation into the private neuropsichiatry facility.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Judicial authorities in Milan and Monza ordered emergency transfers for two young children following allegations of mistreatment at the Villa Santa Maria rehabilitation center in Tavernerio.
• The private neuropsichiatry facility is already facing a separate investigation involving 13 former staff members accused of aggravated mistreatment of 15 youths between 2018 and 2021.
• Current facility operations face additional scrutiny after prosecutors received three new family complaints concerning staff members regarding alleged incidents in May, July, and September.

Judicial Intervention at the Tavernerio Facility

The Tribunal of Milan ordered the emergency transfer of a six-year-old girl diagnosed with severe autism by October 28. The ruling followed a petition filed by the child’s mother and mirrors a similar emergency decision issued days prior by the Tribunal of Monza concerning another young patient at the same institution. The Villa Santa Maria center in Tavernerio operates as a private rehabilitation clinic specializing in child and adolescent neuropsychiatry.

Social services must now place the six-year-old girl in an alternative setting, such as a specialized community or professional foster family, ahead of the late-October deadline. The intervention stems from family reports of physical injuries observed during clinical stays. The parents of the young girl noticed a hematoma on her left cheekbone. Clinic operators attributed the mark to a minor collision with another child during a play session. The family disputed the explanation due to the child’s communication difficulties.

Prosecutor Seeks Indictments for Former Clinic Operators

The facility was already the subject of an extensive probe conducted by the Como Public Prosecutor’s Office. Deputy Prosecutor Massimo Astori requested indictments for 13 former operators who worked at the center between 2018 and 2021. Those individuals face allegations of aggravated mistreatment in concourse involving 15 young patients and are no longer employed at the clinic.

Alongside the historical inquiry, three new complaints have reached the Como prosecutor regarding current staff members. These recent reports detail incidents alleged to have occurred in May, July, and September. In the Monza case, a four-year-old child was found with a hematoma on the temple, prompting the local tribunal to mandate an immediate transfer to a different care facility. Separately, an eight-year-old girl exhibited unexplained bodily bruising alongside significant, atypical weight loss.

Tribunal Orders Emergency Transfer of Pediatric Patients

Lawyer Cristina Biella represented the family of the six-year-old girl in securing the Milan tribunal’s emergency transfer order. The judicial directives bypass standard administrative placement timelines to remove vulnerable pediatric patients from the facility while investigations continue. The tribunals have tasked local social services with identifying appropriate residential care environments capable of supporting the complex developmental and medical needs of the transferred children.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.