Formal demands sent — the clock is running
On 7 July 2026 formal urgent demands were sent to the care organisation involved and to the Municipality of Gouda, with a hard deadline. Specialist legal assistance has now also been engaged.
On 7 July 2026 the family increased the pressure through the proper legal channels. This post summarises the steps taken.
Two formal demands
Two formal urgent demands (sommaties) were sent on 7 July 2026:
- to the care organisation involved in the assessment of 6 July 2026, addressed to the physician concerned, requesting the written, reasoned justification for the forced admission;
- to the Municipality of Gouda, as the responsible authority, for a copy of the emergency order and the underlying medical declaration (case number 1708333).
Both demands set a hard deadline: no later than 8 July 2026, before 12:00, in writing and with all annexes. To date the family has received no underlying document whatsoever, and has at no point been told on what concrete grounds the deprivation of liberty rests.
The response so far
The Municipality of Gouda automatically confirmed receipt of the demand, but referred to a standard response period of five working days. The family considers that period incompatible with an ongoing deprivation of liberty and with the urgency the Care and Compulsion Act requires in such situations, and maintains the deadline it has set.
Legal assistance engaged
Specialist legal assistance in the field of the Care and Compulsion Act has now been engaged. From this point on the matter is being handled with the support of a lawyer.
What is now at play
The next steps are:
- securing adequate medical care for Trudy (including her necessary COPD medication) and restoring contact between Trudy and her son;
- obtaining and reviewing all underlying documents in full;
- representation and being heard at any judicial hearing on continuation of the admission, at which Trudy herself must also be heard;
- a request for discharge from the facility, aimed at her return to her own home, with home care the family wishes to arrange at its own expense.
The goal is unchanged: that Trudy returns to her own home, with the care she herself asked for.
This post will be updated as soon as a response is received or the requested documents become available.