( CNN ) -- A Dutch documentary about a mentally ill and potentially dangerous 18-year-old has prompted lawmakers in the Netherlands -- amid national outrage -- to re-examine the treatment of those in psychiatric care . The documentary , which was produced by the Lutheran-run Evangelical Broadcasting Company and aired on public television Tuesday , followed Brandon van Ingen , a patient at a mental hospital in Ermelo . Since 2007 , van Ingen has spent part of his days tethered to a wall due to the danger he poses to others , according to State Secretary for Public Health Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten-Hyllner . `` Brandon 's issue is so serious that he must be restricted in his freedom for the sake of his own safety and that of others , '' van Zanten-Hyllner wrote in a letter to parliament . `` Because of this , Brandon consistently makes use of a band that he fastens himself when he is in the presence of his attendants and other visitors . Whenever there is no one present and at night , the band is loosened . '' In response to the documentary , the country 's political parties held emergency meetings Wednesday to discuss care for the mentally ill. Van Zanten-Hyllner addressed those meetings , explaining that van Ingen 's care was in line with rules for restraining mental health patients , but promised to examine whether a change is needed . `` The broadcast stirred me deeply , '' she wrote in the letter to parliament . `` It is upsetting to see that such a young person , who has his life before him , has so little perspective for a better future . '' Van Zanten-Hyllner noted that van Ingen , who apparently hears voices that tell him to do `` bad and dangerous things , '' has his own apartment where he can move about freely . The hospital is working on alternatives for van Ingen 's care , van Zanten-Hyllner wrote , `` and is undertaking constant efforts to improve the living situation . '' The program `` Outspoken '' learned about Van Ingen 's story from one of his caretakers at the hospital . `` I could no longer do these shifts , '' Iris Mourits said on the program . `` Back-up shifts were OK , but being together with him in a room -- I think at some point he could sense that from the depths of my toes I could no longer see him on that leash . '' Van Ingen 's mother compared his care to that of a `` caged animal . '' `` He feels like a dog on a line , '' she said . Heerenloo hospital issued a statement Saturday assuring family members of those at the facility that van Ingen 's case is an exceptional one and does n't reflect the care the majority of patients receive . Health care inspectors said Friday that they would `` investigate the cases in which freedom is taken away from patients similar to Brandon 's situation . '' Van Zanten-Hyllner said there are about 40 cases similar to van Ingen 's in the Netherlands . CNN 's Ben Brumfield and Bharati Naik and Journalist Eline Rietkerk contributed to this report .
A documentary profiled the 18-year-old male 's treatment at a mental hospital . Dutch lawmakers are re-examining the treatment of those in psychiatric care . Comment: The hospital calls the man 's treatment an exceptional case .