We have a pt who is not homocidal, not suicidal does not self mutilate. He is simply manic. He has filed a Right to Apply for Discharge and the discharge has been refused, so the doctor keeps Baker Acting him. The family wants him to stay in the hosp, but he is not a minor. This seems like an abuse of Baker Act and I cannot understand why they are not allowing him to be d/c'd. I mean, ok, mania isn't a really healthy state, and sure, maybe manic people don't make the best choices at times, but if that's all they are going on, we'd have to Baker Act every obese person who goes to McDonald's. The man does not have a job right now, but has an advanced degree. He has said he missed an interview already because they are refusing his release.
I have to say, I do feel that his rights are being violated. But am I missing something?
I just want to add, that a part of my concern does stem from my own experience with involuntary commitment several years ago. What I do remember was terrifying. But I was kept sedated around the clock, so heavily that I needed XRAYS because I fell from being too heavily sedated.
How do you think that looked to a judge? I was unable to speak for myself!
The kicker is, I never made any suicidal or homocidal statements. I had had an argument with my husband, he choked me, the police were called. My husband was worried that his commander would be involved and that his military career would be threatened, and so the police took his word, and his word alone, that I was suicidal. Now OF COURSE I was crying and upset by the time I was hauled away to the psych ward. So the sedation began. Sure I could refuse it. But then I was 'uncooperative' with treatment. And being 'uncooperative' with treatment certainly didn't help my case for release when I went to Baker Act court. So I was held, against my will, for 144 hours. Which is a hell of a long time when your rights have been stripped away (along with your clothes).
So how did I finally get released? Husband came to Baker Act court and read a statement in which he admitted that I never belonged there, and that he was sorry for wasting the hospital's time. So I got out. And until I could find a way to get away from HIM, everytime there was an argument, he threatened me with 'Don't make me lock you up again!'
So yeah, maybe I'm personally concerned for the guy. But I'm not sorry for it. Hopefully he's not going through what I went through. Because what I learned was that the mental health and court system is still in the Dark-frigging-Ages.
Thank you for telling us about that. I cannot fathom your experience. Terrifying.
At our unit, we have a family that has had 'Mom' held on 72 hour holds 4 times now. Nothing is wrong with Mom. Just the adult kids want her money. We think. Anyway, it is absolutely terrifying.
Meerkat
432 Posts
I just want to add, that a part of my concern does stem from my own experience with involuntary commitment several years ago. What I do remember was terrifying. But I was kept sedated around the clock, so heavily that I needed XRAYS because I fell from being too heavily sedated.
How do you think that looked to a judge? I was unable to speak for myself!
The kicker is, I never made any suicidal or homocidal statements. I had had an argument with my husband, he choked me, the police were called. My husband was worried that his commander would be involved and that his military career would be threatened, and so the police took his word, and his word alone, that I was suicidal. Now OF COURSE I was crying and upset by the time I was hauled away to the psych ward. So the sedation began. Sure I could refuse it. But then I was 'uncooperative' with treatment. And being 'uncooperative' with treatment certainly didn't help my case for release when I went to Baker Act court. So I was held, against my will, for 144 hours. Which is a hell of a long time when your rights have been stripped away (along with your clothes).
So how did I finally get released? Husband came to Baker Act court and read a statement in which he admitted that I never belonged there, and that he was sorry for wasting the hospital's time. So I got out. And until I could find a way to get away from HIM, everytime there was an argument, he threatened me with 'Don't make me lock you up again!'
So yeah, maybe I'm personally concerned for the guy. But I'm not sorry for it. Hopefully he's not going through what I went through. Because what I learned was that the mental health and court system is still in the Dark-frigging-Ages.