What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Indiana
This is a long story but I will try to be brief. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist since June of this year for depression and bi-polar disorder. I have been taking my medication as prescribed but have had two relapses in the last three months.
The first one was in September when I began having visual/auditory hallucinations and several other symptoms consistent with schizophrenia. My famy took me to the nearest hospital with psych capabilities. In the ER it was discovered that my electrolytes were all out of whack. They corrected the problem and sent me upstairs to the psych unit. When I woke up the next day I was fine. They held me for 24 hours and I was discharged without a diagnosis or schizophrenia but of an electrolyte disturbance.
Last week I had another, more severe episode. I took an overdose of sleeping pills. Again, family took me to the hospital but this time it was the closest facility. They do not have a psych unit. In the ER it was discovered that my electrolytes were again severely abnormal. Again it was corrected and I was admitted to the ICU for observation. When I woke up the next morning I was back to baseline and very ashamed and upset about what I had done.
I was held in ICU from Monday until Thursday night. I was cooperative and behaved appropriately throughout my stay yet there was a "sitter" in the room with me 24/7. Furthermore, during those FOUR DAYS I was not allowed to shower, brush my teeth, use the bathroom (only a chair next to the bed with a bucket underneath it) or even put on clean underwear. Neither my psychiatrist nor personal physician were allowed to be involved in my care as they were "not on staff." I was seen by the hospital's psychatrist for about 30 minutes at 10:00 p.m. Monday night and never saw him again. I repeatedly asked the nurses what my care plan was going to be but was repeatedly told it was "up to the social worker" who I had never met. I finally met her Thursday afternoon, about 36 hours after I first asked to see her. She told me I was being transferred to a psych facility. I informed her I wanted to go to a different facility in the area but was told no as my insurance had already approved the one they chose (which also happens to be their sister hospital owned by the same company.) I also asked to make a phone call to let my family know what was going on. That request was also refused. When I became upset, stating even prisoners get a phone call, the social worker returned and told me "if I [kept] acting a fool" she would make sure I was "locked up" in the other facility indefinitely. I asked her if I had ANY rights regarding my care which was answered with an emphatic "No!" I arrived at the psych facility Thursday night and was discharged by the attending psychiatrist the next morning.
I feel I was treated very unfairly there and had decisions made about my care without my consent. I was lucid, alert, and oriented and perfectly capable of participating in the planning of my aftercare. So my questions are:
1.) What exactly are the commitment laws in Indiana? I know they can commit you for 72 hours but I had already been hospitalized for that period of time and was never re-evaluated by a psychiatrist. I was also refused a choice regarding where my treatment would continue.
2.) Is it true that someone who attempted suicide has no rights when it comes to treatments, medications, and after-care?
3.) Can they refuse you basic neccessities like showering and undergarments?
4.) Is the social worker's abusive behavior considered malpractice? What about the diagnosing psychiatrist who determined my mental status in 30 minutes in the middle of the night without speaking to my psychiatrist or medical doctor?
Sorry to go on and on but this was absolutely the most humiliating, degrading experience I have ever had. In fact, I am going back to school for social work to try and change they way psychiatric patients are treated.
Thanks so much for any advice you might have.
This is a long story but I will try to be brief. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist since June of this year for depression and bi-polar disorder. I have been taking my medication as prescribed but have had two relapses in the last three months.
The first one was in September when I began having visual/auditory hallucinations and several other symptoms consistent with schizophrenia. My famy took me to the nearest hospital with psych capabilities. In the ER it was discovered that my electrolytes were all out of whack. They corrected the problem and sent me upstairs to the psych unit. When I woke up the next day I was fine. They held me for 24 hours and I was discharged without a diagnosis or schizophrenia but of an electrolyte disturbance.
Last week I had another, more severe episode. I took an overdose of sleeping pills. Again, family took me to the hospital but this time it was the closest facility. They do not have a psych unit. In the ER it was discovered that my electrolytes were again severely abnormal. Again it was corrected and I was admitted to the ICU for observation. When I woke up the next morning I was back to baseline and very ashamed and upset about what I had done.
I was held in ICU from Monday until Thursday night. I was cooperative and behaved appropriately throughout my stay yet there was a "sitter" in the room with me 24/7. Furthermore, during those FOUR DAYS I was not allowed to shower, brush my teeth, use the bathroom (only a chair next to the bed with a bucket underneath it) or even put on clean underwear. Neither my psychiatrist nor personal physician were allowed to be involved in my care as they were "not on staff." I was seen by the hospital's psychatrist for about 30 minutes at 10:00 p.m. Monday night and never saw him again. I repeatedly asked the nurses what my care plan was going to be but was repeatedly told it was "up to the social worker" who I had never met. I finally met her Thursday afternoon, about 36 hours after I first asked to see her. She told me I was being transferred to a psych facility. I informed her I wanted to go to a different facility in the area but was told no as my insurance had already approved the one they chose (which also happens to be their sister hospital owned by the same company.) I also asked to make a phone call to let my family know what was going on. That request was also refused. When I became upset, stating even prisoners get a phone call, the social worker returned and told me "if I [kept] acting a fool" she would make sure I was "locked up" in the other facility indefinitely. I asked her if I had ANY rights regarding my care which was answered with an emphatic "No!" I arrived at the psych facility Thursday night and was discharged by the attending psychiatrist the next morning.
I feel I was treated very unfairly there and had decisions made about my care without my consent. I was lucid, alert, and oriented and perfectly capable of participating in the planning of my aftercare. So my questions are:
1.) What exactly are the commitment laws in Indiana? I know they can commit you for 72 hours but I had already been hospitalized for that period of time and was never re-evaluated by a psychiatrist. I was also refused a choice regarding where my treatment would continue.
2.) Is it true that someone who attempted suicide has no rights when it comes to treatments, medications, and after-care?
3.) Can they refuse you basic neccessities like showering and undergarments?
4.) Is the social worker's abusive behavior considered malpractice? What about the diagnosing psychiatrist who determined my mental status in 30 minutes in the middle of the night without speaking to my psychiatrist or medical doctor?
Sorry to go on and on but this was absolutely the most humiliating, degrading experience I have ever had. In fact, I am going back to school for social work to try and change they way psychiatric patients are treated.
Thanks so much for any advice you might have.
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