Posted by alexandra_k on March 9, 2005, at 22:30:37
In reply to Benefits vs. Harm from hospitalization, posted by Shy_Girl on March 9, 2005, at 17:27:01
> I must admit that I'm a little angry about being sent to the hospital against my will for my non-lethal overdose. I specifically did not give consent. Can doctors do this? I guess they err on the side of caution and would rather be sued for assault than negligance.
They can indeed do that. If they consider you to be at risk of harming yourself or another person then they can indeed.
My guess would be that they wanted to assess whether you were likely to try to hurt yourself again. Also to assess whether you intended to hurt yourself or to die specifically.
Why?
Because in most cases suicide is a permanant solution to a temporary problem.
In most cases where suicide is prevented people go on to be grateful that they had failed (eventually, to be sure).
In most cases there are medications / therapies etc that can assist people so that they no longer want to harm / hurt themselves.My guess would be that they were trying to help you.
> Then, when I unplugged myself from the monitor and took out my IV and tried to leave, the nurse threatened to put me in restraints if I tried to leave again!! Can they do that??If you are under the mental health act for compulsory assessment and treatment then it is compulsory to be assessed and treated, yes. If restraints are needed then my understanding is so be it.
> One pdoc told me that I was lucky and that people have died taking the amount of ASA I did, but then my regular pdoc said I could not have died. Isn't it unethical for doctors to lie?Maybe people have died taking the amount of ASA you did. Maybe your regular doc just hasn't heard of anyone...
> It seems awefully easy for a pdoc to involuntarity hold someone for an assessment. I wasn't given a copy of the mental health act to read when I requested it, nor was I given access to a lawyer.You should have been given info on your involountary status and an account of your rights etc. At least, that is the case over here. I am from NZ I don't know how different your system is. I guess I am just talking about mine, so I might be off.
> It was soooo boring there...wouldn't the sane become 'insane'?? I'm sure I got worst there and the pdoc who put me there made the wrong call. I wasn't able to sleep a wink at the hospital without Ativan and I don't normally have sleep problems! People ignored me and it was so lonely and scary...with all the 'code whites' and checks and such during the night.
Yeah.
> Am I alone in thinking that hospitalization may not be the answer for everyone in a crisis? How has it been helpful for other people? How exactly was it helpful?It isn't the answer. It is just supposed to be a safe place where you won't harm yourself and where they can check whether you are psychotic or not a danger to others or not a danger to yourself or not and establish you on your meds etc.
I am ambivalent about hospitals.
Mostly you just get ignored.
Sometimes you get lectures and judgement.
Sometimes you get some really terrific nurse
Or some really terrific patients
Who help.
But not often...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:468887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050305/msgs/469036.html