My father is very sick. It started with a severe headache. It has moved on to mood swings, severe negative attitude, inablitity to eat or drink. He adamantly refuses to go to the hospital, where I think IV and nourshiment would help. Blood tests and MRI of his brain show nothing, two minor strokes but not enought to warrant his behavior. He has gone to the doctor who thinks he needs to be checked in the hospital for more tests. How do I force him to go? The doctor's office says I need a court order. ANd what could this be?? It started about 2 weeks ago.
2006-07-16 16:28:23 · 6 answers · asked by Lynn M 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
usually, you cant 'commit' someone to the hospital without proving that the person is a danger to themselves or others - example, someone who you know is driving drunk, threatening to kill someone, or threatening to kill themselves. if he doesnt want to go to the hospital for tests, you cant have him committed. the only way you could get him to go otherwise is if you have been granted power of attorney (POA) over your dad, in which case he would have to sign over this power to you....in this case, you are entitled to make medical/health decisions in your dad's behalf in the case that he is mentally incapacitated, unable to make a decision for himself (in a coma, etc), or if you can prove he has some sort of mental disorder (such as dementia) that makes him unable to understand the repercussions of his decisions. maybe this is something you should talk to your dad about and see if it is something he may consider.
2006-07-16 16:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by stascia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your courthouse and ask to speak to the clerk of court about committing someone to a psychiatric institution/hospital. Ask the clerk of court the procedure.
If he or she is unhelpful, call the psychiatric department of the hospital and ask them.
Rules and laws vary from state to state, so I can't give you a definite answer. Generally what it takes, though, is two people who have regular contact with the person in question signing a legal document, testifying to the person's behavior and requesting that he be committed.
They will probably not commit him unless he is a danger to himself or others.
If the judge signs the order to commit, the sheriff will come get your dad and take him to the hospital.
2006-07-16 23:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good luck. I doubt a court order will be appropriate since he is probably able to make his own legal decision. You would have to gain guardianship and declare him incompetent. Takes a long time. If he is incoherent, you will have better luck. Hope he can get to the hospital. Might be early Alzheimer's. Talk to his doc.
2006-07-16 23:34:59 · answer #3 · answered by nursechrisi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll have to get a competency hearing to determine if he can make those decisions for himself anymore. It's just possible there's nothing wrong with his mind, he just doesn't want to blow his life savings on idiot doctors whoonly kill people like him anyway.
2006-07-16 23:37:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's called hospital commitment order. cheers!
2006-07-16 23:31:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could go to his house and just cry until he decides to go just to shut you up.
Use guilt and nagging it is your friend.
2006-07-16 23:34:37 · answer #6 · answered by Dee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋