I was having an anxiety attack when I was in the mental hospital & they rough-handled me, restrained me, threw me in the seclusion room, & gave me a shot & threatened to call the cops on me. I never knew the cops can be called on a mental health patient while in the hospital, & I also wonder since when was having an anxiety attack been a crime? They also called me attention-seeking & irrational, & I wasn't. & one of the nurses laughed @ me while experiencing the attack, & then when I got upset, they tried to say I was paranoid, & I wasn't. I KNOW that nurse was pointing & laughing @ me. Also, the doctor put me on antipsychotic meds (Seroquel), based on what "the nurses" reported about me, & I think they just didn't understand me. & every time I needed assistance, the nurses tried to avoid me. I felt I wasn't being treated fairly. & 1 dude my age (24) figured he had authority over me just because he worked there & figured I was crazy.
2007-10-19 07:36:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
It sounds like you weren't being treated fairly if the circumstances are as you state. I worked in a psych hospital for 4 years. Human regard was our primary goal. You said you were physcally restrained. The only time physical restraint is allowed is when a person is deemed either a danger to themselves or a danger to others or possibly a danger to property that could promote danger to another.
Did you state you wanted to harm yourself or others? We did have occasion to call the police if our patients became so out of control we couldn't handle them. This happened once in 4 years and that was because we had a patient so psychotic he was able to rip a very large seclusion door off the hinges.
Hopefully your experience was isolated and I wish you good mental and physical health. Anxiety attacks feel very much like a heart attack. I had on once and hope never to have one again.
2007-10-19 08:22:29 · answer #1 · answered by Regina P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is just awful. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I have heard of other horrid experiences.
I am tired and losing my patience with how the medical field and hospitals in particular deal with people who are under duress. They are treated inhumanely and without compassion.
If you have the gumption, then further it and seek legal advice or a medical advocate to complain about your treatment. This has got to stop!
I hope all is right with you now and you are well.
2007-10-19 08:04:36 · answer #2 · answered by Marguerite 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think I would be talking to a lawyer, or a victim support group to be pointed in the correct direction.
Most hospitals have a complaints system and they may be of some help.
2007-10-19 08:03:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you had a very bad experience.
If they physically restrained you, they will have to have documentation that shows you were a possible danger to yourself or others.
You can get a lawyer if you want to.
2007-10-19 07:45:05 · answer #4 · answered by majnun99 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can call the police on you and sorry about you situation, get a police scanner and liston to it you will hear all those types of calls, they are sad but true! good luck!
2007-10-19 08:03:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think by law they can only restrain you is if you are a danger to yourself and others .
2007-10-19 07:42:22 · answer #6 · answered by David K 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋