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Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Open discussion about the Anti-Psychiatry Movement and related topics. This includes the opposition to forced treatment and hospitalization as well as the belief that Psychiatric Medication does more harm than good. Please note that these topics are controversial and therefore this forum may offend some people. This is not the belief of Psych Forums or Get Mental Help and this forum was posted to offer a safe place to discuss these beliefs.

Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby bathrover » Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:34 am

My question involves medical malpractice in the state of: NY

I was taken to the hospital by a close relative (not immediate family) where I was told they needed help with something (which was a lie). Upon arriving to the hospital ER they told the security/doctors I had to be admitted for some unknown reason to me. During this time I was completely coherent and in a right state of mind and over the age of 21 with full legal rights over my body and mind. I was at this point taken into a closed room and locked in, a nurse came in and administered some sedative drug to me and they took a chest x-ray after having me put on a hospital gown. I asked the nurse multiple times what they are injecting me with and why in a calm manner but they refused to reply and told me to relax. After this point things become very blurry (effect of sedative) and I believe they admit me to a room in the psychiatry department to my amazement. I will give a short summary of my 3 week stay below:

I was in a small hospital psychiatry department (about 40 beds total in this department - maybe 30 filled with patients, mostly senile or mentally disturbed in some way). Upon regaining consciousness I remember asking innumerable times during my stay at this hospital for: A) Legal counsel, B) Reason for my stay, C) Request to be released, D) Medication I was being forced to take. The nurses on staff all refused to answer my questions and the whole department was secure (no entry in or out without a card key). I was held there for 3 weeks, despite my family coming to visit a few times I had no outside contact. My family refused to explain to me why I was there but told me it was in my interest and they were "helping" me. While I was an in patient for the 3 weeks, I was never able to go outside or even have an open window to breathe fresh air. I could see outside into the hospital courtyard which was enclosed (walls all around, no street or public view). I was forced to choose between the food the hospital provided and had to follow certain schedules they had set. There was a social worker who was assigned to my so called 'case'. I was able to speak to her regarding any concerns I may have. I was unable to use or have a cell phone (hence unable to call my friends for any legal help to be released). There were two pay phones which would sporadically work given that I had quarters to call someone and that I knew their phone number from memory. Essentially the only outside people I could readily speak to was my family whom insisted that I needed to be there to get "better". Speaking with the social worker brought no avail, he/she was available only at certain times for a meeting and would not explain why I was there or how she meant to help me leave, only to ask me questions. Naturally the first few days I realized my predicament, I could be held at this facility for an indeterminate amount of time under the behest of family and doctors without an underlying medical problem. I had no choice but to take the medication (which I later found out was Risperdal/Risperdone, Ambien and another anti-psychotic). Being a college educated person I knew I was not hallucinating, having visions, seeing things, hearing anything abnormal, being aggressive, or acting abnormal in any way. Yet here I was in a psychiatric ward with no rights... yes there was a sign claiming I had legal rights to a number of things which when asking the nurses to invoke my right to an attorney or counsel I was told they could not do anything for me and if I took my sedative medication that day (twice a day).

I believe I became mildly depressed during my stay (naturally who would not), after being forced to take Risperdal (a medication that inhibits serotonin and dopamine - chemicals that the brain naturally makes when it is 'happy'). They asked me multiple times during my stay if I wanted to receive communion (bread), which I denied as I am an atheist. Upon interacting with some of the other patients I realized a number of them were simply elderly and dementia had set in and the younger ones that sought confidence in me claimed were seeing things and I should watch out for these imaginary things. Clearly they either had schizophrenia or were bipolar and did not question their sanity. The doctor that I had was a second rate one at best who saw me once a week for about 10-15 minutes and asked me questions regarding how I was feeling and took my vitals but failed to answer any of my questions as to why I was being held there. Multiple times I would wake up in the middle of the night and be shivering from the cold AC they had on (providing very thin blankets), I was unable to sleep many nights while there. I felt I was being tortured and not treated for anything but nobody would assist me, not even my own brother came to see me while I was there... I believe this experience made me realize that nobody actually cares about me despite what they claim. Without digressing, towards the end of the three weeks I was told I was about to be "released", they gave me a date which was supposedly when I was to leave. However they lied, and kept me for 2-3 additional days. At the end I was given forms by my "social worker" who told me that I had to sign the forms or they would not release me. She told me then that the forms are voluntary forms of my stay there... at this point I knew I had a situation to deal with, either I signed the forms and be released or be held there for even longer. Having no choice I signed the forms and was finally released the following day when my parents came to get me. I don't entirely blame my parents since they are not college educated and don't understand how the US hospital system works as a business rather than to meet the needs of the patient.

I was required to see a psychiatrist for the following month after my release (for obvious legal reasons to protect the hospital from a law suit). I had to go since I was coerced to do so and did not want to end up in a hospital for not following the doctor's order (not recommendation - apparently I have no rights). I went and continued to take the risperdal which I knew was no treating anything since I never in my life have seen or heard anything that was not there or had any manic bipolar tendencies. Eventually I stopped and told the doctor what I have been telling him since I was admitted and he said that fine he will wean me off the medication. I stopped taking it and began to think more clearly and for the past 9 months have been feeling fine despite my concerns as to what permanent damage/changes these untested drugs have done to my brain.

Well not surprisingly a week ago I received a mailed statement from the hospital and my insurance company for my 3 week admittance totaling over $5,000. My insurance payed out a little over $50,000 to the hospital already and they expect me to pay the remained of over $5000 for the stay plus the additional visits thereafter. Up to this point I had put all of this behind me and did not want to even recollect the traumatizing memories and experiences I underwent at the hospital and having to take drugs for a concocted condition which was nonexistent. I have not been told why I was admitted or had to take the medication although doing research online I found out risperdal is for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder which I have neither of (and multiple doctors can attest to this as I am sure of).

So here I am... what can I do when nobody cares or will help me? I do not have a ton of money to hire a top notch lawyer to take on a hospital (I doubt anyone does these days). I am considering sending a formal electronic request for the hospital to release to me all my medical records of my stay there including the charges and reasons behind my treatment and release and then take these findings to my health insurance provider who I assume will help me in order to recover some of their lost money? I am having doubts and believe that the insurance company might just decide to pay off the $50,000 and not want to fight a fraud case against a hospital leaving me on my own to hire an attorney. If you have read all this thank you for your support it means a lot.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Razael » Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:02 am

I would hate my family if they did that to me, well mine kinda did but I had a problem with leep deprivation,,,they call the trust isues psychiatry caue persecutory delusion, don't trust them if you have family problem they have no insight.
They've no insight on iatrogenic illness & PTSD of hospitalisation torture with NDE, amnesiac to an attemted murder +covered up road accident.betrays justice,Sleep deprivation. HIgher dimensional development of perceptions of astral projection to higher lifeforms in the cosmos.Esoteric journey and become a god
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Cheze2 » Tue Aug 05, 2014 10:43 am

Hi there,
I just wanted to let you know that I read your story and I'm sorry that you had to go through this experience. Hospital coercion and involuntary treatment are almost never good experiences in my opinion. Just know you're among others who have been through similar experiences, and you're not alone.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Copy_Cat » Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:51 pm

Grieving mom is held against her will, but still billed

http://www.madinamerica.com/2014/01/slain-teens-grieving-mom-involuntarily-hospitalized-five-weeks-billed/

bathrover wrote: after being forced to take Risperdal


They need to get a court order to force you, they won't tell you that and they will make threats of injection hoping that scares you into compliance but the law is they need a court order.

They won't tell you due process of law must be followed in order to forcibly medicate an individual against his will. Now you know.

It's your body, involuntary drugs are a rape of it.


The case of Rennie v. Klein established that an involuntarily committed individual has a constitutional right to refuse psychotropic medication without a court order. Rogers v. Okin established the patient's right to make treatment decisions.


An involuntarily committed patient who has not been found incompetent, barring an emergency, has a qualified right to refuse psychotropic medication, especially when forced treatment violates his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech or to practice his religion, or his Eighth Amendment rights to be free of cruel and unusual punishment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennie_v._Klein

See this website too http://www.psychrights.org

bathrover wrote: I was unable to use or have a cell phone (hence unable to call my friends for any legal help to be released).


Just start doing the research and consider a mindfreedom shield . Members of MindFreedom International use mutual support to protect one another from unwanted coerced psychiatric procedures. Current MindFreedom members may register for the MindFreedom Shield for free. Then if a member with a Shield is threatened with coerced psychiatry, that member can instantly activate a public alert system.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/shield/mindfreedom-shield-program-overview

Memorize this phone number MindFreedom International 1-877-mad-pride


bathrover wrote:I am having doubts and believe that the insurance company might just decide to pay off the $50,000 and not want to fight a fraud case against a hospital leaving me on my own to hire an attorney.


Involuntary hospitalization or commitment is a violation of civil rights under U.S. Code, Title 42, Chapter 21 § 1983, Civil action for deprivation of rights. Lawsuits for involuntary commitment have resulted in verdicts of $1 million or more against hospitals, doctors and other agencies and personnel:

Lund vs. Northwest Medical Center, (Case No. Civ. 1805-95, Court of Common Pleas, Venango County, PA, June 16, 2003), jury awarded $1,100,000 million in damages.

Marion vs. LaFargue Case No. 00 Civ. 0840, 2004 WL 330239, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, February 23, 2004), jury verdict of $1,000,001 in damages.

Dick vs. Watonwan County (Case No. Civ. 4-82-1.16, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, April 11, 1983), more than $1 million in damages awarded to plaintiff.

Homeless man wins $1 million after Bellevue ordeal (Marion vs. LaFargue)
http://thevillager.com/villager_35/homelessmanwins.html

Information on how to file a federal lawsuit without a lawyer.

http://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/UPLOADS/Pro_Se_Handbook_2012JAN.pdf

Also Insurance companies don't like to pay, maybe call and alert them to fraud.

Get a copy of your medical records http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+get+medical+records+from+hospital

Unlike many of my posts, yours is neat , well written and understandable, I think with a focused effort you have the ability to get the justice you deserve.

-- Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:56 pm --

P.S Hospitals tend to treat patients that know there rights and the truth about psychiatry much better.
I survived psychiatry.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Copy_Cat » Tue Aug 05, 2014 4:45 pm

bathrover wrote:I was required to see a psychiatrist for the following month after my release (for obvious legal reasons to protect the hospital from a law suit). I had to go since I was coerced to do so and did not want to end up in a hospital for not following the doctor's order (not recommendation - apparently I have no rights)


You do have rights.

It's important that you understand that the primary means psychiatrists use to subjugate, control, and dominate their victims is the illusion of "authority" they project onto them.

That doctor has no more "authority" to require you to see him then your dentist, your car mechanic, your plumber or guy who sold you your cell phone in the mall... It's all smoke and mirrors with psychiatry.

Psychiatrist's are not government officials and have no police powers.

The power of psychiatry depends basically on victims accepting and obeying there phony authority. How much power would psychiatry have in a world in which everyone says "NO!" to them and laughs at whatever they say?
I survived psychiatry.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby sixprime » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:26 pm

Copy_Cat wrote:The power of psychiatry depends basically on victims accepting and obeying there phony authority. How much power would psychiatry have in a world in which everyone says "NO!" to them and laughs at whatever they say?


This is it, right here. You're not given rights -- you must seize them for yourself.

I am not intimidated by psychiatrists and I take absolutely no rubbish whatsoever. I've forgotten more than they ever knew about the true nature of reality. They don't even know what electricity is, never mind about a scanning tunneling microscope.

I let them know right from the start that everything is done on my terms, take it or leave it. No bluffing. I let them know in no uncertain terms that any attempt to haul me away will result in suicide by cop. I will flee the country, and I have safe places to go in five other countries. Are they willing to destroy my life by turning me into an international fugitive just for the sake of "treatment?"

Implants will be cut out with rubbing alcohol and a razor blade. Injections will be ejected by sucking out with another syringe.

When they realize that none of this is a bluff and that I am completely truthful and serious, they back down. Really, they do.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Copy_Cat » Tue Aug 05, 2014 7:48 pm

sixprime wrote: I will flee the country, and I have safe places to go in five other countries. Are they willing to destroy my life by turning me into an international fugitive just for the sake of "treatment?"


Technically you can only become a fugitive by being convicted or accused of a crime by legitimate govt authority and then taking off ... Phony "mental health offenses" don't count.

That's why they use the word "elope" instead of the word escape.

Image

And technically a psych-prison is a prison no matter what they call it.


"Informed consent is an essential human right which was guaranteed by the Nuremberg Code and an ethical principle approved by the World Health Organization, the United Nations and even the US government. This is a human right that all human beings have under both international law and under US Constitutional law. But mental health "professionals" fail to honor the ethical and human rights principle of informed consent. The human right to have informed consent is a right that even prisoners of war and convicted felons have and yet mental health patients, who have been charged with no crime, are routinely denied this basic human right.

http://medicalwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2011/11/psychiatric-patients-have-right-to.html
I survived psychiatry.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby sixprime » Tue Aug 05, 2014 9:12 pm

"Elope," yeah, another Newspeak term like "assertive community treatment." They're not fooling anyone but themselves.

The longest they've kept me is two days, and that was after my benzo overdose suicide attempt. I can be a smooth talker when circumstances require, and had people on the outside with whom I conspired to help spring me. I eloped right out of the front door, free as a bird.

I can't believe what passes for "treatment" in psychiatric hospitals. It seems to be entirely driven by self-interest on the part of the profession and the government that regulates it. If you kill yourself, it's their fault (for seventy-two hours, anyway).

They tried to get me to sign some ridiculous document pwomising pwomising ever so hard not to kill myself within the window of their responsibility. I asked if they really thought that in the depths of torment and despair, that I would think of that little photocopied piece of legal boilerplate and have it affect my actions in any way whatsoever. They took it away without a signature.

Really, you can't even let them get started on you. To them, you're just another one of the hundreds of faceless store mannequins that go through their office every week. To you, your life is the only thing you've got.

From my own experience, carrying "freedom or death" in my heart and having the courage of my convictions has been very effective.
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Razael » Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:44 am

make your family pay the bill....hope you not get in anymore trouble with them.
They've no insight on iatrogenic illness & PTSD of hospitalisation torture with NDE, amnesiac to an attemted murder +covered up road accident.betrays justice,Sleep deprivation. HIgher dimensional development of perceptions of astral projection to higher lifeforms in the cosmos.Esoteric journey and become a god
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Re: Need Help/Advice...Please Look

Postby Copy_Cat » Wed Aug 06, 2014 3:51 pm

bathrover wrote:There were two pay phones which would sporadically work
bathrover wrote:My insurance payed out a little over $50,000 to the hospital


In patient for 3 weeks = $50,000 and they make their inpatient psych prisoners look for change and use pay phones !

-- Wed Aug 06, 2014 3:51 pm --

Razael wrote:make your family pay the bill....hope you not get in anymore trouble with them.


Agree.
I survived psychiatry.
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