Not under section: what are my rights regarding discharge?

Ballerina123 · 19-03-2013, 08:39 PM

I'm inpatient, I'm not under section yet when I asked to go home today they won't let me.

I would just walk out but they have a double locked door system, a bit like a secure ward, so I don't have a clue how I would get past that.

Do I have any rights?

Poppet6 · 19-03-2013, 08:40 PM

If they think you are a risk to yourself then even if you are a voluntary patient they can stop you from leaving.

Hope your ok xx

Ballerina123 · 19-03-2013, 08:43 PM

Also they increased my meds without telling me and put me on 1-1 obs and when I asked the reason why they said that I had said I was a danger to myself. Which I'm not while I'm in here. I was doing absolutely fine on 15 min obs so why changed them to a higher level if I have not expressed any thoughts of harming myself while in the hospital.

Ballerina123 · 19-03-2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppet6

If they think you are a risk to yourself then even if you are a voluntary patient they can stop you from leaving.

Hope your ok xx

Yes but what are my right regarding this? Do I have any?
Also from my understanding the only way they can stop you is by putting you on a S5 while they wait for the doctor. I am not on a S5.

Ballerina123 · 19-03-2013, 08:55 PM

I'm seriously thinking about calling the police because they are technically just kidnaping me and that's against the law.

They have given me some diazapam and I am waiting for the duty doctor because this whole thing is making me agitated.

when.will.it.end · 19-03-2013, 09:01 PM

Legally speaking they can't hold you unless you are on section, however, they will just section you if you insist on leaving because they think you are unsafe. It's better to stay as a voluntary patient, even though it's not technically voluntary (I understand how frustrating this is, I've been the same many times) because you will retain more rights. In practice my experience is that there is little difference between the two.

Lemur · 19-03-2013, 11:10 PM

If you try and leave, and they don't want you to, they will section you.
So even though you are involuntary and legally can leave, they'll just make it so you're involuntary. So if I were you I'd stay, comply with what they want because when you're sectioned you have a lot less rights in other aspects. So it's best to stay informal/voluntary.

Ballerina123 · 19-03-2013, 11:53 PM

Taken from my RV because I ceeb to type 2 replies:

I just seen the duty doctor, she said she is too junior to take me off 1-1 obs but she will increase my PRN so I can cope with the anxiety/agitation surrounding it.
She was nice and apologised that things had not been explained right.
Apparently I am currently under a section 4 till I have my MH act assessment tomorrow (so why were the nurses telling me I was voluntary?). All the forms have been signed for a section 3 for me, so I'm gutted :(
Why did they not tell me any if this?
Still hoping I get off my section tomorrow and get to go home. There is still a chance, they still need the signature/assesment from the independent doctor. So I still have a chance to prove to him I'm not crazy.

I still want to die but I've decided I'm not gonna tell them that anymore it just gets me into too much ****.

Cacoethes · 20-03-2013, 03:58 PM

Hey Kate,

If they do put you on a S3 it doesn't mean you'll be there for the whole 6 months.
I seem to remember last time you got off it after a couple of weeks?
Just try and work with them lovely

You can PM me anytime if you want xx

[Luna] · 20-03-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickelback4Ever

Section 3? That's the long one right?

Yeah, it's the treatment section for up to 6 months.

I'm sorry things are so hard for you again Kate. I'm thinking of you xx

Ballerina123 · 20-03-2013, 04:36 PM

Thanks for the replies and words of support.

I just asked a nurse what is going on with my mental health act assessment and she said she had no idea so has gone to look in the notes to see what is going on. You can't renew a section 4 so hopefully they will be too busy to get the MHA assessment done and I will have to be discharged.

I think because I have been on this ward a few times before and the staff know me I think they just think I know how everything works but I'm not a mind reader.
My therapist came into see me today and we talked about the voices I have been hearing and it really helped carm them down a bit.

Becky - your right my last S3 was only very short so if it does come to that I think/hope I can get off it quite quick.

Ballerina123 · 20-03-2013, 07:45 PM

Thank you.

I just spoke to the AMHP for a pre MHA assessment and he said that a section 3 assessment is necessary.
I honestly don't understand why. I didn't even say anything bad. I told him I still felt low in mood and suicidal but i didn't go into detail or talk about plans or anything.
I feel really p***ed because there are people on this site everyday who go to a&e and they get to work with HTT. Why can't I do that? And why do those people get away with not being on section? I seriously don't understand it.
I use to work in a&e and hardly anyone was ever admitted for suicidal thoughts or attempts. So why me? Why can't my bed be given to someone who wants the help? I don't want the help. I don't want to be saved. It's not fair.
I know I sound like a whiny baby but I am just so annoyed.

The psych wants to increase 2 meds at once and I don't want to. I would like to increase one at a time so that if I get side effects I know what it is off. I think that is reasonable but apparently refusing meds is one of the reasons why I need to be on a section. Its my body why do I not get to choose what goes into it.

What do you think wil happen if I agree in my MHA assessment tomorrow to stay in the hosptial as a voluntary patient and then refuse meds when it comes to medication time? I'll stay just don't want to increase them both so quickly. I want some control over my care.

Fire Fly · 20-03-2013, 07:55 PM

Good luck with the MHA tomorrow love. Please try and go voluntary as you've said on many occasions that its horrible and they don't listen to you. Do you think maybe suggesting increasing g it quicker than usual but one at a time? It does seem to be fair. Have you been on both those medications before md those dosages? It does seem strange them raising it so quickly considering the amount your body has been through recently. Especially with your heart.

If your voluntary and refuse to take your meds at meds time they will just organise a MHA and section you so you would have to take it. What's worrying you about increasing both the meds so quickly? Surely they wouldn't raise it if it would harm you physically?

Be strong Hun!!! Let us know what happens.

Ballerina123 · 20-03-2013, 08:06 PM

^im just so sick of feeling physically unwell. It has nothing to do with it harming me. If it was going to harm me then I'd be fine with that. A bit of self harm would calm me down a bit to be honest.

I have been so physically unwell resently and I am just sick of it.

Also I'm not allowed to exercise because of heart and if I do they will put me back on 1-1 obs and these medsmae me eat ike a horse. I mean I could purge al my food but what is the point curing one mental illness ifis causes another.
I'm just gonna leave here a big fat disgusting lump!

They are all just ideot and do not have my interests at heart at all.

yoyogirl · 20-03-2013, 08:42 PM

But remember if they believe you are in a danger to yourself or others they change it to a section and make you stay i dont know the number but they will explain it to you.

Ballerina123 · 20-03-2013, 10:42 PM

I had a talk with my mum and my BF and I have decided that I will stay voluntarily under the condition that my medication is reviewed and I get to be involved in the review, rather than then just changing them without my knowing like before.

The whole medication thing is just too heavy going right now. I have only been here 5 day and I have gone from pretty much no meds to almost top doses and I just don't feel physically well. It too much of a shock to my system.

Thanks for the support.

Like I say I'm gonna agree to stay voluntarily under those conditions (which I think are reasonable) and then see how it goes. I will update with the results.

HildaOgden · 21-03-2013, 06:11 AM

Hi Ballerine,
I think what you've said sounds really reasonable and I really hope the docs go with your wishes.
It must definitely be a shock to the system to go from virtually no meds to almost top doses, am not surprised you feel unwell.
Keep strong and look forward to hearing your update.
Keep safe,
Charl
xxxx

Cacoethes · 21-03-2013, 12:00 PM

That sounds like a good decision Kate.
Proud of you, it cant have been easy.
Xx

Ballerina123 · 21-03-2013, 05:47 PM

I told them I would stay and I would take my meds as long as I got some say in the meds I was on.

Result: place on a section 3.

Wtf was the point in an assessment if they were just going to section me anyway.

Now there I very very little to live for. Wish I had a gun to shoot myself with

Cacoethes · 21-03-2013, 05:50 PM

*hugs*
I know its frustrating lovely, the same has happened to me a couple of times.
The explanation I was given was that THEY needed the safety net so they could intervene if I did something very dangerous.
I think the assessment is just a formality sometimes.

It will get better Kate, just try and work with them. Xx