Quote:
Originally Posted by fishsandwich
I gave you another link in the next post re: ECT. They changed the law (now Part IV, s58A MHA 1983) so that you still have to give your valid consent if you're mentally competent. You can be mentally competent and still subject to a section.
Usually, you give a copy of an advance directive to lots of people -- consultants concerned, GPs, your family. Hopefully somebody would have a copy of it and bring it to the hospital's attention, though it might not prevent them treating you with stuff you don't want for the first few hours/days.
Have you ever been under a section?
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That's what I don't understand. How can I be 'mentally competent' to say I don't want ECT but not competent to deny other treatment or be released from section???
No, never been in psych hospital voluntarily or sectioned. Haven't been in hospital at all since my tonsils out aged 3. Fancy a medical student (ex) who's scared of doctors and hospitals!! I've observed ECT and many outpatient psych clinics, but never spent more than a few hours on a inpatient ward as a medstudent, because I was just too scared of being 'found out'. I'm sorry that they restrained you for so long; that sounds horrible
That sort of stuff was one of the things I was terrified of seeing. Of seeing people being maltreated or dismissed by nurses (the drs do very little in my experience once the drugs are prescribed and the ward review done), and being unable to do anything to help the patient (being the bottom rung of the ladder). IDK, I was just really scared of all the things I've seen (film/tv) and read about psych wards and just couldn't spend much time on the wards, eventually dropping out of my psych placement both times.
*Willow*