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Old Feb 11, 2020, 12:29 PM
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Wild Coyote Wild Coyote is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BirdDancer View Post
I can imagine that is a bit tough.

I know that most people in the psychiatric hospitals are not violent, but some can be. Or even if not violent to staff or other patients, manic and/or psychotic behavior can be scary for other patients to witness. I think that in those cases, if they're not being medicated/sedated, they need isolation or in very severe cases, be restrained. Some of such patients will complain about that, but what else can be done? Are they supposed to run around the wards terrorizing all of the other patients (and even staff) or damaging property? I see sedation as a much better alternative, personally, and I'm speaking as a former psych hospital patient that needed isolation/restraint to GET sedating medications administered and calm down.

Of course I believe there is a line between being physically abused by staff, in a psych ward, and having necessary isolation/restraint. But the fact is, if a person is acting in a violent way, simply asking "Joey, may we escort you to a quieter room?" is not gonna cut the mustard! Joey's butt might need to be dragged there (with him kicking, screaming, fighting and maybe biting), at the very least. And if he's not restrained with straps, he might start slamming his head into a cinder block wall. It's not always pretty! And Joey is likely not a bad guy. He's just a sick guy.

[I just randomly chose the name Joey. Sorry if anyone's name is Joey, here.]
Thanks, BirdDancer!

We've replaced an ancient, dark, hopeless and understaffed mess with a brand new state of the art state hospital unit. This unit was also carefully staffed. Employees did not necessarily get hired on simply because they were staff at the former unit. I believe it houses 20 patients at max. In some ways, it was not the best planning, as the demand for beds there is much higher. At the same time, 50% of the beds are shut down due to the ongoing violence and shortage of staff.

The state had excellent intentions.

A law allowing sedation, under certain circumstances, is under consideration.

We have a duty to uphold the laws which allow for the refusal of meds.
We also have a duty to provide a safe environment for all, both patients and staff.

We will see what transpires.
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