Was I sectioned?

So I was thinking about this because I have been having dreams of being in the hospital almost every night for a while.

The first time I was admitted, I had gone into the ER in my city saying that I was feeling suicidal and that my therapist suggested I come in. I spent hours there and after a urine test and talking to what felt like 100 people, an ambulance showed up and took me to the hospital inpatient in the next city over. I was told that my insurance would only pay for the inpatient ward in the city they took me to.

The second time, I went to the ER in the city where the ward was that I had been to the first time. I talked to another 100 people, and then they asked me to sign some paperwork to sign me in to the ward.

So does that mean that I was sectioned the first time? I am pretty sure I never signed anything other than the intake paperwork once I got to the ward, which I had also signed the first time.

I wonder if I could get my records to find out. Any thoughts?

All you need to do is put a request in with the medical records department, and they will provide you the records. They may have a fee, but they are your records.

I work in a hospital, and as such I am very familier with HIPPA and the requierments.

What does sectioned mean?

I guess in a long, roundabout way, that is what I was asking. LOL.

I think it means that you are committed to the ward rather than going voluntarily.

Please, someone else chime in here. I don't know if my info is correct.

So I just looked up the meaning of sectioned and I think it is used in the UK and not in the US (???)

All these terms are so confusing.

I guess my question is moot, but I still want to know if I was committed or not.

It probably doesn't matter. I'll see if I can get my records.

You would know if you were committed. They tell you either way. You probably signed papers the first time and just don't remember. Our memories of our hospital stays are often sketchy. (This coming from someone who has been in 10 times in the last 5 years.) The patients on ward who were involuntarily committed were most definitely aware that they had been (and generally really angry about it). If you are involuntarily committed, there is a limit on the number of days for the committment before they have to go before a judge to extend the time. (In Texas it's a 72hour hold for instance.)

If you are "sectioned" or not, it seems it is the place for you to be right at this time. I got my medical records and the dr can choose what to leave out, so sometimes they are not complete.

You are in the US, right? To be committed you are assessed by a psychologist who makes a recommendation to the judge/magistrate who will then send you to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation by a psychiatrist. If the psychiatrist believes you are a hazard to the well being of yourself or others he communicates that to the judge who will then commit you to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. You will be represented by an attorney when you meet with the judge.

You may have access to some of your medical records but mental illness law is different than medical illness. You will likely not be given some documentation by psychiatrist/psychologist because it is not in the best interest of some people to read this information not knowing how to interpret it. It really has nothing to do with HIPAA. HIPAA protects your records from release to other parties not to yourself.

I am guessing I went voluntarily, then. There was no judge involved and I walked into the ER myself. I was willing to go. I guess I just don't remember signing papers.