On another thread I described some of what happened during my last hospitalization. WP suggested I start a new thread. I'm not sure if this is the right place.
I am looking for any advice, experiences, about suing a hospital. Can anyone help please?

[stopdog]

You could:
Contact the department of mental health (although in my state they are mostly useless.)
or
Contact an attorney. Call the local bar association and see if they have any referrals or the state bar association. Contact an attorney you know and trust to get you some names of attorneys who are experienced in this area.

[WikidPissah]

I had a si that sent me to the ER ( a couple stitches)...this was a few years ago. They sectioned me, which was ridiculous as I was neither su or psychotic. I was there for a couple hours and decided it was BS and tried to leave. The security guard grabbed me hard and slammed me down on the ground, then proceeded to put his knee on my back and hold me down with all of his weight. He used brute force. I was not nor have I ever been violent. Then I got held in a small cell for 10 hrs. No potty, no smokes or nicotine patch, no water, no anti-anxiety meds...nothing. My clothes were taken and I was left there barefooted and in a backless gown with a light sheet and dirty mattress on the floor. I finally got put into a psych hosp. that held me over night and released me.

I filed a complaint with the hospital, with DMH, with rights of the disabled and with the police dept. It was a big ordeal, and frustrating as all hell. The hospital forged the records. The cameras in the er weren't working that night (so they say). It was me against this big conglomeration. No attorney would touch it. After about 6 mos I dropped it and walked away. There was no fighting them...it was the notes of 30 staff members against my husband and I....and I was a psych patient.

Not trying to discourage you, but it's really hard to bring a case against a hospital. Mental health laws are progressing, but there is still a lot of discrimination.

oh Thank you anyway...I'm sorry that happened to you. I don't have the money or power to fight so I'll just forget it, like I always do.
Sorry but I feel very bitter about who has all the power in these situations.
serioiusly...who the he** am I anyway to think I could get some fairness?

[WikidPissah]

I think the worst of it was reading the staff notes describing me and my behavior. there it was in black and white and it was wrong, but it is permanent record. It was so painful for me, worse then the actual event.

That shouldn't stop you from filing complaints, just a full on law suit is really difficult.

[Mike_J]

I had an experience similar to WikidPissah went to the ER for some stitches, made the mistake of telling them the truth the doctor tried to talk me into self admitting myself into a psych hospital, but I said I wasn’t suicidal and that a psych hospital would do me more harm than help. After he stiched me up a nurse I saw him talking to a nurse, he made her sign the paperwork to have me committed. After the sheriff’s officers showed up to take me away, the Doctor came up and got in my face started to say this was all my fault and that this was always going to happen. I was just in shock I didn’t respond, I was thinking “so all that BS you told me about it being my choice was a lie” maybe I could understand that part but why come over and confront someone you just decided was “mentally unstable” would have been so much simpler to just walk away. One of the Sheriffs got between us, his back to me, and told the doctor to “back off” the other officer gently grabbed my arm and quietly said “let’s get out of here” and I let him lead me out the door, cuff me and drive me to the psych hospital. I didn’t agree at all with what was going on but knew fighting would just make things worse. Was made to strip in front of a group of nurses, given scrubs to put on, then put into a room, told I wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom unescorted, and they spent the night checking on me every 15 minuets. When I finally saw a doctor the next day released me immediately.

I thought about suing the ER Doctor, intentional infliction of emotional distress, for his TOTALLY UNNEEDED confrontation with me but decided it would be too much bother.

This sort of thing happens WAY too often.

[elliemay]

My best advice I think, do not contact a lawyer - contact the press. Seriously, your local newspaper, TV station, everyone.

They can bury you in court, BUT bad publicity really shines the light in the corners....

Just my two cents.

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by elliemay

My best advice I think, do not contact a lawyer - contact the press. Seriously, your local newspaper, TV station, everyone.

They can bury you in court, BUT bad publicity really shines the light in the corners....

Just my two cents.

Interesting! I have actually gotten lots done in the world by just mentioning that I intend to write a letter to the editor to my local paper. "maybe they won't even print it," I say lovingly...but everyone will still KNOW...and you know how talk travels...Because I live in a teeny town, this might work better than huge urban areas, but still, worth a try and very cheap.....and sometimes it works!

I guess I wonder why people can't just treat others in distress with the respect they would want, were they in similar circumstance!

[TinaL]

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

I had a si that sent me to the ER ( a couple stitches)...this was a few years ago. They sectioned me, which was ridiculous as I was neither su or psychotic. I was there for a couple hours and decided it was BS and tried to leave. The security guard grabbed me hard and slammed me down on the ground, then proceeded to put his knee on my back and hold me down with all of his weight. He used brute force. I was not nor have I ever been violent. Then I got held in a small cell for 10 hrs. No potty, no smokes or nicotine patch, no water, no anti-anxiety meds...nothing. My clothes were taken and I was left there barefooted and in a backless gown with a light sheet and dirty mattress on the floor. I finally got put into a psych hosp. that held me over night and released me.

I filed a complaint with the hospital, with DMH, with rights of the disabled and with the police dept. It was a big ordeal, and frustrating as all hell. The hospital forged the records. The cameras in the er weren't working that night (so they say). It was me against this big conglomeration. No attorney would touch it. After about 6 mos I dropped it and walked away. There was no fighting them...it was the notes of 30 staff members against my husband and I....and I was a psych patient.

Not trying to discourage you, but it's really hard to bring a case against a hospital. Mental health laws are progressing, but there is still a lot of discrimination.

I have had similar incidences and I paid dearly with the stress trying to get things in order. I was told by a disability advocate that lawyers don't like to touch cases like this. I was fumed. I am sorry you went through this. I know for me sometimes it's better to be happy then right. I still know they did me wrong..

[gma45]

That is how we get bullied by big corporations, it is abuse but we can't fight it. Going to the Media is the best idea I think. Sorry this is what you had to go though just to try and get treatment. And people wonder why I have trust issues!