ER 2-25-24 with agonizing pain but involuntarily committed and transported from medical care hospital to psychiatric hospital.
My sister rushed to ER, where EKG and high Troponin levels indicated cardiac infarction. ER became fixated on what they termed "suicidal ideation" after asking if she ever thought of suicide. They never asked her if she ever attempted suicide or if suicide was imminent. She was in agony, Level 9-10 pain. ER refused to listen to her or me (her MPOA Advocate). Sis and I objected strenuously to involuntary commitment. We requested a second opinion, a transfer to another emergency hospital, that ER contact her PCP, specialists, therapists. the hospital ombudsman -- all denied snarkily. Was told ER didn't have to reach out for more information and that sis had no rights. Staff mocked and laughed at my sister, who was quite vulnerable in pain and on pain IV feeds. ER record contains numerous errors. We were told (with a snarky tone) that it was "for her own good."
Sis is 66, disabled (mobility, pain) with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Levostenosis with rods in her spine from which she contracted permanent MSSA in 2019. In 2019 intractable pain intensive care hospitalization. Also asthma, PTSD from brutal kidnapping and rape, and much more. She was so vulnerable but sharp as a tack. Because she questioned doctor's authority, she was apparently punished. Staff mocked her, laughed at her, literally threw the pink slip at her without any explanation or notification of her rights. I witnessed some of this by phone (I live in another state). Her phone was seized and she was locked up 30 miles away, receiving no clinical care. Isolated. At 23 hours of confinement, psychiatrist told her "you don't belong here" and released her to home. Today is 3-3-24 and she is shaking and terrified and in Level 9-10 pain, nauseous, having cardiac symptoms but refuses to call ambulance. She has a 3-4-24 appointment with PCP and is determined to make it there with ambulance if necessary.
I am at wit's end. I have reached out to ombudsman, her PCP, her therapist, Disability Rights Ohio, attorneys, NAMI, and so on. What am I missing? Sis and I are tied at the hip and I am exhausted. She is not suicidal, but there's so much more. Any advice or comments welcomed. Yes, I am not operating efficiently.
If your sister is considered competent, your MPOA may mean nothing to staff. She can speak for herself.
This situation just seems over the top. If your sister was actually having pain and having a heart attack, then why not get that under control and then worry about suicidal tendancies?
You say that some tests indicated elevated troponin. Do know that CK enzymes are measured in ways that indicate to medical whether something is "cardiac muscle" related in labs, or just "muscle related".
Hospitals do NOT do 5150 holds (72 hour holds) without GOOD REASON. Firstly it is not a money maker for them and there are currently few psychiatric beds anywhere now. Secondly, such holds end up being just that. A hold in which they can keep someone they consider a danger to self of others safe until the waters calm a bit. Hospital personnel is mandated to address suicidal ideation. While your sister may have made no mentions of suicide in your presence, it doesn't mean that she didn't, in her pain, make some mention that concerned personnel enough to suggest a hold.
If they suspected suicidal ideation, it is, to be frank with you, unimaginable to me as a nurse that the personnel were laughing at your sister. I wasn't there. I am a retired RN.
You have mentioned ALL of the entities to reach out to that I can even begin to imagine.
I cannot know sister's history, her use of pain medications, her diagnosis or prognosis.
I would request pain management consults to you.
I wish you the best of luck, but there is little that any Forum can offer you, I suspect, other than our extreme sympathy for the pain, both mental and physical, that you and sis are going through.
I'm so sorry for your sister's pain and suffering.