Tim May said:
>At 10:09 PM -0400 8/26/00, Matt Elliott wrote:
>> >Something's fishy. If you voluntarily check in, you can check out
>>>any time you want. Same with a regular hospital; all the MDs do
>>>is write Against Medical Orders in your file and their asses are covered.
>>
>>This isn't the case in Illinois. If you check in voluntarily and wish to
>>leave before the Docs want you too you have to request a leave AMA and the
>>doctors have 72 hours before they have to legally let you go. Don't ever
>>admit your self to a Psych hospital. If they can't help you outpatient you
>>don't want their help.
>Ditto for California, and, I presume, many other areas. Once in their
>System, departure is not at all trivial.
Many years ago, in a depressed state of mind, I checked myself in. After
about a week, I realized that it was a mistake, and wanted to leave. "Oh no,
you might harm yourself -- you'll have to be here for at least a few more
weeks!" It was a locked ward in a state hospital, and I had no money for
an attorney.
I escaped. It wasn't all that hard. And it was fun, exhilarating even.
Also was a good lesson about allowing anyone control over my life.
