Tales from the Nuthouse: Lest You Think I have a Really Suck Job - Page 6

wolf · 12-20-2006, 12:49 AM

In this case, an obstetrician at a local medical hospital ... but all that doctor can do is request that the person be evaluated for psychiatric treatment. There are no automatic hospitalizations under the Pennsylvania law. Even if a judge "orders" someone to be in a psych hospital, s/he can't really. It's all up to the doctor's evaluation and recommendations for level of care. Other states do things differently, however.

When a family member wants to commit someone, they have to come to me, fill out paperwork, and I review it against the criteria for "clear and present danger as a consequence of being severely mentally ill." If I think the information meets that test, I sign a warrant. If it doesn't, I deny the warrant. I have the equivalent power of a Common Pleas Court Judge of the Commonwealth with resepct to issuing a civil body warrant to have someone brought before a psychiatrist against their will for evaluation for inpatient treatment. The doctor decides if the person stays in the hospital or goes home.

An actual judge doesn't get involved until the passage of the first 120 hours of treatment. Up until the end of that time, the treating doctor can file a request for extending treatment up to 20 additional days. The patient goes before the mental health court and usually is represented by a public defender, although they do have the option of using a private attorney. Handy hint: if you ever end up going to mental health court, take the public defender. Private attorneys don't know a darn thing about mental health law, and tend to excell at screwing up a perfectly simple case, and charging you $400/hour for the privilege.

There's a way to extend that further, up to 90 additional days. I typically don't have anything to do with those parts, although I know how the process works.

Spexxvet · 12-20-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

...There is no fucking way that I'm going to allow the mentally ill antichrist to be born in MY hospital on Christmas.
...

Don't you have a set of your own Omen knives,

Just for such an emergency?

wolf · 12-20-2006, 06:14 PM

In a manner of speaking ...

zippyt · 12-20-2006, 07:41 PM

I have the equivalent power of a Common Pleas Court Judge of the Commonwealth with resepct to issuing a civil body warrant to have someone brought before a psychiatrist against their will for evaluation for inpatient treatment.

Have you ever been tempted to have some body locked up just to mess with them ???

xoxoxoBruce · 12-20-2006, 08:05 PM

Yes, but thankfully I don't live in her jurisdiction.

wolf · 12-21-2006, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippyt

Have you ever been tempted to have some body locked up just to mess with them ???

I had to promise to use my powers only for good.

But yes, I do have an "in" with the doctors. I could make it stick.

zippyt · 12-21-2006, 04:20 PM

reminds self to be nice to Wolf !!!!

wolf · 12-21-2006, 05:53 PM

You always are, honey.

Spexxvet · 12-21-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

In a manner of speaking ...

You can't kill the son of satan with that! Come ON!

footfootfoot · 12-21-2006, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

You can't kill the son of satan with that! Come ON!

Did you not see the fedora in back?

wolf · 12-21-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

You can't kill the son of satan with that! Come ON!

All depends on how you bless the bullets, sonny.

CaliforniaMama · 12-22-2006, 01:37 AM

This security guard approaches me in a parking garage. He motions to this SUV parked across two spaces and demands to know what to do about it. Like I know?

He tells me he's got a weapon and 11 bullets.

So shoot out the tires I say.

He says the problem is, at the end of his shift he has to return all 11 bullets back to the powers that be.

What good does it do to have it if you cain't use it??

Griff · 12-22-2006, 06:23 AM

I had a friend posted on the DMZ (Korea). They had their own ammo stashed, just in case.

Elspode · 12-22-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMama

This security guard approaches me in a parking garage. He motions to this SUV parked across two spaces and demands to know what to do about it. Like I know?

He tells me he's got a weapon and 11 bullets.

So shoot out the tires I say.

He says the problem is, at the end of his shift he has to return all 11 bullets back to the powers that be.

What good does it do to have it if you cain't use it??

You have the authority to tell people to screw with badly parked cars? What the hell do you do for a living?

CaliforniaMama · 12-24-2006, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

You have the authority to tell people to screw with badly parked cars? What the hell do you do for a living?

Hey, I'm a MOM, the highest (okay, second highest) authority there is!!

12-20-2006, 12:49 AM	#76
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	In this case, an obstetrician at a local medical hospital ... but all that doctor can do is request that the person be evaluated for psychiatric treatment. There are no automatic hospitalizations under the Pennsylvania law. Even if a judge "orders" someone to be in a psych hospital, s/he can't really. It's all up to the doctor's evaluation and recommendations for level of care. Other states do things differently, however. When a family member wants to commit someone, they have to come to me, fill out paperwork, and I review it against the criteria for "clear and present danger as a consequence of being severely mentally ill." If I think the information meets that test, I sign a warrant. If it doesn't, I deny the warrant. I have the equivalent power of a Common Pleas Court Judge of the Commonwealth with resepct to issuing a civil body warrant to have someone brought before a psychiatrist against their will for evaluation for inpatient treatment. The doctor decides if the person stays in the hospital or goes home. An actual judge doesn't get involved until the passage of the first 120 hours of treatment. Up until the end of that time, the treating doctor can file a request for extending treatment up to 20 additional days. The patient goes before the mental health court and usually is represented by a public defender, although they do have the option of using a private attorney. Handy hint: if you ever end up going to mental health court, take the public defender. Private attorneys don't know a darn thing about mental health law, and tend to excell at screwing up a perfectly simple case, and charging you $400/hour for the privilege. There's a way to extend that further, up to 90 additional days. I typically don't have anything to do with those parts, although I know how the process works. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-20-2006, 06:14 PM	#78
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	In a manner of speaking ... __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-20-2006, 07:41 PM	#79
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	I have the equivalent power of a Common Pleas Court Judge of the Commonwealth with resepct to issuing a civil body warrant to have someone brought before a psychiatrist against their will for evaluation for inpatient treatment. Have you ever been tempted to have some body locked up just to mess with them ??? __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

12-20-2006, 08:05 PM	#80
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yes, but thankfully I don't live in her jurisdiction. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-21-2006, 04:20 PM	#82
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	reminds self to be nice to Wolf !!!! __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

12-21-2006, 05:53 PM	#83
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	You always are, honey. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-22-2006, 01:37 AM	#87
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	This security guard approaches me in a parking garage. He motions to this SUV parked across two spaces and demands to know what to do about it. Like I know? He tells me he's got a weapon and 11 bullets. So shoot out the tires I say. He says the problem is, at the end of his shift he has to return all 11 bullets back to the powers that be. What good does it do to have it if you cain't use it?? __________________ Take time for silence. You never know what you might hear.

12-22-2006, 06:23 AM	#88
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I had a friend posted on the DMZ (Korea). They had their own ammo stashed, just in case. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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