Alex's Story 2023 #helpforAlex Part 2 chaos in the room

Wednesday was visitation day for Alex. 3pm - 3:30pm. So, I rush home from work to get my other 2 kids and we head to Arlington. If you have never had to admit yourself or someone you love to a behavioral hospital I pray you never have to. It’s literally a prison with nicer walls. My kid is allowed 1 phone call a day (if that) and 1 thirty min visit a week from family.

When we arrived they would only let person visit Alex, period. My older 2 kids had to stand outside by the window and talk to through the glass. Unfortunately, I’ve actually had to do this more than once (Faith has also had 2 inpatient stays). Everything is glued down, everything is stripped away from them to protect them. Most of the kids there are suffering from drug addiction, violence, or instability. I saw a few kids in the visiting room that were about 6 or 7. It’s a heart wrenching experience.

He had told me that had only watched movies and colored and there was meetings or therapy. The room only has a curtain and that there were a lot of fights.

Later that evening I got a call from the social services advocate and we talked about everything. Again it was rushed but I was told I would get a phone call and a family session setup the following day (That never happed!).

I never heard back from anyone until I received a frantic phone call at 7:45 pm Thursday night from from Alex asking me to pick him up. He told me his room mate (12) had been physically assaulted while in the room by a group of much older kids twice while he was in the room, and just watched hoping the kid was ok. Come to find out it was a total of 4 assaults on the same kid. 2 of times the techs broke it up, and 2 of the times no one ever came. My child said they were scared and felt unsafe then they forced him off the phone.

I called the hospital and was told to call back at 8:15pm. So, I called the house supervisor and explained the situation and I was told that probably didn’t really happen and I should not worry. I called back and talked to the head nurse on duty and explained everything and was told the same thing. I let them know I wanted to discharge my child or have them transported to a different hospital. In a very sarcastic tone she repeated what I said and then said she knew nothing about it and I couldn’t pick him up. I was told no, and I could place a “request” that would be be reviewed in 24 hours but that was the best they could do.

So, I did what any rational parent would do and drove straight up there.

The patients rights say that if you voluntarily admit yourself into a hospital you can request to be discharged at anytime. They have to then write down the request date and time. At that point they have to discharge you within 4 hours of the request unless the doctors deems you a threat to yourself. Alex had already admitted he made a mistake and was zero threat to himself. In the case of a minor the doctor has to discuss the concerns with the legal guardian noting that time, date, and outcome of the conversation. Then they can hold you for 24 hours and even get a court order to keep the patient. Well no one ever called Me.

Riley, my oldest, and I arrived at the hospital at 9pm and called the phone on the wall. About 30 minutes later someone let us in. I explained the posted patients rights to the nurse and house supervisor and the status of my request. I they told me they were holding Alex for 24 hours and I couldn’t take him home.

So,I gave them 3 options.

1. they transfer my child to different hospital immediately.

2. They discharge my child into my custody and I would keep him safe until I got him to another facility the following morning.

3. I call the cops.

I was told that is not how it works and they don’t do that. Which is exactly the opposite of what is stated in the law and the patients rights. So, I told them I’m not leaving until we resolve this and I called 911.

Come to find out they never wrote down the time and date of my request. No doctor ever called me. No options were given, they just kept telling me the fights were common and no one ever gets hurt. Alex told me the opposite and that the kid was bleeding and bruised.

I explained that my child specifically felt in danger for his safety and we had brought him here to BE SAFE and he wanted to leave. I asked the staff why the doctor did not transfer or discharge my child, or why he was deemed a threat to himself, No explanation was given.

When I asked what they were going to do to keep my child safe, they asked ME what I wanted them to do to keep them safe… WTF

So, My oldest daughter and I just sat in the waiting room for several hours. No one ever came back to talk to us. Finally around midnight they released Alex and handed me his belongings. No list of medications, no documents on his condition, no notes, no discharge papers or what the next steps were.