Dr. Steve:hi--this is dr. steve...your name pls?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Philis Ledbetter
Dr. Steve:hi Philis...welcome.
Dr. Steve:this soundsa quite serious
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Hello. Sorry don't mean to alarm. Just need answers.
Dr. Steve:where is your son now?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):I think it is serious. Just don't know where to turn.
Dr. Steve:is he with you, or near you?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):He is home. He looks like he is on something. He has lied to us for the past two days. He must report to his parole officer before they issue a warrant. I think he needs immediate help, but he is an adult and I don't know how to proceed to help him.
Dr. Steve:have u tried talking to him?...have others?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):My health is such that I can't just wrap him up and take him home with me until tomorrow I don't think that is the answer.
Customer (name blocked for privacy):I have tried talking and talk all the time. He just does not answer except with one word sentences.
Dr. Steve:do you think he might harm himself--or others?
Dr. Steve:he sounds severely depressed
Customer (name blocked for privacy):I don't think he'll harm anyone else, but I don't know what he is thinking. He seems always to come to us and seems always to get himself straight the next day until he needs money and then he is off again doing drugs and isolating.
Dr. Steve:since he IS a legal adult, it will be hard 4 you to 'commit' him
Dr. Steve:but if u think he might be suicidal...
Customer (name blocked for privacy):That is what I was afraid of. I could call his parole officer I guess.
Dr. Steve:then u have right to contact police, or other authorities
Dr. Steve:any licensed M.D. can also admit him to a Psych. unit of hospital...
Customer (name blocked for privacy):I don't know if he is suicidal. I have not seen this side of him before to this extent where he cares about nothing except being in a comsumer mode if you know what I mean. He thinks about nothing but eating, getting money, etc.
Dr. Steve:and put him on a 72 hr hold for abserv.
Customer (name blocked for privacy):How?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):How can I when he is 28?
Dr. Steve:well--you have to somehow GET him to a hospital
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Take him to emergency?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):What do I tell them?
Dr. Steve:if you reasonably suspect suicidality--then u can call police--they will take to hosp.
Dr. Steve:otherwise, there is no other legal way
Dr. Steve:that u are gravely worried for his health and safety
Customer (name blocked for privacy):So if I call the police and say that we think he is going to hurt himself they will not just throw him in jail for breaking his parole?
Dr. Steve:just like the way you've been telling me--the same
Dr. Steve:no--legally they need to take him to hosp first
Customer (name blocked for privacy):See we have been through this before. The police only want to find a "crime" and if there is none they won't do anything.
Dr. Steve:but, once medically stable, they MAY take him to jail
Dr. Steve:that all depends on the specific police
Customer (name blocked for privacy):So you think it a good idea to call and hope they admit him?
Dr. Steve:can't predict
Dr. Steve:i would say YES, based on what ur telling me
Customer (name blocked for privacy):When they see he is on something they might. I guess I could ask my husband if he would do that. It might work.
Customer (name blocked for privacy):That is better than nothing right now.
Dr. Steve:i agree
Dr. Steve:u have to think about his well-being 1st
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Ok. I'll try that. I'll talk to Paul now and see what to do. Thank you.
Dr. Steve:YW
Dr. Steve:best wishes for ur family
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Thanks.
Dr. Steve:take care.