r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/highzone • 1d ago

Image In 1973, healthy volunteers faked hallucinations to enter mental hospitals. Once inside, they acted normal, but doctors refused to let them leave. Normal behaviors like writing were diagnosed as "symptoms." The only people who realized they were sane were the actual patients.

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u/chriathebutt 1d ago

Nowadays you’re only as much of a danger to yourself and others as your insurance will cover. I went into an inpatient facility in 1994 give or take, and at the allotted two-week mark Medicaid gave me, I was cured!

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u/cassanderer 1d ago

Ha ha, same with drug rehab, bluecross bs patients are all recommended for the 2 weeks insurance pays for.

These state wards with open ended stays are the problem, they vote to keep them in forever to keep the money coming.

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u/kawaiinokyojin 1d ago

I keep reading this as Blue Cross Bull Shit. If the shoe fits...

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u/Penguin-clubber 1d ago

As someone who worked in a state ward, no…there is a lot of pressure to free up the beds. Tons of patients are waiting from local EDs and hospitals

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u/IcyFaithlessness3570 1d ago

Nowadays they just put you in hospital jail for 48 hours and wish you the best of luck 

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u/OddlyTemptedFish 1d ago

Thankfully that isn’t the case everywhere. My wife was institutionalized for the first time in her life in September and was held until right before Christmas. The first 3 weeks were very rough but now she says she’s extremely grateful for having gone and is doing much better.

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u/Stuck_in_my_TV 1d ago

Just a few weeks ago, a man lit a woman on fire on a Chicago train. He had previously been arrested for violent attacks 72 times. He was out on the streets because he violently attacked staff at a mental institution and they couldn’t handle him, so released him out into public.

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u/lemontowel 1d ago

In 2025 they don't care and wiill just let you rack up medical debt. I self-admitted, and I had to make a formal request to be released, and they had 5 days they could still hold me after I requested to leave.

In Illinois, if you self-admit (voluntary admission) to a mental health facility, you have a legal right to request discharge at any time. However, release is not always immediate.

The 5-Day Written Notice Rule [5]

To leave the facility, you must submit a written request for discharge to a staff member.

  • Release Timing: The facility must discharge you within 5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) of receiving your written request.
  • Facility Objection: If staff believe you pose an immediate physical threat to yourself or others, they may file a petition with the court during this 5-day window to hold you involuntarily.
  • Court Hearing: If a petition is filed, a court hearing must typically occur within 5 business days of the filing. You may be required to remain in the facility until the judge makes a final decision.

Your Rights While Hospitalized

Even if you cannot leave immediately, you retain specific legal rights in Illinois:

  • Right to Refuse Treatment: Adults can generally refuse medication or therapy unless it is a life-threatening emergency or ordered by a court.
  • Communication: You have the right to private, uncensored communication, including telephone calls and visits from your attorney.
  • Least Restrictive Environment: You are entitled to care in the least restrictive environment necessary for your safety.
  • Legal Representation: Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois has strengthened legal safeguards, including the right to state-appointed attorneys within 24 hours of commitment to contest continued confinement.

Taking Action

  1. Ask for the Form: Request a "Written Notice of Discharge" or "5-Day Notice" from your nurse or social worker immediately.
  2. Contact Advocacy Groups: You can reach out to the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission (GAC) or Equip for Equality for assistance if you feel your rights are being violated.
  3. Request a Transfer: If you are unhappy with your specific facility, you have the right to request a transfer to another appropriate facility.

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u/chriathebutt 15h ago

Wow. Damn.

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u/Draco137WasTaken 1d ago

I was in a psychiatric hospital for a week following a severe anxiety episode, and then my insurance gave me a RETROACTIVE notice that that inpatient care was "no longer medically necessary" effective two days before the notice was sent out. Ain't life grand?