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View Full Version : Lockout of child being discharged from psychiatric hospital


evalise
Jun 21, 2010, 01:17 PM
We have a 9 yr. old girl, currently in a psychiatric hospital, who displays frequent and profoundly sociopathic behavior and is, to quote her therapist, 'actively homicidal'. The child has specific, stated intent and plans to injure/kill her family members at home, has made numerous attempts (arson, poison, booby-traps... )
Resulting in several injuries, and stated plainly to her psychiatrist less than a week ago that if allowed to go home, she would 'keep trying'. The hospital plans, nonetheless, to discharge her today - the staff member who called to inform us of this told us that the insurance "has denied any further stay - they said she's not homicidal". What can we do? Can we be charged with abandonment or something like that if we refuse to bring her home? We cannot keep our family safe with her here; we have 2 other children to consider, and 2 already disabled adults in the house, one of whom she has specifically targeted and is still on crutches from the child's last attempt. What can we do?

cdad
Jun 21, 2010, 03:47 PM
What state is this happening in? Also is the therapist willing to back you up on this one?

KBC
Jun 21, 2010, 08:43 PM
Not only a therapist,but a psychiatrist and maybe psychologist, any specialists?