Husband being held in the ER against his will and isn't being released?

Question

My husband went to our primary care physician this morning due to a stress headache he had. He went in to inquire about getting some meds to help deal with stress and they transferred him to the ER at the hospital. They are holding him there saying he is a threat to himself or others!? He has a history with depression when he was younger, but has been mentally healthy for years. As soon as he told me, I went to the hospital and they threw me out bcuz it wasn't visiting hours. His nurse was very rude and short with me and told me he was there under a legal hold and would not be released until a doctor came and reviewed him. He was very upset and wanted to leave and she threatened to have me apprehended when I asked when he would be released. I won't be going back there and know they aren't going to give me any answers. His parents are out of state and are freaking out, his friends and are all nervous and I have no idea what to do. He is completely mentally healthy and this in ridiculously over the top.... Anyone have any idea what I can do or whats going to happen next??! We are in Nevada btw....

Update:

Also my husband does NOT use drugs of any kind, a complete straight edge, doesn't even drink alcohol, or caffeine for that matter. He is completely healthy otherwise and articulate etc.

Update 2:

This was my husbands first time going to a doctor in about 5 years... absolutely no drug abuse. He went to get some antidepressants or anxiety meds.

Update 3:

this story is not made up... my guess is there is more to it that he didn't tell me. doubt police were involved. my husband has a tendency to overdramatize things so i'm not sure what he told the dr to end up in that situation.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

There is either more to this than your husband is sharing with you, or the doctors office and hospital have a red flag policy when it comes to this stuff, i don;t really know i'm not a nurse or dr but like someone else said a lot of druggies do this to try and get prescription meds, so perhaps they are making sure that isnt the case.i dunno..... this happened to my brother once, but he is bipolar and has a lot of problems they held him for 72 hours.

D T · Answer

Generally speaking a legal hold cannot last more than 72 hours unless authorized by a judge. At this point in time there isn't anything you can do until visiting hours return or they release him.

"my husband has a tendency to overdramatize things"

And if he over-dramatized them to the wrong doctor he may have found himself in the hospital. Some doctors are paranoid to the point of fear because of lawsuits and so they error on the side of caution. Dramatic people and cautious doctors are a bad combination.

"He went to get some antidepressants or anxiety meds."

Well, that's what he told you. He probably told the doctor he wanted the meds because he thought about killing himself.

The real lesson here is that he needs a doctor who knows him and who knows his tendency, as you do, rather than popping off to a stranger every five years.

Sunshine · Answer

Go back during visiting hours as you are his wife you are his next of kin. Stay calm, collected and as professional as possible. If you run in the ranting and raving with foul language they will just try to have you removed for the health of all patients in their care. Unless something serious has happened like he threatened the life of a doc or nurse or himself then they shouldn't be able to hold him past 3 days in most states. Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

You definitely don't know what he said or did.

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Husband being held in the ER against his will and isn't being released?

4 Answers