My 79 yrs old father is a patient of schizophrenia for ages now and had stopped taking treatment after 2013. he claims he is absolutely sane and everybody around if conspiring against him and gets physically aggressive. Even though a senior citizen he has the strength to bashup family members badly and has done so many times whenever we suggest him to see a doctor. Last year my mother was diagnosed with cancer and he has become even more violent since he resented her treatment cost even though he is financially sound. We were finding it impossible to continue treatment for our mother now because of his behavior and felt her life was under constant threat from him. The hospitals in Chandigarh do not have any helpline to take such patients forcably for assessment or treatment.
I had moved my mum to a hospital as per advice. She couldnt survive and I lost her in Sep 2017. Since that day I have not been able to forgive my father. Now I want to move on with my life . My job is demanding me to move out the country but am stuck in this hell because of my father. He refuses to see any psychiatrists and gets violent at the mere mention of it and I am tired to begging my maids and helpers to stick with me to manage the house. I recently checked with the psychologist at Prayas and they said a Mental Health Act passed by parliament in 2017 now has made it even more difficult for medical practitioners to bring such patients forcibly for treatment and the patient has the right to refuse treatment. So are there no rights for caregivers? Why are we forced to live in hell everyday just because we are biologically related? What support system is there for caregivers? How do I move on? Am already 40 plus and not able to find any match who would be ready to bear my father. Do caregivers have rights to refuse taking care of such people? I really wish my mother was aware of divorce laws in her times and had taken the bold step of leaving my father. Atleast I would be able to live a normal life.
Dear Helpless, so sorry for
Dear Helpless, so sorry for the loss of your mother. And for the difficult phase you are going through as a caregiver
Mr. Amrit Bakhshy says "The
Mr. Amrit Bakhshy says "The father being a threat to the life of his wife and others can be forcibly taken to Mental Hospital with police help under emergency treatment or with an order from the magistrate. Thereafter, the hospital can continue to keep him under supported admission. Please get some good advice on the Act." Also this is a useful reference https://www.patientsengage.com/resources/mental-illness-caregiving-chal…
Dear Sir
Dear Sir
I had discussed this with the Psychologist but she says the new Mental Health Act 2017 has added challenges for the practioners and caregivers to keep someone for treatment without their will. I do not understand how a mentally unstable person can be expected to rationally act on a bill. Whoever proposed and passed such a bill wouldnt have handled any such patents am sure.
Sir I tried to reach out to a
Sir I tried to reach out to a few psychiatrists for advice and help but all keep refusing because of the New Law. The police is not helpful in such cases and getting a court order from magistrate in case of an emergency for assessment and treatment of my father forcibly is a long drawn process...not to mention financially painful too as any lawyer will charge a heavy fee for such cases. I do not understand how consulting a psychiatrist itself has become such a painful process. How can law put the lives of patients and caregivers in jeopardy. They should let the doctor decide whether someone needs treatment or not post consultation. Do caregivers have NO HUMAN RIGHTS!!????
I believe this new Mental
I believe this new Mental Health Law in India leaves me with only 2 options - Either kill myself or run away leaving my home and all I built in all these years!!
Dear Helpless, one more
Dear Helpless, one more suggestion we received is "Have they consulted Dr. Sandeep Grover in PGIMER in Chandigarh?" Also going back to Mr. Amrit Bakhshy's point, if there is a threat to life or an emergency situation, the patient can be taken for treatment. A psychiatrist may be better equipped to support you in such a situation than a psychologist
All psychiatrists are
All psychiatrists are refusing to help unless I take the patient with me to them for consultation. How do I take my father to Mr Grover. A few years ago my mother had coaxed him to go to PGI. He blasted all the doctors their that he is not a patient and he will sue them if they gave any treatment. The treating doctor simply sent him home saying patient not ready to cooperate. Where does it leave the caregivers if doctors are so scared???
Is there a way to challenge
Is there a way to challenge this new Law? Clearly those who passed this law were themselves schizophrenic I believe. We had kept an attendant for my father because he is unable to see properly and his BP keeps fluctuating and he has fallen a few times. He threw him out of the house accusing him falsely of theft. A self destructive mental disease cannot be compared at par with any physical ailment. How can a Law ask for Consent of such patients who are in no position to think rationally?
Hello, I can feel your
Hello, I can feel your frustration. You are not wrong in how you feel about the situation.
1. Your father may be in a good recovering state and getting triggered by constant reference to treatment. You will never know the truth unless you win his confidence and listen to him share about his current experience.
2. He is clearly bothered by financial issues. It may be his guilt towards loss of career, if any, or other issues.
3. Your best shot at achieving everything you want, lies in good understanding between you and your dad.
It will be worth it.
All the best.