Has Anyone Had An Assessment With A Forensic Psychiatrist?

[Springer80]

Or ESTD UK...are a network of trauma specialists country wide. I could post on their listserve if you wanted?

 

[Springer80]

You know if you did sue you could use the cash for proper health care. But also, legal battle are something to carefully consider, they can take a toll. But even if you didn't take action I still think you need someone there, so at the very least they can't turn it into your fault and make things worse for you to cover their behinds.

 

[Pencil]

The latest thing from Mental Health Services is that I can't start therapy until I've been tested for Borderline and had an assessment with a forensic psychiatrist. I'm not so worried by the Borderline thing

Nope. If anyone wanted to figure out whether you are bpd or not, they would not have sent you to a forensic psychiatrist. Don't be misled by this. I don't want to freak you out, but this bpd thing is a ruse. Who told you this? How? What exactly was communicated? It's nonsense.

 

[Laura 2]

you could use the cash for proper health care.
legal battle can take a toll. But even if you didn't take action I still think you need someone there....

Totally agree about the legal battle taking a toll. And about needing someone there to witness and help protect your interests. Things can get very grim.

But, unless your damages award is specifically negotiated (more expense), you are not allowed to use the money for anything the State should be providing (regardless of whether they are or not). In fact, these damages settlements are incredibly hedged round with all sorts of clauses as to what you can and can't do with the money. It's absolutely not a get-rich-quick option, as the tabloids scream it is.

 

[Pencil]

For me the issue is less about suing their assess off, but possible consequences later on for Stenni (sorry Stenni, but since you are not present at the moment I have to talk about you in the 3rd person). Whoever is afraid of her suing is less concerned about the money than other things.

(Wanna contribute to the list of other things? Let's start with a lot of other people suing their asses off, bad press, some individual doc being held responsible for negligent handling of this 'patient' and losing a licence, etc etc. )

Stenni, you're being sent to a forensic psychiatrist for the simple reason that forensic psychiatrists are the interface between psychiatry and the law. Since the same people whose front door you smashed are sending you to a forensic psychiatrist it means that the law is involved.

Why? That is why you need to get legal advice so the attorney can tell you in detail what they could have against you and what you could have against them. Once again, I don't want to make you neurotic; see this as a game of chess - and you need to know the rules before you start playing.

 

[Sandstone]

However I never had the guts to show my displeasure by kamazai-ing into the local hospital! I'm impressed!

That's not a good response, even in jest. I risked a lot of lives by driving at all in that state, even though I had no idea I was doing it. I had to pass down major roads, negotiate one of the busiest junctions in the region and pass two primary schools. And then I scared people in reception - I have no idea who was there or whether any patients were present. What happens if someone turns up here on a few months with PTSD caused by some stupid woman crashing into the room where they were innocently waiting to be seen? And I wasted police, fire brigade and ambulance time getting me out.

 

[Sandstone]

You all seem to take this very seriously. I was hoping I was just being paranoid, and still think it's possible I am.

Thanks for that detail, it makes a bit more sense of the Forensic Psych appt. They probably want to make sure it was just a one-off and that if you get the right degree of MH support you're not going to make a habit of it!

This is the reason they gave - they want to know if it's likely to happen again. I did say that if the had given me any support after the parallel incident last June this one probably wouldn't have happened. But I just end up coming across as the endlessly complaining malcontent.

I got as far as checking the name of the lawyer handling the suit of the family I mentioned.

If anyone wanted to figure out whether you are bpd or not, they would not have sent you to a forensic psychiatrist.

They are two separate things. The BPD test is next Friday, being done by the Psych I've been inclined to like. Originally they were going to find "someone else", but when I said that it was just another delay he said he'd do it himself. The forensic psych was put forward by another Psychiatrist, from the Crisis Team. At the time I didn't give it much thought, as I was worried that a BPD label would damn me forever.

So far as suing them goes, it would be more in the hope of forcing some improvement than of getting a payout. In fact I was thinking earlier tonight that I'd use any damages to pay for decent treatment and probably donate anything left back to the MH Trust who have had major financial cuts. Though I have lost out financially as I haven't been able to work, and although my employers kept my job open for me for over two years (apparently I was good at it once - BPD people are always good at work that requires negotiating with antagonised professionals) they have finally given up and dismissed me.

 

[Sandstone]

@Springer80 The organisations you suggest seem to be for dissociation, which I don't believe I suffer from. Each therapist I've seen had given me the test. I didn't complete the first one as I got hung up on a typo on the second page and kept coming back to it, wondering if this was the true test and they just wanted see how I responded to it. He assumed a positive result and did try suggesting that I have a board meeting of all my parts, I assumed that he was speaking figuratively and we had a very confusing couple of weeks until we established that it was an idea that was totally alien to me.
The second, disastrous T never told me the result, but then she never told me anything from week to week. The third, good, one sent the test off to be analysed by a past President of ESTD and I came out as unlikely to experience dissociation.

 

[Powder]

@Springer80 He assumed a positive result and did try suggesting that I have a board meeting of all my parts, I assumed that he was speaking figuratively and we had a very confusing couple of weeks until we established that it was an idea that was totally alien to me.
The second, disastrous T never told me the result, but then she never told me anything from week to week. The third, good, one sent the test off to be analysed by a past President of ESTD and I came out as unlikely to experience dissociation.

Just so it's clear, not every Dr. subscribes to the DID/MPD theory; some will say you don't have it because they believe no one has it. If you got conflicting results, rather then pick the one you want to hear, I'd keep that in mind moving forward. To a man with a hammer, everything appears to be a nail, as the proverb goes.

Second, not being aware of one's parts does mean you don't have them. I don't know where these assumptions are coming from, but they are inaccurate. Those with severe dissociation have not seen that they dissociate and have dissociated their dissociation. Therefore, such a one would not have any notion of a meeting of their parts. So that doesn't get you off the hook.

I'm sorry to hear you have had such a wild mix of badly handled care. Once you find someone you trust and can work with, it won't really matter whether or not you dissociate or not, because that can be dealt with down the line.

 

[Pencil]

Though I have lost out financially as I haven't been able to work, and although my employers kept my job open for me for over two years (apparently I was good at it once - BPD people are always good at work that requires negotiating with antagonised professionals) they have finally given up and dismissed me.

Oh boy, do you have a case against them!

they want to know if it's likely to happen again.

That does not convince me. Who is to say that if you have bpd it will or will not happen again. But that is a moot point. What is important is they should have diagnosed you LONG BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.

Don't get paranoid, get informed, and prepared.

 

[Laura 2]

Once again, I don't want to make you neurotic; see this as a game of chess - and you need to know the rules before you start playing.

Yes, it's hard to give opinions /advice when all the factors in play are not known to us and we don't want to fan the flames of anxiety, but the game may have subtly shifted. Knowing the new rules and having qualified help through the game is essential.

 

[Laura 2]

You all seem to take this very seriously. I was hoping I was just being paranoid, and still think it's possible I am.

This is the reason they gave - they want to know if it's likely to happen again.

I got as far as checking the name of the lawyer handling the suit of the family I mentioned.

So far as suing them goes, it would be more in the hope of forcing some improvement than of getting a payout. In fact I was thinking earlier tonight that I'd use any damages to pay for decent treatment and probably donate anything left back to the MH Trust who have had major financial cuts.

No, you're not paranoid. It is something to take seriously. But what's the worst that can happen? Realistically? First offence? A Court would probably just refer you for outpatient MH treatment seeing as you are contrite, otherwise have obvious coping abilities and a family which is supportive, plus a conditional discharge. They'd most likely also damn the MHS Trust for not treating you properly.

As far as suing goes, I did that for the same reason - in the hope of forcing improvements not just for me but for others who were very realistically at risk from the local system and the particular offender. I also wanted to 'clear my name' because the lying, abusive therapist had fabricated 'evidence' and blamed me entirely in order to cover her back and continue to defraud, as identified by the expert witness, the NHS.

The NHS system is, I discovered, too big and too corrupt to accept the likes of an individual's successful litigation as any sort of reason to change their ways. Only major public inquiries and Royal Commissions stand a chance at reforming/improving anything.

On a personal level, my experience is that if you've dared to win a lawsuit against them then the well is poisoned...they all get scared of you and distance themselves, rather than treat you more caringly. You may get sent to top people but only because their word would carry far more weight in any future lawsuit you may bring. As for clearing my name, it made no real difference...the fabrications stay on your record as a legal document and are not expunged.

As for giving any sum in damages to the local MH Trust, the amount you're likely to be awarded is peanuts (the NHS Litigation Authority will find lots of clever arguments to ensure that. It's a £3billion+ law department). The amount you would most likely receive would probably cover the local Trust's staff tea/coffee/biscuits and Christmas party kitty for a year. There is no 'compensation culture' as often decried by the tabloids. Clinical negligence in the UK is nothing like the US system, it's completely rigged here in the State's favour. Punitive and emotional distress damages are unheard of. People don't do it for the money.

I absolutely don't mean to deter you or anyone from litigation. In fact, I believe that the more patients litigate the better and I know I'm not alone in this. There really is no other way for individual patients to be heard seriously as people rather than what they call 'units' to be processed.

I would have far rather had an honest, open apology from the start than anything else, instead of which they vacillated and prevaricated, obfuscated and ignored. In lieu of that simple apology, the actual elements that gave me satisfaction in winning were that:

- I'd stood up for myself against a corrupt, deceitful, bullying system and a truly terrifying, diagnosed mentally disordered practitioner - I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if any other NHS staff tried it on. It was healing to some extent, it gave me back some of my confidence in myself. I did however end up terrified of the NHS's power (via groupthink, bullied doctors and other practitioners) to casually destroy those they've already injured, dissenters and intelligent people who stand up for honesty and decent, caring treatment. (This terror has become part of my PTSD: that is, I hold that the NHS inflicted injuries that are secondary and even tertiary to the originating traumas).

- I did my duty as a responsible citizen to bring a very abusive practitioner to the attention of managers in order to save other vulnerable people from such abuse. The fact that they couldn't care less is outside my responsibility/power. At least they've been warned.


I learnt a lot of seriously horrible stuff about the NHS which is good to know - forewarned is forearmed. I came out of it though strongly feeling that the NHS doesn't want responsible healthy citizens - we think too much and understand too much about the rackets behind the spin! The NHS system apparently relies on dumb complicity and belittles, bullies and shuns people - both staff and patients - to enforce it. Note also that it's the first line of defence to try and make you - with valid, evidenced complaints - feel like a malcontent complainer. That's the beginning of the head-f!ck that is the NHS complaints process.

That all said, there are certainly good people in the NHS. It's just that they're not allowed to be as good as they could be.

Please do get legal advice asap.