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Unique-Public-8594 t1_jbv5n1b wrote

From the article:

> A former charge nurse at Pittsburgh’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic has filed a lawsuit alleging that colleagues mistook symptoms of his disabilities for substance abuse and injected him with an antipsychotic medication before trying to have him involuntarily committed.

> Aaron Diamond, now of Lehigh County, had worked as a charge nurse in the Oakland hospital’s eating disorder unit before being forced to resign in September 2021, according to the lawsuit.

> The complaint names the hospital, UPMC and Diamond’s supervisors as defendants. It includes claims for invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, assault and battery and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

> “We are appalled and shocked at the treatment of our client at the hands of those who profess to be mental health professionals,” said attorney Joel Sansone, who represents Diamond. “This incident has badly scarred our client, and we are seeking justice because of that.”

> A UPMC spokeswoman said Tuesday that the lawsuit is still under review and she could not discuss any details of the pending litigation.

> The lawsuit said Diamond has been diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia and a non-specific cognitive learning disability that causes him to have slow and frequently slurred speech — giving the appearance that he is under the influence.

> Diamond said in the complaint that he disclosed his disabilities when he was hired both to his supervisors and the hospital’s human resources department.

> The lawsuit said Diamond’s disabilities were accommodated prior to an incident on March 6, 2021.

> Diamond said in the lawsuit that he was the scheduled charge nurse in the eating disorder unit that day. When he arrived to work, the lawsuit said, Diamond “immediately became aware of a patient who was not receiving proper medical care and attention.”

> The lawsuit said other patients in the area had become emotionally distraught and volatile over the treatment, and Diamond took immediate steps to properly care for the patient.

> “After accomplishing the aforementioned task, the plaintiff was angry and frustrated by the situation, but remained professional and proper in all of his actions thereafter,” the lawsuit said.

> Diamond immediately reported what happened to his supervisor, the complaint said.

> “While reporting the incident, plaintiff’s speech and communication were affected by the aforementioned disabilities from which he suffered,” the lawsuit said.

> A short time later, Diamond was summoned to a meeting where he thought the incident with the patient would be discussed.

> Instead, the lawsuit said, his supervisor and others began questioning his mental condition and implied that he was unstable and impaired.

> Diamond’s supervisor asked him to submit a blood sample, which he refused, the complaint said. Diamond also asked that a representative from his union be made available to him, but his supervisors refused the request, the lawsuit said.

> Diamond said he then asked his supervisor if he could take a 10-minute break but was denied.

> When he attempted to leave the unit, the lawsuit said other employees entered the elevator with him. Instead of allowing the elevator to travel to the ground floor, they stopped on the fifth floor, which is where those who are believed to be a security risk are held, the complaint said.

> When Diamond tried to take the steps to the ground floor, he was stopped and his security badge and keys were forcibly taken from him, the lawsuit said.

> A staff member then asked Diamond to take a dose of an anti-psychotic medication used for sedation, but he refused, the complaint said. His supervisor then told him if he didn’t take the medication voluntarily, he would be forcibly restrained, according to the lawsuit.

> When he refused again, Diamond was restrained and given an injection of Zyprexa into his buttocks, the complaint said. He then said in the complaint that he was placed on a hospital gurney in four-point restraints.

> After the injection, the lawsuit said, Diamond lost consciousness until the next day.

> The complaint said staff at the hospital then attempted to have Diamond involuntarily committed for evaluation.

> The complaint said that process included having his blood drawn, urine taken and several tests such as CT scans administered, along with being given antipsychotic medication, sedatives and antinausea drugs.

> Ultimately, the complaint said, the attending physician said Diamond did not qualify to be involuntarily committed.

> The complaint said he was given a false diagnosis of drug-induced speech disorder and substance-induced psychosis, the lawsuit said. Diamond was then released to his wife.

> Although a manager asked Diamond to return to work on March 10, a union representative urged him to seek short-term disability benefits, which he did.

> On Sept. 30, 2021, he said he was coerced by his union and supervisors at the hospital into resigning his position.

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Exodys03 t1_jbv35y3 wrote

Something about this story does not sound right. The guy had been working as a charge nurse in a psychiatric hospital where everyone was aware he had some form of disability yet after one incident the entire staff mistakes his behavior for a drug induced psychosis???

I have a feeling there is more to this story than the article portrays.

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbvexln wrote

His slurred speech is intermittent. If he’s anything like me, it happens most during stress, but the article didn’t say. My interpretation of the article is that he was being targeted for whistle blowing on patient neglect.

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Thezedword4 t1_jbwev1e wrote

That was my first thought as well. They were trying to cover their ass on poor patient treatment which wouldn't be surprising.

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Hashtaglibertarian t1_jbxuyqi wrote

UPMC is one of the most corrupt organizations I have ever witnessed jn our state. I’m a travel nurse and I would NEVER take another upmc contract. They are killing people. Negligence and not following standards of care. I have stories for daaayys about their corruption.

That is exactly what they were trying to do - silence him. And then they had the AUDACITY to ask that man to come back to work 4 days later??

I hope he gets a great retirement from this.

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lordpascal t1_jbz4ovo wrote

The more I learn, the more I lose faith in humanity...

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saintofhate OP t1_jbvefk2 wrote

I feel there's several ways to look at it.

One: someone fucked up with the patient he had to take care of and the supervisor wanted the nurse to look crazy to cover their ass. Once you're accused of being on drugs/having a mental break down the more you deny the less people believe you.

Two: he was high/having a break down and needed intervention. The problem with this scenario is why ask him back five days later?

Either way something is very hinky.

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trying-to-be-kind t1_jbvoqm4 wrote

Even if he was having some kind of meltdown, he asked to leave for a 10 minute break to compose himself. He was denied, and instead they went straight to the sedatives & restraints. If he had the presence of mind to ask for a cool down period, it seems obvious he wasn't so deranged as to require heavy handed measures.

I agree we haven't heard the whole story, but this smells like the hospital is looking to discredit anything he reports by saying "he's nuts".

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbxwh6l wrote

Exactly.

I thought bootyjuicing was only SUPPOSED to be used for violent and combative patients who are an immediate danger to themselves and others

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Sennva t1_jbxlb5s wrote

Something feels deeply wrong about an employer forcefully holding, treating, diagnosing one of their own employees. Especially after an accusation of neglect.

Even if their intentions were good it seems like a huge conflict of interest.

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hsavvy t1_jbw81qc wrote

It’s also very difficult to involuntarily commit an adult and for his literal employer and coworkers to go to the effort of trapping him on a floor, I agree that it seems like something is missing.

I’ve also spent a lot of time on that particular unit and it’s incredibly emotionally and mentally draining, for both patients and staff. I’m not discounting his claims but def agree that there has to be more to this situation.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbwwbt0 wrote

Oh please

The staff at these hospitals encourage family members to make shit up all the time to make a patient committable when they find another family member “inconvenient” And want to get them out of the house for a while but they don’t meet the criteria

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbwwufw wrote

There are literally not enough beds for all the people that need help. They try to send as many people home as they can. You have absolutely no fucking idea what you’re talking about.

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbxny3b wrote

That’s not true. There are empty beds every week. My friend does MH placements. There are hundreds of open beds on any given day.

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[deleted] t1_jbxo3lf wrote

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbxqmvp wrote

Are you sure you aren’t having a psychotic break? I looked at your profile and saw that you take recreational psychedelic drugs.

Not judging, it’s fine with me, but don’t expect other people to believe your delusions.

Also, you said in another post that your girlfriend is at the bottom of her payscale. Doesn’t sound like she’s the lead of anything. You’re contradicting yourself a lot.

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steampunkedunicorn t1_jby3urw wrote

That's not really how it works. "Open beds" is sometimes used colloquially to indicate that a unit can take more patients, but literal "empty beds"/rooms can't always be filled due to mandated patient ratios. There's a massive staffing shortage and so the number of patients that a unit can take is heavily limited. People in charge of placements cannot see staff census, so they would not be privy to that information.

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mynamemightbealan t1_jbx4vmk wrote

I worked there for years. You're a liar and probably someone who's unwilling to accept consequences for their words/actions.

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Brilliant-Jacket-550 t1_jbxtahh wrote

I can’t speak to this particular hospital, but I’m a former Public Defender who represented people being subject to involuntary commitment. You wouldn’t believe the hoops that hospital staff and even hearing officers will jump through to commit someone who doesn’t meet the criteria.

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hsavvy t1_jbxtviv wrote

I know that can happen but not typically to an employee in the middle of their work day.

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Gun3 t1_jbxedbu wrote

I couldn’t disagree more with regards to Western Psyche

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RaindropsInMyMind t1_jbxskp5 wrote

And now do they try to make him take the drugs BEFORE being committed? At that point he is not a patient there.

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Zenith2017 t1_jc3if3i wrote

There may be some room on "everybody knew" - I thought he informed supervisors and HR upon hire, which you would normally (or should) do in case you need to request an accomodation via ADA. it doesn't necessarily mean his everyday coworkers and peers knew, although he may or may not have chosen to be open about it.

FWIW I have ADHD and I get slurred speech during high stress situations (brain 1000x faster than mouth)

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Exodys03 t1_jc3n7ki wrote

Yes but slurred speech or any common symptoms from his reported ADHD and dyslexia would not warrant the staff’s threats to physically restrain him and giving him a shot of Zyprexa involuntarily. I have a strong feeling that there is behavior on his part that we’re not hearing about.

Did it warrant the reaction from staff, medication and an involuntary commitment? I think we would need to hear both sides of the story to make an informed judgment.

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Zenith2017 t1_jc3q25s wrote

I'm definitely interested in what comes out that's for sure. Seems to be a potential for ulterior motives on every party's part - like you said, what provoked such a crazy reaction, and was it on the nurse or was it something else that influenced his peers to react so strongly?

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Raziel3 t1_jclkpxu wrote

But this happens all the time to the "mentally ill" i hope these people burn in hell.

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definitelyno_ t1_jbv0rkw wrote

The plot of a horror movie

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[deleted] t1_jbwx476 wrote

[deleted]

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definitelyno_ t1_jbx8cbf wrote

How so

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[deleted] t1_jbxegjt wrote

[deleted]

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definitelyno_ t1_jbxer6v wrote

Is there another article or something or do you know a guy

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[deleted] t1_jbxfd7m wrote

[deleted]

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saintofhate OP t1_jbxgw9g wrote

Isn't that breaking HIPPA by looking into records and checking if a patient was or wasn't there and then telling others?

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[deleted] t1_jbxgz7d wrote

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbxnluz wrote

Were you involved in the incident? Were you in the elevator?

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[deleted] t1_jbxnz16 wrote

[deleted]

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbxpvp4 wrote

If you were there that day then I think you shouldn’t be commenting on social media. I’m not a lawyer, but maybe go get yourself one.

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doransignal t1_jbvjum6 wrote

Sounds like a normal day at UPMC. What a horrible hospital.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbwwg4f wrote

I’ll raise you Crozer Chester Medical Center where basic human rights are a mere inconvenience

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OneHumanPeOple t1_jbxpbqh wrote

I spent a week there and it was the most terrifying experience. There was a woman who was covered in feces because the staff didn’t want to change her soiled diapers. There were roaches. The sinks didn’t drain so it was impossible to wash your hands or brush your teeth. The phone was broken. There was a constant threat of violence and two people were taken to jail. One young man had a seizure during a meal and choked and the staff did nothing. He turned grey. The staff was verbally abusive. I had pneumonia and nephritis from my time in the icu where I also acquired bed sores. There was no way to keep clean and no medical care.

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Impressive_Bus11 t1_jbxnjgy wrote

Everyone involved in this needs to lose their medical license and go to jail.

When they get out let me know which McDonald's they're working at for the rest of their lives so I can go be mean to them.

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Bonegirl06 t1_jbxjr5s wrote

If you know anything about Western Psych, this is not surprising. I try never to send clients there.

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No-Razzmatazz- t1_jc2gkgx wrote

Weird how spreading medical misinformation about Covid gets you banned but spreading medical misinformation about psychiatry gets you upvotes. Hmmm are the mods asleep or are they complicit?

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peakedattwentytwo t1_jc4vd68 wrote

That is beyond effed up. I suspect he will soon be a wealthy man, as he should.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbww3nr wrote

This is the 1/1,000,000 stories of psychiatric abuse that actually came to light

Want to hear more? Check out r/antipsychiatry

Psychiatry is the only area of medicine where the “doctor” can make everything up and if you challenge him, you are “crazy”

It is a farce to generate profit

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbwwmam wrote

Keep spreading bullshit you don’t know shit about so people don’t get help. Just know there’s blood on your hands.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbwwsa7 wrote

Sometimes your “help” does more harm than good

Ever looked at the side effects of these drugs? Ever TALKED to someone forced to take high doses of them for years? It ain’t pretty

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbwwz2q wrote

And them just killing themselves is obviously the better choice!! They should actually just hand a gun to everyone whos chronically suicidal! It’s not fucking black and white. For every story like that there’s 100s who’s lives were saved. Don’t be so closed minded.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbwxcuh wrote

Well I’ll tell you this.

In my personal experience the doctors blatantly disregard the law.

I had to spend $5000 to get a Bullshit involuntary commitment off my permanent record

Being disrespectful and “acting out” is not cause for a commitment. The judge saw that.

My parents were limp wristed and the doctor didn’t have the fucking stones to say “I can’t help you. Please leave”

Sometimes you need to acknowledge basic human liberty

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mynamemightbealan t1_jbx5ca0 wrote

It sounds like you were diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder as a kid based on what little I've read from you in this thread. Not a conventional mood disorder or psychotic in anyway which is definitely shakey grounds for commitment as has hit or miss efficacy. The legal argument is often that it's done in good faith and does have some merit in reducing future criminal behaviors for a lot of patients. Most just grow up and stay mad at the system unfortunately.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbx5o4e wrote

I’ve met a few psychiatrists who think that Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a lazy diagnosis and extremely dubious.

I know from my attitude people think I hate them all. It’s not that way. My parents just sent me from sleazy shrink to shrink as a kid and used the threat of commitment as a lazy cop out whenever they lost an argument.

A lot of parents these days just don’t have a grip or have any idea how to discipline children and expect the shrink and psychiatric drugs to fix all the problems.

When a shrink sees a parent without a damn clue about parenting they know they got one who will keep coming back and paying more because the problems won’t stop.

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mynamemightbealan t1_jbx86g1 wrote

I do think it's a lazy diagnosis but it definitely is hard to add a name to it. I agree with what the problem is but I don't think that psychiatrists are as nefarious as you're making them out to sound. There is definitely some maladaptive behavior going on and the psychiatrists are trying to help reduce that. I never worked on the medical side of things and was only concerned with the psychology of things. I think we'd probably agree that a lot of bad parenting leads to issues that we see in people diagnosed with ODD and I'm a huge proponent of therapy to help people overcome that. There are some fringe cases where certain people are so disregulated that they need some sort of mood stabilizer just to maintain their emotions enough to make progress, but I think the vast majority are capable over improving their lives without meds. They also want to need to change their lives. No person with behavioral challenges changes based on involuntary treatment. Personally, I think involuntary commitment should be reserved for psychotic and mood disorders. Also most likely autism and certain time of intellectual and cognitive disorders.

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbx4p15 wrote

Being “disrespectful and acting out” can be a sign of early bipolar disorder. Again you do not know what you are talking about. Your experience is not everyone’s.

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generalraptor2002 t1_jbx4s3h wrote

Newsflash

Even just Having a mental disorder in and of itself is NOT GROUNDS FOR COMMITMENT

Please see: 50 PS 7301(b)

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbx4zoi wrote

Also just as an aside. The judge deemed that my cousin’s commitment wasn’t valid. He immediately left the hearing and killed himself. YOU DONT KNOW SHIT.

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hotbakedgoods t1_jbx4vmn wrote

You didn’t provide any details. I’m sure that you presented as a harm to yourself or others. I have no interest in continuing to talk to you. Have a nice day.

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