questions & answers

Question: My 16 year old son was taken to the emergency room for taking pills and scratching his arm. There is no disputing that he needs inpatient care to help with his depression. The hospital has been very helpful, but are telling us that he may be transfered to a facility that we are not comfortable sending him to. What rights do we have when it comes to making sure that he goes to a facility we have investigated and approve of? We do not want him to go to a place that has terrible staff and facility reviews, and are looking out for his best interest.

Answer: You may want to speak with an attorney to find out what rights you have for placing a 16 yr old in a facility for depression. As the parents of your son you may make decisions for him until he turns 18 or you have been deemed unfit. If your insurance covers such treatment, you may wish to talk with them as to where he can go that is approved. You may also wish to contact NAMI  (National Association on Mental illness) http://www.nami.org/.  They have many resources for dealing with depression.