What followed was a cascade of events that the lawsuit describes as “stunned and terrified.” Police surrounded her, placed her in handcuffs, and transported her to the city’s 24-hour behavioral health crisis center. After a mere five-minute evaluation by a physician, a different doctor, who had never met her, decided to transfer her to PIW for a seven-day involuntary commitment.
The next morning, she was transported via ambulance to the hospital while restrained. The lawsuit states that a resident psychiatrist described her as a calm and cooperative mother with good judgment and awareness, eager to return to her 6- and 9-year-old children. However, the hospital allegedly falsified a “safety risk assessment” to justify her commitment and maximize revenue from her health insurance carrier.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of the plaintiff’s time at PIW. She allegedly received no treatment and had no meaningful interaction with staff members for two days. “Indeed, she was entirely ignored,” the lawsuit states. When she requested to call an attorney, she was allegedly told that her unit did not have a working telephone.
