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The doctor told me to have the police take her for mental evaluation. Police can't do thisoct, doctor doesn't believe me. What are my options?

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This post makes no sense. Police do not do medical evaluations and medical doctors do not defer to police to do their job.

Find a new doctor.
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BurntCaregiver Mar 23, 2024
@lealonnie

Police today are expected to be psychiatrists, paramedics, child psychologists, and experts on special needs conditions. The public expects them to be able to in a split second recognize and understand if a suspect has autism, special needs, mental illness, drug addiction, or is just a plain old criminal. Then handle it accordigly without the situation escalating in any way.
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Perhaps the doc meant that you may need to come and Baker Act your wife?

If so, that would be done only if you tell the police that you fear for your safety, or that your wife is a danger to herself/others.

In this case, PERHAPS a doc in an ER would order a 3 day hold? Then, you could refuse to take her home without an evaluation?

Is THIS what your doc is talking about?

This is how we got my mother to the hospital for her first evaluation. She had been talking about taking her own life.
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This doctor is a bit of a dunce, isn't he?
Of course the police will not intervene to get her in for evaluation.
Get a written note from your local police station and present it to the MD and ask him or her what next suggestion is.

There is of course always the ER dump after calling EMS with some sort of LIE. That is up to you. But the story better be good if you want transit to the ER. At that point up to you to tell them the doctor said she has to be evaluated, and you cannot get her in. Call in the social worker. Refuse to accept her back into the home without evaluation/

Sorry. This is so difficult these days that people end up HAVING to use ER for purposes it isn't meant for and to get any care at all.
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Fawnby Mar 23, 2024
Alva, I once lived in an area where some pregnant women didn't seek prenatal care. They had no insurance. When they went into labor, they called an ambulance and were taken to the ER at the small local hospital, where the baby was delivered (or maybe it was delivered in the delivery room, I don't know). This was many years ago and the first time I'd ever heard of an ER being used for a purpose it wasn't meant for. Then it was babies, now it's the elderly.
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I, as well as others need a LOT more information as to what you are actually needing as far as information, advice.
A doctor will not tell you to have the police take anyone for an evaluation.
this is not the job of the police.
If your doctor does not believe what you are saying it is time to see another doctor.

If a person is getting violent and you are afraid for your or their safety you can call the police and ask for transport to the hospital. In that case they may do an evaluation.
The catch here is if the person does not want to be transported they can refuse transport, they can refuse treatment.
There is a series of questions that the Paramedics will ask and if the person responds appropriately they do not have to transport.
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The doctor's suggestion of using the police is correct. If the person in question is violent and aggressive then the police always come to help the paramedics get that person to the hospital.

The 'Baker Act' is mentioned in the comments and this is when an unwilling person gets taken to the ER against their will because there is fear that they will harm themselves or others. This is where thr cops come in.
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What is it that you need? If you live together, and you aren't willing/able to care for her then you need to figure out how to solve this.

Does she have a PoA? Is it you? Is anyone her PoA? If so, this person needs to be notified so they can activate their authority to legally make decisions on her behalf and manage her affairs.

If she doesn't have a PoA and If she lives alone or with you, contact social services or APS and ask them what the options are for her.

If you live with her, do the same but then find other housing. Without a PoA she may become a ward of a court-appointed guardian and you may be asked to move out.

If her behavior becomes unbearable or dangerous to herself or others then call 911 and tell them she may have an untreated UTI or had a stroke and they will take her to the ER (do NOT tell them you think she has dementia as this is not a medical emergency and they won't take hot.

Once she's at the ER tell the discharger that she doesn't have anyone to care for her and she's as "unsafe discharge". They will connect her witha social worker and may be able to place her, or hold her in a psych wing until they can help her. But do not go get her if the hospital calls, unless you want to be her involuntary caregiver.
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