Legal question -
Say there is a teenager who was put on medications for depression, anger issues, and bipolar disorder at a young age (10ish) and was forced by their parents and psychitrists to take theses medications without choice. The child took them without asking questions for almost a decade. In this decade, the child's behavior and health (BOTH pysical and mental) steadily deteriorated, his anger and depression problems get worse and worse, and the only thing that is done is he is put on more and stronger meds. He gains a ton of weight, sleeps for 18 hours per day, and can't control his anger and feels HORRIBLE for years. He loses all his friends and family's support, he becomes miserable and terribly depressed, and spends time in several mental health facilities, even a weekend in juvenile hall for swearing at his dad. It is discovered when he is 17 that he never had bipolar or any mental issues, and is taken off these meds, and what do you know - he's perfectly fine and sane.
My question is,
Can this kid, who had a lot of potential and still does and is trying hard with no support to get his life back on track, take any action against ANYONE for all the years of misery he went through? This young man is me. My life was ruined because I was forced to take meds that I never needed for almost a decade. I've been on NO meds for a year and its been the best year of my life. I NEVER had bipolar - it was all a crock of shit. My rights were violated many times, and I went through more dispair than most people do in a lifetime for something that wasnt my fault and I shouldn't have had to go through. My parents are no help. The cops? Ha. And I can't afford a lawyer - I'm only 18 and make 10 bucks and hour. I want to go to college and do great things with my life, but I want justice for what happened to me. No one is on my side and everyone I'm surrounded by is a dumbass. So please, good people, please help me out and tell me what to do. Is this malpractice? Help.
Bandit
I have found that here in Nevada, the only way to sue for medical mal-practice is to be able to prove the doctor intentionally damaged you. Mistakes are considered mistakes and ignorance is blameless. Good Luck
Mr G
You would need to show a cause of action, that you were wronged. You say that you never truly had depression -- that would needd to be substantiated.
The fact you were put on varied and stronger meds is not surprising, it is not always easy to find the proper effective dose, and it can change.
The fact that you are not on meds now is disturbing. that often happens with people with varied mental health issues. That is, they feel better and go off the meds. Are you now manic? Pursuing a lawsuit will not likely get you anywhere. Focus on the future.
Good luck (and stay on the meds).
G
volleyballchick
A few things wrong with this:
1. No parent worth their weight in salt would allow their 10 year old child to be medicated to that point. If they did, they should have the child removed from their care!
2. Most medications for depression don't cause that sluggish reaction. There are no medications to treat bipolar disorder - just the symptoms. Only in VERY EXTREME cases of bipolar disorder do they prescribe psychotropic medications, which do cause sluggishness and such.
3. Have you ever met or known someone with bipolar disorder? A person with an inkling of medical knowledge will notice the difference. A doctor would be able to see that a person needing medications for depression isn't necessarily bipolar, and if they are bipolar, they wouldn't have anything other than antidepressants to prescribe.
4. To be through a system to the extent you describe, someone would pick up on what happened, and do something. If they don't then there are a ton of very inept individuals around that individual.
I am hoping this is totally a hypothetical question, and not based on a true-life experience. There would be a HUGE medical malpractice suit. If that were my child, I would have gotten a second opinion before someone putting my 10 year old on antidepressants. There are so many things that can be masked as depression (individuals with ADD/ADHD can become depressed due to their condition, for example) that it is hard - especially at that age - to define it as only depression. Shame on the parent(s) that allowed that to happen!!!
addition: I just read your addition, and I AM SORRY!!! HOW HORRIBLE!!!!
You need to start by visiting your local department of health and human services. Explain the situation to them, and that you feel this was inappropriate. Tell them about your inability to afford a lawyer, and ask if there is anything that can be done to assist you. If they can't help you directly, they will point you in the right direction.
Also call your local BAR Association. They will be able to direct you to lawyers that will work for pro bono or base the pay on the ability of the client to pay. Maybe contact Catholic Charities as well. They offer all different kinds of services, and they work directly on your ability to pay. Go onto their website (catholiccharities.org) and check it out. There should be a local number to contact them in the state you reside in.
Good luck and God bless. I am sorry for what you had to go through. . .
cesare214
Hard to proove Maine.......There was no harm "intended'
Orignal From: Tips: Prescription meds/Medical Malpractice?
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