tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post8300966694012506506..comments2024-03-18T03:28:36.581-04:00Comments on Shrink Rap: Tell Me Your Psych Unit Search StoriesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-14814518436243642942017-12-04T21:54:43.629-05:002017-12-04T21:54:43.629-05:00I was involuntarily admitted to a mental health fa...I was involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility for teens in 2008. I remember having to take all my clothes off and take a shower with a lady watching the whole time. (I am female, but it was still unnerving and embarrassing)<br /><br />In 2016, I was again admitted to a mental hospital as an adult. I was made to undress in front of two female nurses, and change into hospital clothes. I asked if I could change in private, and they said no. I was forced to take drugs I did not know anything about and they forced me to take an tranquilizing injection in my right buttock. <br /><br />I have voluntarily had manual searches at the airport (to avoid the new 3D imaging machines) and it was always professional and not unpleasant at all. <br /><br />I can only pray for the poor people who have gone through this. This earth is not my home, I am looking and waiting for the shout and to see my Savior, Jesus Christ face to face! If you are reading this and do not know Him as your Savior and Lord, please turn to Him. He will change your life. <br /><br />Revelation 5:6-13<br />And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.<br /><br />Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:<br /><br />“You are worthy to take the scroll,<br />And to open its seals;<br />For You were slain,<br />And have redeemed us to God by Your blood<br />Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,<br />And have made us[d] kings[e] and priests to our God;<br />And we[f] shall reign on the earth.”<br />Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:<br /><br />“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain<br />To receive power and riches and wisdom,<br />And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”<br /> And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:<br /><br />“Blessing and honor and glory and power<br />Be to Him who sits on the throne,<br />And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-69072521046814110042015-08-12T00:40:00.999-04:002015-08-12T00:40:00.999-04:00I was raped under the guise of physical examinatio...I was raped under the guise of physical examination. By that I mean I was subjected to a manual body cavity search, which included penetration of my anaus and vagina, under the threat of force by an opposite sex doctor even when I said no. When they threatened to call security and force me I requested a same sex doctor from another part of the hospital and was denied. They also make you strip naked in front of a camera in the ER. If you go to the hospital or ER for any other reason this does not happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-36637405830896427572015-05-09T10:15:04.218-04:002015-05-09T10:15:04.218-04:00when I was taken to ther the dr made me take every...when I was taken to ther the dr made me take everything off I was not aloud to have my clothes they took everything from me than they amiited me was had to be naked they out me on sucide watchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-90968306522816120102015-02-21T02:01:02.143-05:002015-02-21T02:01:02.143-05:00It was in 2008 when I was last strip searched, in ...It was in 2008 when I was last strip searched, in fact the only time. This had been the second time I voluntarily checked in to a mental hospital.<br /><br />I was asked by two of the workers to accompany them to a private room. I remember that they kept looking over their shoulder and talking to each other as we headed there; I could only make out bits and pieces, but what I could definitely make out was: "quick close the door" "lock it; they peered through the blinds in the door. The room was fairly large I was already at the other end of the room when I heard them say that.<br /><br />They then approached me. One stood in front of me and the other directly behind me. The one standing in front of me asked me to strip down. I asked if I had to, he said yes. I went ahead and took all my clothes off down to my underwear, it was extremely uncomfortable as they were standing so close, he then told me to take off my underwear as well. I hesitated, but reluctantly did it any ways. The face that person made was unforgettable, but that was nothing, when I turned to face the other person behind me he had this vile look on his face and it was magnified so much more because his face was so close to mine. It felt like an eternity just standing there with their probing eyes.<br /><br />Afterwards I was told to put my clothes back on, I remained silent as I returned to my room. It only dawned on me after I was "officially" strip searched of what had really occurred. Strangely this was a more upscale facility and my experience was so much worse in comparison to a more unfriendly looking facility. Looks can really be deceiving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-69113922103454282462014-07-27T16:40:23.985-04:002014-07-27T16:40:23.985-04:00I want it to be known that its not just psyc patie...I want it to be known that its not just psyc patients being strip searched,i went in for an outpatient surgery a month ago and was searched for open sores but then my husband was admitted for heart problems and they searched every crevis of his body,is this illegal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-76074271960774204372014-05-09T05:42:18.522-04:002014-05-09T05:42:18.522-04:00The last time I was hospitalized it was at a priva...The last time I was hospitalized it was at a private trauma and dissociative disorders treatment hospital. I was a voluntary patient but after a short while it didn't feel that way. I was more traumatized than helped and it took months to deal with the trauma it caused.<br /><br />I arrived at 2am and there was a nurse and tech. on the unit. Without talking to me or explaining anything the tech. started going through my things. I was already a emotional wreak having traveled all day I hadn't eaten dinner or had any night medication. <br /><br />She then took me too my room which was shared with two other people who were sleeping. She told me to stand in the bathroom with the door open and told me to take off my shoes and socks pants and shirt and hand them to her then had me pull my bra out on top and underneath and pull my underwear out away from my skin. This was done with the other two people in their beds in full view of the bathroom with the lights on. She had me turn around slowly and then gave me back my clothes. I couldn't believe what was happening and I was frozen not being able to say anything to stop things. There was no care I was treated like I wasn't human no compassion didn't even talk to me just told me what to do. <br /><br />After doing all of that she didn't even take my belt which wasn't a problem for me but why put me through all of that, what were they looking for? This was not done for any medical purpose that I could see since the nurse had nothing to do with it. Actually no medical person did an exam only started a history until I fell asleep on the table. I had been up for almost 24hrs but no one even seemed to care that it was the middle of the night and I had left home like 15hrs before and hadn't eaten for hours. It wasn't even done for safety since she left me with my belt. <br /><br />I found out from other patients that some of them had similar searches and others did not so it wasn't a policy of such. I was just horrifying. I felt like a criminal but I had done nothing wrong but have a mental illness. <br />I didn't feel I could refuse because I had just been told they would commit me if they felt I was unsafe and wanted to leave. If I refused something worse could happen. I was so humiliated and embarrassed. I was frozen in fear and couldn't say no. <br /><br />Going to this hospital only caused harm and I had so hoped it would give me the specialized help they said they would. I have vowed that I will never go to another hospital no matter what because they are more unsafe than being at home. <br />The most unbelievable thing is that this hospital is suppose to be a specialty hospital for trauma and it was the most traumatic hospital I have ever been too.<br />It made things seem even more hopeless than when I went in. If I couldn't get better from a specialty hospital there was no hope I would ever get better. It took a long time to see that I wasn't the reason it didn't help the hospital gave very bad treatment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-56493317099330716462014-05-09T05:22:55.066-04:002014-05-09T05:22:55.066-04:00The last time I was hospitalized it was at a priva...The last time I was hospitalized it was at a private trauma and dissociative disorders treatment hospital. I was a voluntary patient but after a short while it didn't feel that way. I was more traumatized than helped and it took months to deal with the trauma it caused.<br /><br />I arrived at 2am and there was a nurse and tech. Without talking to me or explaining anything the tech. started going through my things. I was already a emotional wreak having traveled all day I hadn't eaten dinner or had any night medication. Then she took me too my room which was shared with two other people who were sleeping. She told me to stand in the bathroom with the door open and told me to take off my shoes and socks pants and shirt and hand them to her then had me pull my bra out on top and underneath and pull my underwear out away from my skin. This was done with the other two people in their beds in full view of the bathroom with the lights on. She had me turn around slowly and then gave me back my clothes. I couldn't believe what was happening and I was frozen not being able to say anything to stop things. There was no care I was treated like I wasn't human no compassion didn't even talk to me just told me what to do. <br /><br />After doing all of that she didn't even take my belt which wasn't a problem for me but why put me through all of that, what were they looking for? I'm not sure this woman even knew what she was doing. This was not done for any medical purpose that I could see since the nurse had nothing to do with it. Actually no medical person did an exam only started a history until I fell asleep on the table. I had been up for almost 24hrs but no one even seemed to care that it was the middle of the night and I had left home like 15hrs before and hadn't eaten for hours. It wasn't even done for safety since she left me with my belt. <br />I found out from other patients that some of them had similar searches and others did not so it wasn't a policy of such. I was just horrifying. Felt like I was being treated like a criminal but I had done nothing wrong but have a mental illness. Is that wrong that you should be treated like a criminal instead of a person with a painful illness.<br />I didn't feel I could refuse because I had just been told they would commit me if they felt I was unsafe and wanted to leave. If I refused something worse could happen. I was so humiliated and embarrassed. I was frozen in fear and couldn't say no. Going to this hospital only caused harm and I had so hoped it would give me the specialized help they said they would. I have vowed that I will never go to another hospital no matter what because they are more unsafe than being at home. <br />The most unbelievable thing is that this hospital is suppose to be a specialty hospital for trauma and it was the most traumatic hospital I have ever been too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-36952297256432907942014-01-31T16:11:56.095-05:002014-01-31T16:11:56.095-05:00107 responses
Summary See complete responses
Wer...107 responses<br /><br />Summary See complete responses<br /><br />Were you Strip Searched upon admission?<br /> <br />Yes 60 56%<br />No. 47 44%<br />If you answered YES: Were you a voluntary patient at the time of admission?<br /> <br />Yes 45 42%<br />No 19 18%<br />If you answered YES: What type of hospital were you in?<br /> <br />Private Psychiatric Hospital 29 27%<br />A Psychiatric Unit of a Community Hospital 27 25%<br />A State Psychiatric Hospital 10 9%<br />A State Hospital specificially for Forensic/ court-ordered patients 0 0%<br />If you answered Yes, did you find the experience of being strip searched to be very distressing?<br /> <br />Yes 47 44%<br />No 13 12%Dinahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227988351623862689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-57523538766193454112014-01-31T15:21:14.851-05:002014-01-31T15:21:14.851-05:00I have worked in the Psychiatric field for over 15...I have worked in the Psychiatric field for over 15 years both as a floor nurse and a nurse manager and have never felt comfortable with the full body search. I believe it goes against people's 4th amendment rights and is traumatic and humiliating for the patient. Currently, I am working on a Evidenced base paper to research this topic. If your study is complete is it possible to see the results? Thanks, EliseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-8983533387984874962013-11-07T00:50:25.443-05:002013-11-07T00:50:25.443-05:00The idea of forcibly strip-searching people who wa...The idea of forcibly strip-searching people who want to die enough as it is, pisses me off so very much. If I were admitted to a location that did such a thing my desire to die would sky-rocket by at least 100 percent. Being treated like that wouldn't scare me into "behaving and taking my meds" it would encourage me to follow through with the alternative of suicide rather than be put through that kind of trauma. This would be especially detrimental to people who have been molested, raped, taken advantage of, etc. This is some sick stuff. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-55571570449135036012013-01-09T21:57:03.950-05:002013-01-09T21:57:03.950-05:00It is an organizational evolution designed to put ...It is an organizational evolution designed to put you in your place. A (sudo) sexual assault softens anyone up. I can't believe the mental health profession does not recognize PTSD as a side effect of these. The gowns identify you as different, sick. Furthermore, if you have no clothes, you can not refuse them, you can not leave. These are (mental) shackles placed on you. If they are so worried about contraband, then employees should be searched prior to the start of their shift.EJHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946957101966424383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-29695951068355080212012-09-17T03:26:09.191-04:002012-09-17T03:26:09.191-04:00how can you get strip searched lewdly?
any hosps. ...how can you get strip searched lewdly?<br />any hosps. or rehabs known for something real bend and spread in front of a lot of staff?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-3981389430857058292012-07-05T05:58:24.245-04:002012-07-05T05:58:24.245-04:00I have been in box hill psych ward(melbourne austr...I have been in box hill psych ward(melbourne australia) once as a vountary patient and about ten times as an involuntary patient. Im not an off the walls sectioned maniac , its just that i didnt think i ad needed treatment but i was too nsafe to not be there. <br />They know me very well and that i had dont bring objects in , yes i broke cd's there and found glass on monring walks but i dont bring in objects with me . <br />I have been sexually abused from the ages 8 to 15 , i hate my body -i wear bikinis in the shower. <br />This wasnt the most major time but it jsut made me feel extremley uncomfortable.<br /><br />My second admission was one of the most daunting. I had come over via the main hospital after i had taken a massive overdose which left me comatised for 6 days.<br />I could barely stand let alone walk because of the side effects and the fact i had been in bed not moving. I got helped off the ambulance bed and they told me they needed to search me. I had been in a bloody hospital gown for the last week and in icu , its not like i could of taken anything.<br />Long story short , as they were telling me to take my top off i dropped to the bed my legs couldnt take it. they though i had been hiding something , when i tried to explain i didnt have the strength and they can search me while i sat down they called a code grey ( it gets security and several nurses from a different ward to come) and they held me to the bed and cut off all of my clothes . Half of them were men , it was so degrading and humilating and brought back one too many flashbacks i was hysterical and frightened beyond belief. It was bad enough lying to the bed with no clothes on but ehn they cut off my bra and knickers , i dont have a word to describe that feeling it was horrible . When they ere finshed they just got up and well walked out , leaving me there confused and ashamed. A nurse came back with a blanket while she went looking for something for me to wear fro the lock box , i went itno these little panic attacks in the corner of the room . I didnt think that it was fair at all.<br /><br />Sorry it make no sense i dont relaly know what to say or how to say it , its all so clear in my mind but confused as it comes out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-18523507403998558142012-04-19T00:22:12.491-04:002012-04-19T00:22:12.491-04:00Sunny CA wrote "There seems to be an accepted...Sunny CA wrote "There seems to be an accepted culture of psych-patient punishment..."<br /><br />There is nothing acceptable about "punishing" people who are admitted for treatment of a psychiatric illness. I'm not aware of research demonstrating effectiveness of punishment, nor is it something we are taught.<br />Every instance of such "punishment" should be documented in a letter to the hospital CEO and then to the Joint Commission if nothing is addressed. <br /><br />Please speak up to the right people to bring about change where this is happening. Treatment has nothing to do with punishment, and rudeness and disrespect is never acceptable. There are respectful ways to handle even the most intolerable behaviors; as Jane points out, this includes hospital staff behavior, as well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04403399390420921365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-43120754588761354312012-04-19T00:09:13.743-04:002012-04-19T00:09:13.743-04:00...and a clickable link is here...
Well-done arti......<a href="http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/views/shrink-rap-news/blog/it-s-time-to-stop-strip-searching-psychiatric-patients/63bed88d2b.html" rel="nofollow">and a clickable link is here</a>...<br /><br />Well-done article, Dinah.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04403399390420921365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-55218147156831264432012-04-18T16:36:18.989-04:002012-04-18T16:36:18.989-04:00Thank you to everyone who helped me with my articl...Thank you to everyone who helped me with my article. I hoping you will help to make some changes. I'm sorry I couldn't use all your quotes. The article is up here:<br /><br />http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/views/shrink-rap-news/blog/it-s-time-to-stop-strip-searching-psychiatric-patients/63bed88d2b.htmlDinahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227988351623862689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-88073930552582034852012-04-17T10:16:28.973-04:002012-04-17T10:16:28.973-04:00When I was transferred for a "voluntary hold&...When I was transferred for a "voluntary hold" after a suicide attempt I was striped to my underwear at the county mental facility. <br /><br />They then took note of any identifying marks including scars and tattoos. IT was as close to taking photos without taking photos as they could get.Bathwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18286545216706532921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-55568588737636679102012-04-15T10:01:16.991-04:002012-04-15T10:01:16.991-04:00I was cutting in the ER exam room prior to admissi...I was cutting in the ER exam room prior to admission to a community hospital. They took the blade and all the clothes but I was in a gown at the time. This almost seems lax to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-23920170358046036192012-04-13T10:15:41.431-04:002012-04-13T10:15:41.431-04:00The huge emotional reaction during the search is t...The huge emotional reaction during the search is to go numb and or go back to a place you have been before. I did what they wanted. That has nothing to do with why they treated me like crap. I was pretty complaint in the hospital. It is hard not to be compliant on such high doses of meds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-31203791113344614832012-04-12T20:57:50.337-04:002012-04-12T20:57:50.337-04:00"There seems to be an accepted culture of psy..."There seems to be an accepted culture of psych-patient punishment designed to encourage patients to not return in-patient and on-ward to be docile, sit quietly in groups for 8 hours a day, and take all meds while on ward."<br /><br />As someone who was once inpatient, I found a really good way to deal with that. Call them out on it. I don't mean yell, curse, act profane, etc, etc. But if they are actually trying to "punish" you by saying you brought the strip search on yourself, then reasonably and calmly explain to them that their behavior is inappropriate. This may not work the first time, but I guarantee that they will find it unnerving to see you so calm and collected and making so much sense. Continue with this behavior for the duration of your stay and by the end of it the staff may actually start being warm towards you.<br /><br />That's what happened to me at least. I think they were intimidated by me at first. I saw the psych notes once and the doc said I came off as very "emotionally shallow." At one point, I swear this happened, a belligerent staff member apologized to me when I stared him down, calmly and cooly, for yelling and losing his temper with another patient. He later said that he really liked that patient and he acted like that because sometimes it's hard to see someone that you really like getting out of control (the patient was being rude and had some kind of temper tantrum earlier). I didn't even need to say anything. He knew why I was looking at him, and I made him feel like he had to apologize. By the end of my stay, they were actually warm towards me. I think they just thought I was an emotionless and creepy kid. But I think I somehow gained their respect somewhere along the line. One of them even said he put a good word in for me with the doc.<br /><br />I have no clue why they liked me. I was a very serious person back then and I was very emotionally shallow. I rarely divulged even a small smile. I guess they found this quality endearing???<br /><br />Really though, just stare them down and be cool and calm. No matter how belligerent or sarcastic they get. I noticed this even works with doctors who are rude to me. If I continue to be polite, they will stop being rude at some point.<br /><br />It might sound bad that I am asking people to do this during a a terrible strip search (where a huge emotional reaction is warranted and not a sign of mental illness), but it might gain you some respect with the staff if you can show them you disapprove without losing your cool.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030949818467743750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-26293148690460568222012-04-12T19:23:31.525-04:002012-04-12T19:23:31.525-04:00Anon writes, "you just have to know: 2) what ...Anon writes, "you just have to know: 2) what a few hospitals are actually doing in various circumstances to various types of patients where violence is prevalent and where it isn't."<br /><br />Excellent point. Let's look at the numbers. If we find that men commit more acts of violence in hospitals than women, should we strip all men? I wonder how this would make male psychiatrists feel. If we find that it occurs more often by people in lower socioeconomic groups, should we just strip all poor people? It's offensive to target one group of people and make them pay for the sins of a few. I was strip searched for one reason only - I was a psychiatric patient. I didn't deserve it. I was not a threat to anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-86725195024896226422012-04-12T14:35:27.988-04:002012-04-12T14:35:27.988-04:00I agree with Rob's comments on this issue.
Je...I agree with Rob's comments on this issue.<br /><br />Jessa said "She said that if I didn't want to be searched, I should have behaved so that I wouldn't have to be admitted (!)."<br /><br />Jessa's statement resonated with me as this was the general attitude of inpatient staff all through my hospitalization. The staff on my ward (large private hospital and I was an well-insured private-pay patient) intentionally inflict pain on patients (and tell them they are doing so intentionally) with the expressed purpose of teaching the patients "a lesson". The abuse is for two reasons: (1) to make the patient docile while in-patient and (2) to convince the patient they'd better not return.<br /><br />Do nurses and other staff purposely abuse patients on cardiac wards so they will "behave and take their meds" when they are released? Would they strip search a cardiac patient because he/she should have "behaved" and if he had "behaved" (by eating right and taking his meds) he would not have had to be re-admitted?<br /><br />My psych ward only allowed family during one hour a day. Without family and other neutral people to monitor behavior of staff, the staff can treat the patients any way they want during the other 23 hours. There seems to be an accepted culture of psych-patient punishment designed to encourage patients to not return in-patient and on-ward to be docile, sit quietly in groups for 8 hours a day, and take all meds while on ward.Sunny CAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451116932556227816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-38451169738597555472012-04-11T20:27:28.200-04:002012-04-11T20:27:28.200-04:00Agreed, I have had my clothes stripped off of me a...Agreed, I have had my clothes stripped off of me after a car crash and when delivering my kids. That was fine and necessary. I got to keep my shirt on when I had the babies. A parade of doctors, nurses, meds students and orderlies saw me at some point during childbirth. I didn't care. It's so completely different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-17275487148400605002012-04-11T19:46:33.632-04:002012-04-11T19:46:33.632-04:00ClinkShrink writes, "But every neuro, surgica...ClinkShrink writes, "But every neuro, surgical or medical patient who gets admitted gets a physical examination, which functionally is equivalent to a strip search. It's just not called a strip search. Discuss?"<br /><br />I think others have done a good job addressing the difference between a strip search and a physical exam. Making someone take their clothes off under threat of force or actual force is completely different than a patient consenting to a physical exam. They're not even close.<br /><br />Once when hospitalized with a renal problem, I was writhing in the bed and a nurse took my pants off so she could cath me. I was in so much pain and my bladder felt like it was going to explode. If I could have found a cath kit I would have cathed myself. I'm grateful to that nurse, and I'm not at all traumatized by what she did. She helped me. I knew if at any point I had told her to stop, she would have. She didn't take off my pants to make the hospital feel better, or to follow some policy, or to give the staff a false sense of security. She did it to help ease my pain. <br /><br />Contrast that with the shame I felt when I was admitted as a voluntary patient to the psych ward and upon admission I am told to take off all my clothing in the presence of a nurse. I tell her I am not comfortable with that and she can search my pockets but I do not want to take off all of my clothing. I have made no threats to her or any of the staff, and I am a voluntary patient admitted for depression. I have no substance abuse issues. I tell her I am no threat to her or her staff. I cry and I beg. She simply says, "I'm sorry but it's the policy." I learn that if I do not comply she will bring in reinforcements and they will remove my clothing by force. I am not grateful to her because she didn't do it to help me. She did it because of some warped policy. The result was trauma and increased depression.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-19976257514698001552012-04-11T19:01:33.424-04:002012-04-11T19:01:33.424-04:00I feel really sad that people have had such bad ex...I feel really sad that people have had such bad experiences. Some of these strip searches sound unnecessarily harsh. Like it would be harsh even for a physical exam. I agree with the people that a hospital gown should be utilized every time for modesty. I don't know why that is not a given. Even if the staff really believes in the searches, why can't they just search body parts one at a time via maneuvering of the hospital gown.<br /><br />But then I also really believe in karma. What goes around, comes around. A hospital cannot be that insensitive and not have that come back to haunt them down the line. I started thinking about Nurse Ratched from Cuckoo's Nest. I felt like McMurphy was her karma. She was such a controlling, evil nurse for so long that she finally got her comeuppance. God sent her McMurphy to punish her. I feel like it was more blatant in the book that she had lost control because of him. In the movie, they just show the chief ending her reign (destroying the window (barrier) to the outside world) and running away at the end. But in the book, all those voluntary guys start checking themselves out and leave her behind before the chief does that. If I remember the book correctly, I think that's what happens. One by one, they convince themselves McMurphy fled the hospital, and they decide to check themselves out and follow suit. I wish they had shown that in the movie. Show all those men walking out on the nurse. They also didn't show that the staff had turned on her well before the patients did. The staff didn't like her either, and you get the impression in the book that the only reason they tolerate her is because she keeps things running smoothly with her control of the patients...until McMurphy. <br /><br />One of these days, these hospitals will get their "McMurphy." A really rambunctious patient who will not put up with that kind of crap. And whoever is in charge of hospital policy will go down just like Nurse Ratched did. When anyone is too harsh, it comes back to them. I really believe that.<br /><br />On a side note, the guy who played Dr. Spivey in the movie is an actual psychiatrist. He was the medical director of the hospital Cuckoo's Nest was filmed at. And he said in an interview that he didn't think Cuckoo's Nest was anti-mental hospital or that it was offensive....except for one thing. He had no problems with all of the cursing or references to sex. The only thing he was really offended by was Nurse Ratched. Even for back then, when I'm sure it was really harsh, he thought the nurse depicted in the movie was way out of line and was not the norm for mental hospitals.<br /><br />You can only be a Nurse Ratched for so long, and be totally unreasonable, before your colleagues start complaining and the patients start rebelling.<br /><br />That could be why Dinah says she enjoys her work so much and doesn't feel like the enemy of her patients. Maybe she's just nicer to them, so they have no reason to look at her like that...Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030949818467743750noreply@blogger.com