I've got a meeting with the discharge team and consultant tomorrow. Dad was sectioned 2 weeks ago. He went in with a working diagnosis of degenerative cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer's and has been on anti-psychotics. The meds are working, but because he's now calm and compliant the Consultant - who says she can only diagnose on the basis of "what's in front of her eyes" (her words) - proposes to discharge him with a diagnosis of anxiety and depression.
This is harmful as it means he wont take the meds as soon as he's out (he disputes there's anything wrong with him, and has a history of refusing to take them).
It's also harmful to my mum, as when she then has to call for help (ie when he stops taking the meds), no one will prioritise her as he 'just' has depression. Rather than the Alzeihmer's with psychosis.
Consultant has point blank refused to take into account previous medical history, testimony of other colleagues who assessed him while he was having his crisis, or any testimony from the family.
Dad can put on a good show. He 'presents' well. It has been a long, long battle to get anyone to take us seriously and now this consultant will set us back to square one if her diagnosis stands.
I have a meeting with SIX doctors tomorrow apparently and fear they will bully me into accepting their diagnosis and allowing him home.
Where he will terrorise my mother, who was having panic attacks due to his abusive behaviour.
How can I get this consultant to change her mind? To listen? To consider the evidence we have that all is NOT well, and he's not the nice cute man he appears to be because he's currently drugged up to the eyeballs? That a diagnosis based only on 'what she can see' is batshit?
I'm so worried about the meeting, it's so intimidating having to be sat there in front of a hostile, interview-style panel. I don't stand a chance, do I?