eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 27, 2015 20:30:41 GMT
hi folks...
is it worth my while pursuing any action against my wonderful ex-psychiatrist? from what I see, there is no support for such action. I've already been told I would need to provide a psychiatric report and prove I have funds to pay if I lose the case. But, no solicitor has bothered to listen to the complete saga and I don't know if that would make my case any stronger:
- private psychiatrist - doesn't appear to be an ADHD 'expert' - although I'm now checking his credentials - diagnosed ADHD in one visit despite diagnoses of Schizoid, BPD, Bipolar, Anxiety Disorder, etc - started immediately on atomoxetine (strattera) which is third line - not taken off quetiapine - which I now know supresses me severely - 4 weeks on 40mg a day - daily nausea - advised Dr but no change - increase to 80mg a day - felt like the duracell bunny - advised Dr i had 'loads' of energy - started to feel organised and that I could achieve everything - repeatedly told Dr, despite taking medication at 6 am no effect til noon (quetiapine?) - became detached from my feelings, humour, passion - but i didn't understand this at the time - initial good feelings from medication started to subside - extreme caffeine use/abuse began - told Dr I was drinking 'a lot' of coffee - cannabis use increased from practically zero - told Dr this - told Dr i was opening Atomoxetine capsules to increase effects - uttered something about the GMC! - Dr wrote a medical report to my company as per their request - this was COMPLETELY flawed - Dr was forced to re-write medical report - which almost contradicted the first - told Dr sleeping patterns were pretty poor - I now know i was going to bed buzzing - i started to become paranoid and obsessive - i felt like everything was fine at the time - i had lost a lot of weight. i also don't remember any blood pressure tests - Company now asks Dr if I can attend a meeting - I definitely didn't say yes - I became extremely obsessed with my gender - and changing it...... - went to Dr and got a gender dysphoria diagnosis - i think i said anything that i needed to get it - Dr asked only half fee for consultation (paid in cash) and discharges me back to GP .... at some point or another after a bout of bad depression for a few days, when I hadn't consumed coffee or cannabis, the cycle finally broke. i stopped taking atomoxetine. I lost my job. it seems as though the Dr was telling them I was fine for a meeting all along (I'm now asking for all records from both ex-company and Dr). I wonder did he know i was terribly messed up and just 'got rid of me'? for the record, i have always had some low level issues with my body, but had never sought help or attempted to change gender ever in my life. its likely it could have been a bizzare form of body dismorphic disorder. i've suffered considerable distress as a result of the issues that unfolded.
i'm now on MPH and doing fairly well (thanks!) - and looking to do some part time work while developing my own business... should i just move on?
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Post by Exude on Jan 27, 2015 23:01:28 GMT
The only way I've been able to deal with epic cockups is to remind myself everyone is an idiot and I should have known better. I find it so much easier to give myself a ticking off which allows me to put it to bed. The alternative is focus all your energy into destroying someone for perceived slights. Then dealing with the guilt of retaliating against someone who was probably doing their best but was poorly equipped to help. Cutting people down is easy. Too easy for ADHDers, perhaps. It takes real strength to help someone up. I agree with your final comment. Invest your energy in positive outcomes
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 23:31:42 GMT
Have you ever pursued a complex legal case before?
If you have then you probably don't need advice so I'll assume you haven't.
If you're only just finding your equilibrium on methylphenidate then the stress of chasing a legal case would probably do for you.
Psychiatry is about as opposite to the legal system as you can get - one takes words and dissects them totally till the meaning is almost lost and the other is so nebulous and ephemeral that it can't be pinned down.
Usually psychiatrists never write down anything that can be held against them eg I diagnose x with y. Weasel words such as 'suggest' are their stock in trade and a decent brief will probably have a field day destroying anyone trying to find anything legally binding in any statement.
To cut it short - if the legal fraternity aren't falling over themselves to offer you pro bono services then it's probably not worth the candle. It'd be hard fought by someone who probably has legal insurance and you have neither died or been seriously injured so any compensation would be low and, even if you won, would the satisfaction of victory be enough?
Sometimes it's best to swallow pride and move on.
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eonflux
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Post by eonflux on Jan 28, 2015 16:07:30 GMT
thanks for the opinions.
i'm actually just pushing on with it. it just that when finally discussing this with the head of HR of my ex-employer, she pointed out that I effectively lost my job (and chance of promotion), and fell into debt because of mis-handling of the whole affair. the medical report and letters about my progress are statements so its not about conversations we had, so much as the action that was taken. but it was just something i wanted to ask. it wasn't about a personal victory as much as money i need to get me back on an even keel.
onwards and upwards!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 16:32:31 GMT
Compo from the courts is rarely enough to warrant chasing.
They may make up what you lost but when you factor in the time it takes and the amount of grief you'd go through it doesn't usually make much sense.
And that's if you win outright, never a forgone conclusion.
I have recent experience of a case gone wrong - slightly different because it was criminal but an innocent person is now doing time because their representation forgot to bring certain papers and the judge can only judge on what is in front of them.
Then there are briefs such as Nick Freeman (AKA 'Mr Loophole') who manage to get their clients out of impossible situations.
To paraphrase a famous aphorism - Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be believed (I stole this from Private Eye).
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Post by JJ on Jan 28, 2015 19:36:35 GMT
I have to say that I agree very strongly with what @planetdave says.
I've pursued a compensation case and it was a horrible experience. I was as certain as anyone could be that I would win because I had a letter from the NHS Trust admitting they were negligent at the time I contacted solicitors.
I won and was awarded compensation, but this was for physical injury suffering when, in fact, the worst and longest part of the experience was the psychiatric damage they did me. But this was the part that was most fraught with problems - in large due to ignorance and prejudice on the part of those dealing with the legal case.
I found my solicitor through looking at who was registered by the legal service specifically for medical negligence, they were also listed with AvMA (organisation that helps with medical negligence), I asked questions, I spoke to several - in other words, I really did my homework. However, with hindsight I would've chosen someone else because of what I've learned through the process.
Given the problems inherent in a psychiatric case per se, unless you've got stacks of cash, it would be foolhardy to pursue anything unless it's on a pro bono basis - and I mean stacks. This is available if they assess your case as being strong enough. But beware, once signed up, you cannot change to a different solicitor.
I will pm you the name of my solicitors who really really f**ked up! despite having all the credentials and being sympathetic in the beginning to get me to sign on the dotted line. I will also give you the name of the one I would've used if I had to do it again.
But ultimately, you really need to weigh the costs and benefits, anyone would, but having just found some mental calm and balance after such struggles, you have particular reason to consider because that will be detrimentally affected without a doubt.
Xx
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Post by contrarymary on Jan 28, 2015 21:58:14 GMT
hi eonfluxI sympathise with you enormously Hardwired into most ADHDers is that bit of us that can't rest until it has fought for justice, wants things to be fair and honest. And we're willing to throw every bit of energy we have to set the record straight and undo the damage that has been done - usually for other people but sometimes for ourselves - and on principle as much as for recompense. over a number of years i pursued a complex case against a public body with the assistance of excellent right-on specialist solicitors supported by legal aid. as the case dragged on the solicitors variously went on maternity leave, on sabbatical, on emergency & longterm sick leave etc. each time i found it really hard to deal with the new one until we got to know each other and they understood the details of the case and why i was struggling. at the same time the other side were very aggressive. I was really angry and fearful and got angrier and more stressed with each new set of paperwork. i was regularly accused of all sorts of things and blamed for the situation & spent a lot of time having to explain all sorts of nuanced detail to whichever solicitor ws working at the time. it was exhausting and upsetting and took over great chunks of my life and energy for months at a time, and i felt it hanging over my head for years. in the end the case went against them and they offered token compensation and a one-line apology. the result showed that they were wrong and the implications of my case will have an effect on other people's treatment, until such time as the law is changed. strangely i haven't even spent the small amount of compensation, but left it sitting in the bank as tho it doesn't belong to me. am i glad i did it? on principle, yes. in terms of spending my time, energy and the stress it brought me over a few years? no, not really. it was a long and lonely battle and hasn't made a huge difference. and they still do what they can get away with. winning doesn't always fix things, and the price can be pretty high. much as it goes against the grain, sometimes we may be wiser and happier letting go, chalking it up to experience and putting our energy into something posiitive.
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eonflux
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Posts: 7
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Post by eonflux on Jan 29, 2015 13:12:02 GMT
oops. the written word always fails me! (unless i check it forever and a day before posting!). sorry, when I said I was pushing on with it - I did mean life. i can see from the numerous posts about similar subjects that its practically impossible. i suggested to one of the solicitors i spoke to that he shouldn't side step so much and simply say that it will be dealt with on a 'no win, no WAY' basis! its such a pity to hear of so many others who are suffering in this or a similar way. part of my self employed work will be to provide low cost technical support to people with health issues and low income. i also build websites - if i had the energy and ability, i would love to set up a framework of legal advice for mental health issues. Thanks for the names JJ (i don't think i can PM until im less of a newbie!), it shows that you have to go with quite a 'respected name' to believe you can achieve anything. there must be a few local solicitors who are in touch with mental health issues through personal circumstances, the kind of people who may even donate a little free time or advice. something else to put on the list of things to achieve! i'm glad to hear that you both (JJ and contrarymary) (kind of) won in the end but obviously they are not happy tales. sorry that you suffered further. the methylphenidate really has balanced my impulsive behaviour and makes me consider a lot more carefully. unfortunately, i think the atomoxetine burnt me out. that or the continuous supply of quetiapine. that never ending drive that i had before is gone now (and was before MPH). being up at the crack of dawn eager to work on some project or another is not an option now! i wish i'd discovered this forum a long time back. thanks folks...
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