My bf has long suffered with alcoholism and depression. After being sober for about 1.5 years, he started drinking again and as a consequence of his drinking he was asked to move out of my home. He became so deeply depressed over his inability to stay sober and at the thought of potentially being homeless he drank and attempted suicide with an overdose. He was brought to Melrose Wakefield Hospital where they thankfully saved him and he was placed in the psych unit where he was assigned to Dahle as his shrink. After requesting a meeting with Dahle and my bf to discuss treatment options, she called me to get some 'background' on the case which I gladly provided and he ended up being there for over a week and Dahle met with him 3x in over a week. On the Monday after him being there for 9 days I received a call from Dahle saying that he was being discharged that day and for aftercare all they had to offer was a day program in Jamaica Plain, now mind you, I only spoke to this woman once on the day after the suicide attempt and this is the next thing I hear out of her in a week and a half. I explained that in order for him to return to my home, he would need to be on the drug antabuse as a deterrent from drinking which she told me was good choice for him however it was dangerous and required monitoring. I asked if she could start him on it immediately and if he could spend one more nite in the hospital to be monitored. She replied no, he could seek that type of medication after he's been released by someone else. I responded that he wasn't welcome to come home without being on the drug to which she replied, then he'll be sent to a homeless shelter.
I've never 'met' (in quotes because she never even met with me f2f) a more incompetent uncaring individual with absolutely ZERO empathy for her patient or his family. It was abundantly clear right from the beginning that it was a 'cover our ass' and bilk the insurance for as long as we can and get him out of here situation. In cases like this, aftercare is the most important part of treatment in my opinion. When a patient is on a locked ward in a hospital, being taken care of nite and day, there's practically no chance of drinking and attempting suicide so the concentration should be on a plan of action when someone is released back into the real world. Her's was, get him out of here asap and send him to a homeless shelter which is his biggest fear and let's see how that goes.
Don't allow this vile woman to 'care' for anyone you love if you're unlucky enough to find yourself in a similar situation. Then again, if it's someone you're not too fond of, let her at them and maybe she'll push them right off the suicide edge with her 'treatment'. read more