OT: Son update

Thank you everyone for you concern. This has really been a trying week. On Thursday, we were able to get a copy of the police report...which is nothing like what any of the witnesses said. That was all we could get from the police station. At Wishard, the information desk called the detention ward and handed me the phone. All they would do is say that he was 'awake and stable'. They wouldn't tell us anything about what his injuries were. They said it was because of the Hipa laws. So I asked if Jay could call me then and him tell me what is going on. Get this...they said that wasn't possible because all of their phones haven't been working for at least a month?!?! Yesterday, around 4 pm, I get a call from Jay. He's at the police station and was finally release from Wishard. Come to find out, he had to have surgery on his foot! They did surgery on that kid and didn't let ANY of his family know it!! We all know that any kind of surgery holds a risk for death...and they didn't bother letting us know??? I asked him if there was a phone in his room ...and there wasn't. Phones out of order? BS! He was released from jail last night about 10. The only charge? Resisting arrest. Arrest for what? Nope, no charges on that one. Seems to me that it shouldn't be allowed for that to be the only charge..I mean, you have to be getting arrested for something in order to resist that arrest, don't you think? Jay goes to court June 6th. We'll see what happens then. I'll let you all know. I am hoping to be in contact with the ACLU (American Civil Liberty Union) on Monday. The woman who is over the Indy area chapter was on vacation this week. I think that whole deal of when he was in the hospital needs to be reviewed by someone. It's too late for it to help in my sons case, but maybe for someone else's son or daughter who finds them-self caught in the circle of red tape between the police station and Wishard. Thanks again for all of your concern, Sherri

Wow Sherri, that is so unreal to belive they can do that, have you found and lawer yet? Lisa B

Sherri I was wondering how old is Jay. A friend of mine had a similar experience and it was determined that if they are 21 or older they are considered an adult and information can not be released. I think this is BS but that is the law they were told. They did tell my friend that if the patient request someone be notified then they can do it. I certainly agree that being arrested for resisting arrest for something that he was not arrested for is also a bunch of crap. I sure hope he gets his case dismissed on this one. Good luck in your pursuit of justice in this matter. Dan

Dan, Jay is 23. The age of not telling anything (what we were told anyway) is 18. Jay did ask them to contact me when he found out that he had to have a surgery...and they did not. I think Jay is planning on contacting a lawyer. Tomorrow, I will be speaking with the woman over the Indy chapter of ACLU. Sherri

Crap like this makes me soooo mad!!! They waste time and energy on some people and then drag their heels on others... The system does need reviewed!! I am glad you got to talk to him and it sure is awful his first phone call was way after surgery... seems wrong .. Linda

Hi Sherri, I'm sorry you and your son and family are going through this. The privacy laws are so outlandish. I work in a pediatrician's office. As soon as the child turns 18, we are no longer allowed to even acknowledge that he is a patient of ours! If mom calls to schedule an appointment, we have to ask her to have the child get on the phone and give verbal permission for us to talk to her about the child. It gets really sticky when we have kids away at college and they haven't signed the forms for mom or dad to be allowed access to their medical care. People get really upset sometimes and I don't blame them. Some of those kids have been our patients since birth and now we can't talk to mom to schedule an appointment or refill a medication because they turned 18?? It's just crazy. I hope you get your situation straightened out. Good luck to you!