This kind of thing is so infuriating. Psychiatric patients are supposed to have rights, but the reality is that they can force you to do what they want in order to obtain your freedom from the moment they get you in an involuntary "psych hold."

This happened to my former husband back in the 1990's, when he was put on a three-day psychiatric hold based on the word of his then-girlfriend alone. He wasn't talking to her, so she called the cops and said he was catatonic, and they put him on the hold anyway, even after he demonstrated to them that he could talk.

He said there was a sign on the wall in the facility that listed patients' rights, including the right to refuse medication. But, it was made clear to him while he was there that they would not release him unless he took the medication, agreed to go to outpatient group counseling, and be released to the custody of his older brother (the one who had physically and sexually abused him when they were kids). He did everything they asked him to do to get out of there, but quit it all and got his own place as soon as the court stopped monitoring him, which was not too long after. He made himself a promise of "never again" on that kind of thing.

I witnessed it happen to him again, however, on the 1st anniversary of the death of his daughter, when he was pretty upset. He was seeing a grief counselor, and called him to say he needed a session that day, and when he got agitated when the counselor didn't have an opening (he didn't make threats, he just said he felt agitated at not being able to be seen that day), the counselor told him to go to the ER. We didn't go. The counselor called back a couple of hours later to see if we went, and when he found out we hadn't, he said he would call the police to come take him in if we didn't go. So, we went, and the hospital released him soon after, with some tranquilizers.

The whole thing is ridiculous. It makes you not want to get involved in that kind of thing at all. When a child is being used against you, like you've got to take this medication or you can't have your child, that's just criminal, especially if the person shows no signs of danger to themselves or others. Those doctors and psych people have way too much power over their patients. Stay away if you are able.