[chris_wot]

It is very hard for a mentally ill person to defend themselves. If they are in a mental institution, they can complain but even legitimate complaints get treated like a mentally ill person being difficult or delusional.

That's sort of understandable - if you are around people all day who hear Satan, or have obsessive compulsions, complaining that you don't have enough bedclothes or the food is bad is just seen as part of your condition. If you get given the wrong medication, it's assumed you are wrong and you'll be ignored. If you get mad about being ignored, you can't just walk out as they wont let you. In all likelihood you'll be tranquillised to keep you quiet.

How do I know this? Everything except the sedation happened to me!

[vidarh]

I can't imagine what it must be like to be in that kind of situation. I know how angry I get even when just dealing with customer service people who seems to have a different view of reality than me - being in a situation where people with actual significant power over my life have a different view of reality must be brutal...

[chris_wot]

It was very, very difficult and I lodged a complaint with the complaints commission over it. The hospital had to apologise to me. I think they realised I wasn't their average patient very quickly, and they had a big problem on their hands!