Can my psychiatrist do this???!

Can my psychiatrist do this???

I have had severe depression for about 10 years and been on medication with relatively good results . But b/c of circumstances (i.e. divorce), my depression is very severe right now and I don't seem to be responding to any anti-depressants. I haven't been able to eat or sleep and I realize that I need serious help. I myself told my psychiatrist that I need help and that I'm considering ECT (electric shock therapy) for my depression, but I'm hesitant b/c of the side effects. Having said all that, I am NOT suicidal.....it is not even an option for me and I have a lot to live for. I want to feel better and improve my life, not end it. But now my psychiatrist wants to put me in the psychiatric hospital under suicide watch and keep me there for as long my insurance will pay and says he wants to keep me there for up to 2 wks. I do need to check into the hospital, but I don't want to be there against my wishes. And not for suicide. Can he keep me there and say I'm suicidal when I'm not?

The laws around this sort of thing may vary from state to state (province to province). So he may be in a tight spot there. If it is covered though. Why not go to the hospital? Why fight it? It's not like you're moving in. You know you're not suicidal. You're not going to be put in a padded cell in a straight jacket. Psych wards have a reputation for being a place to put the hopeless. There are some pretty sad cases out there, yes. But, there are also many people that are there for depression, like you. ECT is serious business. So much more serious than 2 weeks in a place that may actually help. Are you afraid that if you relent, you're character may be defined by others as something that just isn't so? Can you keep it a secret? You never know what you may discover. You could call it an experiment.