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Please answer – Can I refuse outpatient treatment for an eating disorder?
Question : Please answer – Can I refuse outpatient treatment for an eating disorder?
Basically this is the story.
My parents made me go to the psychologist and I talked alone with her for awhile, and I basically told her everything about my eating disorder even though I was planning on not saying anything but she was like staring at me when I wouldn’t answer and I don’t like it when people look at me. So she said she was going to recommend me to an outpatient program at the hospital and I said OK.
Then my parents came back in the room and she told them that I had “agreed” to take part in a outpatient program. I never agreed, I just said OK because I thought I was going to be forced.
I’m 17, can I refuse outpatient treatment?
I don’t want to go there. I’m not even underweight (bmi is 22, completely healthy) so I’ll be the fattest girl there. They’re only sending me there because I used to purge and now I eat 200-400 calories a day and exercise 1-2 hours a day. I really don’t want to go. The whole thing scares me and like I said I’m going to be the fattest girl there.
eating disorder treatment program
Best answer:
Answer by Blane
You have a choice to do whatever you want. That is the amazing part of being free. Want to refuse? Sure that is completely up to you and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just weigh your choices carefully please. Oh, don’t get bitten by a Zombie either.
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#2 written by Jody 1 year ago
You can refuse, but you are still under your parents care. They have to decide what to do. They have a right to involve the authorities but a psychiatrist can release you once you’re seen at the hospital.
If your parents are reasonable you can probably bargain with them until you’re 18 and on your own and considered an adult.
However, your diet is enough to scare any good parent. You may have anorexia or bulimia or both. Bulimics stay at a fairly normal weight, anorexics fall far below normal weight. But you probably know that.
Good luck to you. I’ve been there. Today, I’ve never been happier.
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#3 written by girl87 1 year ago
it is a very hard thing to do when you face this kind of problem. unless you have thought about it and you make a good decision that you will get better. basically, if you want to get better, no one can really help you unless you help yourself so.. think about it, take care of yourself and make your own decisions. your parents want you to get better and you have to understand that. they love you that is why they are sending you for the best treatment. i know you are healthy but please be concern that no parents want their kid to get worse. the best is that you stay inside the facility and get instructions from the doctors. stay and you will recover from the so called disorder. just a few month and you won`t be suffering anymore. i am a psychologist myself.
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#6 written by michele 1 year ago
No. At age 17, your parents make your medical decisions (including in and outpatient ED treatment) on your behalf. For good or ill, the choice is not yours (technically).
Of course, how fully you participate is up to you.
The smart move for you here is to get everything you can out of this opportunity you have for treatment. You won’t be under your parents’ insurance forever. Once you’re an adult, the game changes (fewer opportunities for intensive treatment).
Once this ED becomes entrenched, and you realize the damage you’ve wrought on your physical and mental health, you’ll be glad you addressed it when you were a teenager. At age 17, you’ve got a chance to beat this thing. Wait much longer, and you’re looking at a lifetime of misery (yes, I’m serious, and yes, I know what I’m talking about here).
EDs do NOT get better on their own. They get worse, and they get worse quickly. Unfortunately, any purge can kill you (has to do with electrolyte imbalance that can cause a heart attack in otherwise healthy people), and there is no way to know when that’s going to happen.
The vast majority of bulimics are average to over weight (sounds like you’re an average weight). It is likely that several of the patients you meet will be similar to you in terms of body size.
Don’t fall victim to the silly competitions that tend to start in an outpatient ED treatment center. The staff may or may not get the clue that the girls “compete” to determine “who is sickest”. Don’t fall for it. It’s a trap.
Best of luck in your treatment,
~Dr. B.~ -
#7 written by Áine 1 year ago
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If you are of the age of consent in your state (that is usually 18), you should be able to refuse treatment. Since the point of outpatient treatment of eating disorders is to get everyone’s weight up, perhaps the doctors/therapists will decide you are doing well enough and really do not need to be in outpatient therapy. Typically, the o/p programs triage you once you arrive to ensure that the program is the right place for you.