Barrios said he thought the diagnosing psychiatrist at University Health Services mistakenly believed he was suicidal. Belitsky admitted that diagnoses may be inaccurate. Such observations include whether the person is making eye contact, whether he or she appears disoriented and whether the patient sounds distraught. In addition, the psychiatrist should take into account the patient's medical history and impressions from friends and family, Belitsky said Barrios said he was upset that the UHS doctor on call when he was first admitted did not consult his regular UHS psychiatrist before deciding to hospitalize him. But Belitsky said there is no rule governing contact between doctors in these cases.
Every effort is made to consult the person's physician.
YPI psychiatrist Ralph Hoffman said at YPI, doctors evaluate the patient immediately upon admission. But Barrios, admitted during the Easter holidays, said he waited from Saturday morning until Monday afternoon to see a doctor. Barrios' doctors did not inform him of his right to a probable cause hearing, which allows patients to petition in court to be released from the hospital, he said last night. I'm frustrated and annoyed, but I learned a lot here actually. But a fellow patient, a Yale sophomore who asked not to be identified, said he wanted out.