Roberta Brucker Newton Wellesley Hospital Healthy patient forced into acute psych ward after LICSW Roberta Brucker falsified medical notes based on inaccurate assessment by unskilled Nurse Triages Newton Massachusetts

Before going to the media with my complaint, one last stop (to this) site will be great for starters. My mood is currently calm yet anxious to share my story about a horrific event that took place after losing my job in MA and the onset of my menstrual cycle after not having it for nearly 8 months (sorry guys-had to be a little descriptive so that you could understand my state of mind at that time) and while being hormonal. Ok, every woman knows what that is like - only in this case t'was 2-fold given my circumstances. When I called my OBGYN to tell her the good news I also shared that I had lost my job and that I was stressed out for the last several days and hadn't eaten (which was pretty normal for me) much except for coffee and liquids. I reassured her that I was going to be fine and it was probably just a matter of days that I would get back on track. I told her that I'd been weepy throughout the week (due to PMS) and I wanted to know if there was an OTC herb or natural remedy to ease my crying spells. I also shared that (being new to the area 18 months) that I felt kind of hopeless (not about life - about finding a job out here and/or even remaining out here - or moving back to the Midwest closer to family). She empathized but knew I was optimistic about getting back on track.

The catch though, was when she expressed concerned for me not eating and threatened to send an ambulance to my home. I asked "WHY" would you do something like that? I told her that physically I was feeling fine and that crying spells didn't constitute an ambulance coming to my residence. Let alone, I'd never been in an ambulance - neither "threatened" to have 1 sent to my home. I pondered and argued that my situation was clearly not an emergency. She wouldn't give...she said she was concerned and wanted me to go in for a blood test to test my electrolytes and blood levels. I pondered again in thought. Then she asked, "how would you feel about a mild prescription for an anti-depressant"? I told her "I've never taken an anti-depressant or any kind of drugs before - but if she thought that would help then I would agree with taking that". She said that in order for me to get that - I would have to go to the emergency room and talk to a LICSW. I told her I would wait till Monday - she refused my answer and said that if I didn't go (to Newton Wellesley) that she would send an ambulance. I just couldn't figure out why she was so persistent. I hadn't said anything that would merit a call to the ER. Anyway, - to spare myself from embarrassment - I agreed to go on the basis that she call them to let them know what my purpose was for going (a blood test and a prescription).

I know this is long - but I have no other way of explaining what happened to me on that day w/o giving full details. As I drove to Newton Wellesley Hospital, I received numerous calls from friends who asked where I was. I explained all the details and each were surprised that the OBGYN would go to such extremes. I even thought about turning around and not going because something just didn't seem right about this.

When I got to the hospital, (mind me-I have NEVER been hospitalized - have NEVER taken any drugs or have been a danger to myself or to society) I inadvertently walked into the ER w/o notice to the NO CELLPHONES policy. I asked my friend to hold on a second as I approached the Receptionist who asked, "what brings you to Newton Wellesley"? I stated my name and asked if my OBGYN (private name) had called to let them know my purpose for being there. She said "no - I wouldn't have that information". I explained briefly that I was there to obtain a blood test for my electrolytes and a prescription for an anti-depressant. I noticed she wrote "DEPRESSION" on the slip. I was surprised and asked why she wrote that and she said "oh, don't worry someone will be with you in a moment". This only took 1 minute. I went back outside to finish my conversation with my friend. She asked, "what were you asking her", and I explained. She said "that's weird - you better get that taken care of and make sure they know exactly why you are there and then get the heck out of there and call me when you are done"

I never got the chance to call my friend back until the following week. I was brutally and unfairly assessed by 2 seemingly unskilled Nurse triages who repeatedly asked "what my plan was" after explaining to them in detail about why I was at the hospital. When they repeated their question "do you have a plan - any thoughts of suicide or intent to hurt yourself" I adamantly answered NO-I would NEVER do something like that! That would be horrible! I have so much to live for! I may be having crying spells - but I certainly would NEVER take my own life over something like this! I am a strong woman - and A DEVOUT CATHOLIC and that is just not an option for me...I have always had a very supportive group of family and friends that I can talk to when I'm having a tough time and this too shall pass". The younger triage "Gretchen", asked 1 more time "so - you gotta' plan? What would you do if you did hurt your self"? I looked at her with astonishment (thinking maybe she was referring to "moving back home or hiring help to move my furniture", then I realized what she was asking again and I said NO-I don't - is this some kind of a trick question? If it is I would probably jump off a building, crash my car or slash my wrist - but I would NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE that".

Imagine that! All taken out of context - relayed to a belligerent LICSW Roberta Brucker who lacked compassion for my situation and repeatedly asked about how I was going to pay for the hospital services in a near 60-minute interrogation assessment over my entire life (when the average assessment would only take 10 minutes)...Not to mention, falsified the actual events that took place. Roberta Brucker outrageously stated and falsified her notes by stating "patient entered ER room stating ["I'm suicidal and I've got a plan to slash my wrist and crash my car"]. This was OUTRAGEOUS! During the process, I had to explain to her what an EEOC claim was, as did with the Nurse triage who was absolutely clueless about EEOC claims and sexual harassment while asking "you're suing your work for sexual harassment - oh...where did he touch you". She relayed that information to Roberta who also asked me the same question (which is how I knew that all of the details were misconstrued and further relayed).

Roberta also outrageously states facts about my entire life that are inconsistent with what I shared with her. And, again, as I stated to the other personnel security guards, friends, doctors and attorney - she was completely out of line for what she did. What she did was relay falsified and misconstrued information to Petra Steinbachel (a Psychiatrist who had only been in the field less than 5 years and was moonlighting on that evening). At the end of Roberta's unethical and improper assessment - she asked once again about my health insurance and means to pay the hospital. I told her I had NO insurance because I lost my job and it was terminated on the day that I left. She accused me of "not knowing what I was talking about" and stated that she was very familiar with my type of insurance carrier. She then asked, "is there anything else that you want to talk about - what was your purpose for coming here again". I explained, "no, there's nothing more - I just came because my OBGYN wanted me to have a prescription an blood test" (which I still have her voicemail that documents my purpose for going to the hospital). As Roberta abruptly left the room, she stated, "oh you just have it all - you have a whole history of stories don't you". I was appalled at her behavior!

At that moment - I thought about just getting up and leaving, but then Petra came in the room. She seemed compassionate and caring at first, but then again - I could only imagine what in the world Roberta said to her. Petra and I spoke for approx. 15 minutes. I was a little chipper (content/calm) at first, (which she later defined at apathetic). We spoke briefly about my past, but mostly about, my recent loss of job and having crying spells throughout the week (due to my period). I shared the same information told to my OBGYN with Petra and by the end of our meeting; she said that all of my tests came out ok. She asked how I would feel about staying at the hospital and I told her that it was not necessary and that I probably shouldn't have gone there in the first place. She then said, "well, based on my assessment and the feedback from Roberta" she had decided that they were going to KEEP me there at the hospital! I was aghast! I calmly said that I didn't think that was necessary and I asked "why". She said that she detected some apathy and some probable PTSD and maybe some mild depression and wanted to keep me in a SAFE PLACE! I was SHOCKED! I immediately thought, "am I in some kind of danger...from whom and/or what?"

I again, insisted that a hospital stay was NOT necessary! She asked if I had friends or family in the area and I said a couple and that I was still good friends with my ex-fiancwho would be absolutely astonished at the next events that transpired). she said it was in the best interest of her assessment to keep me "confined" at the hospital in a caring area with friendly nurses and doctors who could further assess me and that she had the license to keep me there for up to 30 WHOPPING DAYS if not longer WOW!!!! I WAS APPAULED! I was fear stricken and no words could describe what the hell I went through! For the first time in my life - every human right had been taken away from me!

I tried to remain calm - but truly felt sick to my stomach! I explained that I had family back home; cockatiel birds at home to feed (it was going to be a lovely sunny weekend that weekend after raining for 10 straight days!). but they would NOT budge! I told them I needed to go outside for some fresh air and that I was calling my attorney. Roberta came back to the room and obviously thought I was fooling her and just saying that and stated "oh go right ahead...the doctor has already made her decision and that is not changing regardless if you call your attorney or not". She obviously underestimated my wit and demeanor about me. I certainly am NOT the undedicated LATINA that she made me out to be throughout her notes and I am NOT STUPID! I am beside myself at her outrageous LIE of stating, ?LATINA patient has abusive live in history with boyfriends? ? I'VE NEVER LIVED WITH A MAN!!! And I NEVER TOLD HER THAT!!! She fabricated her notes! And I am clueless as to why and I can only speculate she had an agenda to meet her or the hospital's weekend quota. My OBGYN also INSISTED that I arrive to the Hospital before 5:00pm, which seemed very odd to me. As for my history with men ? ha! That's a joke! I have honestly never lived with a man (I guess you could call me a little old fashioned and traditional), but not everyone is likewise and I respected people for that as well. Also, she noted, ?patient even said she moved out here to be with ex-fianc but that the relationship ended because he was just not the person I thought he was?. Please Roberta! What did that have to do with my trip to the hospital? My ex and I are very good friends and just because our relationship ceased, that certainly did NOT warrant Roberta's behavior to me let alone her outrageous lies about my ex and I. She stated that he was abusive! I could NOT believe what or why she wrote this! He never laid a finger on me! Why would someone in this field fabricate so much is my question? Also, I'm a professional woman who did nearly 15 years of consulting work with my clients back home, whereas she states I was an admin person who took a job just for the benefits. This lady was on a mission! She either was having an extreme moment of menopause or was a plain ruthless, calculating and unfeeling person. Witnesses (2 of the security guards who said she was way out of line; had a screw lose in her head; made very poor assessments with previous patients) stated that I was by far the type of person to be subjected to psychiatric confinement".

What happened next? I called Dave, my ex-fiancnd told him what happened. He was shocked and told me to get out of there. In fact, he insisted that I leave. I told him that the security guard even wanted to let me go but said that if he did he would jeopardize his career and would lose his job. Dave was livid and almost in tears and helpless towards my situation. He heard nearly 1/2 of the conversation with Roberta as my cellphone was on auto-answer, as did another friend from Chicago who kept asking "where are you - who are you talking to -- where are you". I gave Dave my family attorney's number and my current LICSW and Doctors telephone numbers. I felt sick to my stomach but knew I had to be strong and alert. When the security guard escorted me to the 3rd floor of the hospital, I really had no idea as to where I was going. But as we approached the double steel-framed doors - I paused and felt and incredible about of fear and nausea come over me. I calmly said "wait - I'm afraid - I don't want to go in here - please - help me - I don't know what to do nor what to expect - what are they going to do to me? Have I done something wrong? I haven't done anything wrong, but for some reason - I feel as though I'm being treated like a criminal. I've never done drugs...have never been confined like this...what is going to happen". He said "look, I'm in my mid-20's and they did the same thing to me...but I deserved it whereas you DO NOT...just stay cool and don't resist". I asked "resist - against what". He said "well, sometimes, if you resist and refuse to obey or get upset like I did...they'll inject you with psych drugs and you don't want that to happen...they kept me in here for almost 30-days and I just don't want that to happen to you...you seem like a very intelligent sophisticated healthy lady and you sure don't belong here - but that's what Roberta has done to a lot of people and the Hospital really needs to look into that".

He gave me a hug and said "you'll be ok...and probably out by tomorrow". My survival instincts kicked in high! He introduced me to Paul (who I initially thought was a patient because of his general demeanor and slow response) and presented me with papers. I told Paul I was NOT signing any papers and that I wanted to make a phone call to my attorney and to my family. He was agitated at my refusal to sign as a "voluntary" patient and explained, "if you don't sign as a voluntary patient - they "the doctors" will think that you are resisting and they will keep you here longer and possibly give you Psych drugs. He advised me to sign and to not resist the orders. I did...and then he brought me the phone. This is my message verbatim "Hi...this is (my name) I have an emergency message for my friends and my family - please listen carefully...after calling my OBGYN and being instructed to go to the emergency room to obtain a simple blood test and prescription for medicine - I was brutally assessed by a belligerent LICSW Roberta Brucker and then taken to the acute Psychiatric ward...I am being LOCKED UP IN THE ACUTE PSYCHIACTRIC ward of NEWTON WELLSELY HOSPITAL and somebody has GOT TO HELP ME...PLEASE call my attorney or any civil rights attorney and DO NOT SPEAK TO the HOSPITAL'S ADVOCACY OFFICER --because she the same person operating as the LICSW Roberta Brucker who put me in here - please - someone has got to help me".

By the next morning - I spoke to the Nurse on duty that was also belligerent, but defined as "good people" by the Psychiatrist on duty for that weekend. I say she was belligerent because she lost her temper with me when I told her that there was obviously a big mistake that transpired in the ER and that Roberta misconstrued and miscommunicated my information. The nurse became so angry and shouted "STOP BLAMING ROBERTA...STOP BLAMING ROBERTA...YOU NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH HOW YOU GOT YOURSELF IN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE...and as far as I'm concerned - until you do that Ms...(my name)...I do not foresee you leaving here before 30 days, if not longer.

Now...that's what the Psych on duty calls "good people" (NOT...obviously he did not see her demeanor with me NEITHER the other patients who she so insolently bullied around and even threatened that their feet would be chopped off). Sick! Isn't it?

And yes, my attorneys did call the hospital, as well as my family doctor and LICSW...all of who tried diligently to get me out of there. My friends were all appalled at what happened because they obviously knew me so much better than Petra, Roberta, Gretchen and Michelle. By the 3rd day, I was reassessed by 2 attentive and compassionate and very well grounded LICSW and Psychiatrist who released me from the hospital and with whom I shared that I would NEVER go back to Newton Wellesley under any circumstances whatsoever and neither to the OBGYN.

What really amazes me is how the 1st Psych said in his notes that I seemed to have recovered "quickly" (in less than several hours of being at the hospital). Even though it was clear as to where I was - I asked him on my 2nd day to explain exactly where I was. He stated "in the acute psychiatric ward". I looked at him with a perplexed glimpse and raised brow. He then said, "well, there were obviously not enough beds to put you into another area of the hospital, which is probably why they put you in here". He then told me to talk to the nurse about getting an early release form, but that was a whole different ball-game. I took great notice of her friendly demeanor with him while he was on the floor...but if I had to give my personal assessment and as many of my professional colleagues would say - Nurse Ratched couldn't hold a candle to this nurse nor Roberta Brucker - not by a fat chance!

I did call Christine in the President's office and spoke to her as well as several other persons throughout the hospital to find some kind of resolution as to what the hell happened and to dispute any sort of billing if I was even going to be billed for that matter (as I stated earlier - I had no funds; no credit card and NO insurance to Roberta throughout our meeting). I have many recorded messages from the hospital and conversations which I've saved as reference (including my outgoing emergency voicemail). In late Sept. 2006, I received a certified letter from Newton Wellesley....it was an PAST DUE invoice for a near $7,000 for that 3 day involuntary confinement...in addition, there were other invoices pertaining to that event totally nearly $3,00.00. Roberta stated (during the assessment and while I was arguing with her about the fact that I did not have any money to pay her or the hospital and that if they kept me there I was NOT going to pay for whatever services they billed me for because this was against my will)...stated "well then we can get the state to pay for it through FREE CARE!

Massachusetts RESIDENCE...GET'A LOAD OF THAT! Right out of your tax paying dollars!

For those of you who are skeptical of my experience and are thinking "this is impossible...there had to be something wrong with this person...NOTHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN without some kind of explanation". Well, I'm telling you...as a woman of faith...a woman of honor ... a woman of dignity love and compassion for humanity...and as a woman who has helped many triumph through their own crisis in life and who has literally intervened several others through moments of depression and overcoming their own thoughts of suicide...I swear...on my mother's grave - every word in this experience is true! Nothing is exaggerated and I have no reason to lie! I have NO SHAME for what happened to me - just mere disgust at how the media can "up talk and praise" Newton Wellesley for their professional services. I even have a "we're sorry note" given to me as I was leaving the hospital. And, again, the only piece of exaggeration will be found in Roberta Brucker's medical notes!

And I could NOT go 1 more day without posting this traumatic inhumane event before taking it to the media. I hope that, for the sake of humanity and for future patients contemplating a trip to Newton Wellesley's emergency room - to be fully aware of the possibilities of their human rights being stripped away. I also hope that for all of the patients who are involuntarily forced into confinement (regardless of being forced to sign a "voluntary commitment" paper) that the Lord watches over them and that justice is sought.

And YES - I do realize there are MANY services to commend Newton Wellesley for, as I even said (prior to the event while having an ultra-sound performed months prior while considering IVF) that they had a wonderful staff of persons in that particular division. This notice to the public is not directed in anyway towards the Nurses on-call during my stay who were very empathetic, caring and compassionate towards my experience. I just feel really bad for some of the patients that are there.

As a nutshell closing, Roberta Brucker obviously took what the 2 nurse triages misconstrued; hence misconstrued their information to the moonlighting Psychiatrist. And, I guess my argument would be - how in the hell would they define me as a danger to myself by crashing my car or slashing my wrist when I was the one who drove my own self to the d**n hospital (all the while in positive spirits because I was going along with my OBGYN). My 2nd argument would be "if a person is going to slash their wrist and you're going to keep them in a so called ["safe-place"]...what constitutes "safe"? An environment where homicidal persons have access to and are allowed to eat with rigged edged stainless steel knives and forks? Hmmmm! Interesting...Also, most of the patients suffered from extreme psychosis behaviors including paranoia; schizophrenia and delusions of reality. Is this what they constitute as a calming safe environment? Hmm, is interesting to say the least.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story.

Visitor
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.

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