Whatamess........
I am sorry about the child being in the hospital. No one ever ever likes to see one of our kids go in.
Here's what I can tell you about my own son's (and mine) experiences with psychiatric hospitals and why. Maybe this will help the family AND save them some money ie: lawyers.
When a child is a danger to himself or others - and taken into a psychiatric hospital - it's for a reason. There is an adjustment period of time that needs to be respected for the sake of the CHILD - NOT for the sake of the parents who are worried about the child. This is a VERY difficult time for the CHILD. The transition is hard enough without Mom standing there. Whether she's crying or not - if she's there - The child will WANT to go home with her. Crisis is over - TIME TO GO. He/she will NOT understand why he (For sake of typing) can not leave with Mom and Dad. It makes it 100 times HARDER ON THE CHILD to see the parent and watch them leave. NOTHING is accomplished and it's like starting all over again with intake.
However - if the parents really want him to do well, get stable and allow the hospital to do their job? They'll let them do it, be satisfied with calls from the staff and psychiatrist and allow the child to settle in. Not allowing a parent to see a child and vise/versa is pretty normal for up to 30 days in most Residential Treatment Center (RTC)'s, Group-homes and in a lot of psychiatric hospital's it's usually 14 days - 30 days average depending on the child's behavior and mental state.
My son was kept from us in one facility for six months. I hated it - but if that's what they felt was best for him? I was willing to do it. A lot of these places use visitation as barganing chips. Sometimes it's all they have to see if a child CAN behave, WILL behave or can't maintian and need are greater than the care they are getting. You have to be willing to let them do their job. He's there - they should be calling them on the phone or provided contact numbers and available at least every other day with progress reports. There should be a staff phone also where you can talk with the staff - BUT - no phone calls to Him just yet. NO visitation.
Not because they don't want reunification - but because they are trying to see where HE is - and what HE needs. Honest -
If you absolutely POSITIVELY - want him out of where he is - you can get him out on something called AMA - Against Medical Advice. You don't need an attorney for that. You just sign a form and demand he leave. BUT be advised - if you do that once - and he's out of control ever again - they won't take him back. So you're shutting a door for good that may be the only placement that can help.
Think about it - long and hard. I've taken my son out AMA twice in two placements due to staff abuse - reported to me by my son. In one place the staff member was immediately fired. In the other - I dared the staff member to meet me off the property - and they kept him locked in the office. Lucky for him - my son was 12 - and I'm 5'9", 250lbs - and a former boxer.
I hope this helps.