I just saw this and was a bit curious as there are various different powers of attorney and laws vary from state to state. I know the patient could be forced to take a medication if he/she was presenting a threat to himself or those around him.

I understand how frustrating and frightening this can be. I had a loved one who had a borderline personality disorder with schizo affect. He could be wild as a March hare in front of the psychiatrist and little could be done because he was not suicidal. There were several times when I managed to get him hospitalized on a 72 hour observation and went home, thinking he was safe and I could get some rest. I would wake up the next morning to him knocking at the door. I never quite understood how someone admitted on an emergency observation basis was able to sign himself out but he did it several times.