An unidentified woman is suing a Cleveland doctor for allegedly claiming her prayers and Bible reading were a form of mental illness.



The woman filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and Dr. Saraj Brar in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, notes Courthouse News.

The woman, who calls herself a "Pentecostal Christian and a self-published author of books about God and spirituality," claims to have been fasting when she became disoriented at a local gas station on the 15th day of her "Biblical fast."

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The woman says she was taken to the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's emergency room and then involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric ward, reports UPI.

She claims that Brar diagnosed her as suffering from bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms.

"Dr. Brar and other St. Vincent's staff characterized [her] religious devotion as evidence of mental instability, making repeated references to her 'religious preoccupation' and noting [her] Bible reading and audible praying as evidence [of] mental illness," the suit said. "When [she] refused to take anti-psychotic medications prescribed by Dr. Brar, defendants sought continued involuntary commitment through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court."

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The woman is suing for false imprisonment of five days and violation of patients' rights.

Normally, a person can only be involuntarily admitted to a psych ward if the doctor has a reasonable belief that the person is a danger to herself or others.

Sources: UPI and Courthouse News

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