Kaitlin Taylor went to the Syracuse University health center in hopes of getting treated for flu symptoms but instead was sent to a psychiatric ward . A New Jersey student with a bad cold was locked in a hospital psych ward for six days after going to her university 's heath center for a medication to treat flu-like symptoms , she alleges in a lawsuit . Kaitlin Taylor , of Union County , New Jersey , went to the campus health center at Syracuse - a school she 's since left - when she was a sophomore in September 2013 complaining of flu-like symptoms . But the six-day stay in the nearby St Joseph 's Hospital was not what she was expecting when she told the center 's staff that she was suffering from a fever , cough , phlegm and chest congestion . While waiting for care , Taylor said she told a counselor that she wanted to change her arts major and take a leave of absence from the school but missed the semester 's deadline because her computer was stolen . When she was told no one could write her a prescription at the center , she was driven to St Joseph 's and dropped in front the the emergency room , according to the New York Post . While waiting in the ER , Taylor said she felt as though she was getting sicker . ' I was getting stressed by the circumstances and the surroundings , ' she told the Post . ' I thought I 'd only be there for an hour or two . ' She was then taken to a psychiatrist 's office , where she spent 15 minutes explaining that she was sick , had not been sleeping well , was struggling in her classes and feared she might lose her scholarship . Taylor was then told that she would have to stay overnight and was sent to an 'observation room ' with four other patients . The psychiatrist 's notes said that Taylor was in for 'involuntary treatment , ' for 'insomnia , pressured speech , disorganized , declining grades ' . The patients in the room were separated by low walls while staff watched over them , Taylor said . She still did n't receive medication or treatment . She wanted to call her mom , but her cellphone had died and she said the hospital would n't recharge it . Taylor was sent to St Joseph 's Hospital ( pictured ) where she was put into 'involuntary treatment ' and observed for six days after she had only gone to the health center for medication for her flu-like symptoms . Taylor is now suing Syracuse University , a university employee and St Joseph 's Hospital for misdiagnosing and improperly treating her . Her hospital horror started at her university 's health center ( pictured ) , where she went to get medication . 'They had n't done anything for me or my cold . They did n't take my blood pressure or even my temperature , ' she told the Post . A nurse told her that if she cooperated and took the medication they gave her , she would be out in a shorter time period . She said she was given Risperdal , which is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder , and Klonopin , used to treat panic disorder . Taylor told the post that they had to line up and take their pills , 'just like in the movie Cuckoo 's Nest ' . She was finally able to reach her mom , who came to the hospital to get her out of the ward . Taylor is now suing Syracuse University , a university employee and St Joseph 's Hospital for misdiagnosing and improperly treating her , negligent and harmful use of medication and failure to get informed consent , among other reasons , the lawsuit states , according to the Daily Orange . Marc Held , Taylor 's lawyer who filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court , said her treatment was 'unfathomable ' . The lawsuit claims that the 'unlawful , negligent and otherwise improper confinement ' , caused Taylor to suffer 'personal indignities ' . Taylor has since left Syracuse and transferred to Rutgers University . Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz , senior vice president and dean of student affairs , said in a statement to the Daily Orange that the university 'strongly support the medical professionals and staff in the center ' . In November 2014 the university announced they were in the process of searching for a new psychiatric provider and since has hired additional staff . Syracuse 's attorney Matthew Larkin , however , told the Post that the university 'denies that it acted inappropriately in any way ' . A St Joseph 's spokesman would n't comment due to patient privacy and pending litigation .
Kaitlin Taylor went to the Syracuse University health center as a sophomore in September 2013 . She had flu-like symptoms , including a fever , cough , phlegm and congestion . While waiting for medication , she told a counselor that she wanted to change her major and take a leave of absence from school . She was sent to St Joseph 's Hospital 's emergency room with no medication . After speaking to a psychiatrist and not being treated she was sent to an 'observation room ' for six days and given antipsychotic medications . Taylor is now suing university and hospital for improper treatment . University attorney claims school 'denies that it acted inappropriately '