‘He called your HUSBAND?’: Ohio woman plays ‘dark joke’ on male OB/GYN. She didn’t expect to get placed on a week-long psychiatric hold as a result

A woman played a “dark joke” on a male OB/GYN. Apparently, the gynecologist did not find the joke humorous and ended up calling her husband, which led to her being placed on a weeklong psychiatric hold.

“ OK, since everyone wants to know, this is the time my husband admitted me to the mental hospital ’cause of a [expletive] doctor,” said Valexia Rodriguez (@valexia85), a TikTok content creator with more than 514,000 followers. She posted on her platform discussing a story from years ago, garnering more than 1 million views after she described the situation.

How her ‘dark joke’ landed her in a psych hold

Rodriguez went into an appointment with a new OB/GYN for a routine checkup. She knew some of the nurses and staff at the office she was visiting, so she felt comfortable enough to be somewhat humorous during her first appointment.

According to Rodriguez, the nurse working with her that day “knew” she had a tendency to make jokes and banter with her doctors. The new OB/GYN, however, did not know this. She told the doctor that something was “fishy” down there and that she had some light concerns about her overall health.

What the doctor didn’t know was that Rodriguez had a small but relatively harmless prank planned for him. She had attached a small “fish clip” of the character Nemo to herself, which he saw when he started his examination. The clip, contrary to what many users may have thought, was made of plastic. It was not a real fish.

“ He pulls up the thing and he just like goes, ‘What the [expletive]?’ And then looks at me, he says, ‘Get out. Seriously, no, I’m not dealing with this.’ And the nurse starts [expletive] cackling and saying, ‘[expletive], you went too far this time,’” Rodriguez recounted.

The OB/GYN walked out of the room and allegedly refused to treat her. She asked if he was still willing to do her pap smear, to which the doctor vehemently refused. Rodriguez was kicked out of the office. She thought that was the end of the situation, but later, it escalated.

How can a dark joke land you in a psych hold?

This “dark joke” was apparently so concerning that the doctor called her husband and recommended a psychiatric hold for her.

“He call[ed] my husband to tell him that I’m no longer welcome there…and then [told] him that I need to be admitted for 72 hours because there’s something wrong with me,” Rodriguez said.

The worst part? Her husband listened to the OB/GYN and thought she was in actual danger. She was placed on a 72-hour hold, which eventually became a weeklong stay in a psychiatric hospital.

When Rodriguez told her therapist about the encounter, the therapist told her that “no one” thinks of jokes like that.

“ I’ve been working with you for years and I have never in my mind heard of something [like that],” the therapist said. Rodriguez claimed that her therapist was “contemplating” what to do with her.

The entire situation confused her, as no one seemed to understand the joke she was making. The “fish clip” was why things seemed “fishy” down there.

“I’m a millennial. We [expletive] do stupid [expletive] like that all the time. But yeah, so that’s what happened. I got, you know, admitted to the hospital again,” she said.

Commenters ask what was so ‘dark’ about her joke

Despite this situation happening “years before,” many commenters felt it was slightly dystopian and archaic.

The joke wasn’t even “dark” to some viewers. Many people thought it was harmless, especially considering that it was a plastic object that was not inserted inside her but was instead “attached” to her.

“Strange? Absolutely. Deserving of a 72 hour hold? Heck no,” said one commenter.

“I’d be getting a divorce if someone forced a 72 hour hold. That joke is funny AF! Not even dark humor,” another commenter added.

Many people felt that the healthcare system betrayed Rodriguez.

@valexia85 Replying to @endinmier #viraltiktok #boricua #valexia85 #comedian #latina ♬ original sound – Valexia85

The OB/GYN—Weaponizing her medical history

It’s possible that her OBGYN weaponized her medical history, as Rodriguez mentioned a prior history of hospitalization. Many people wouldn’t think to suggest a psychiatric evaluation for something as harmless as a “fish” prank, especially if Rodriguez did not suggest that she was going to harm herself or others.

As some commenters pointed out, the doctor’s response was wholly disproportionate to her actions. The fish gag may have been inappropriate for an office setting and may have warranted her being kicked out of the OB/GYN’s practice. But unless there is more context to the story, the doctor’s actions were out of line.

Rodriguez further clarified the situation in a comment, saying, “The doctor didn’t know me, so he thought I was manic and suicidal. He called my husband [with his] concern[s], and told [him] that the medicine that I’m on might contribute to that… My husband [who was] not understanding [the situation] agreed, [as] he was scared to lose me.”

It raises questions about whether the OB/GYN grossly exaggerated details about Rodriguez’s medical state to her husband, who did place her on a psychiatric hold after speaking with the medical professional. Rodriguez’s medication alone probably couldn’t account for “suicidal” or “manic” behavior. Psychiatric holds are typically reserved for severe situations where a person is an imminent threat to themselves or others, so the OB/GYN’s actions were clearly out of line if they’re true to Rodriguez’s story. 

Is Rodriguez’s account of the situation true?

It’s also possible that Rodriguez’s account of the situation doesn’t accurately portray what happened in the office. If she expressed suicidal or manic behavior in the office, it would warrant the OB/GYN’s concerns and the call. It’s unlikely that a “plastic fish gag” alone, alongside her previous medical history, would warrant a discussion with her husband.

The OB/GYN allegedly thought that Rodriguez was experiencing an “episode” based solely on her previous history and the fact that she made the fish joke.

It’s also worth noting that Rodriguez was kept on a weeklong hold. Originally, the OBGYN suggested a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation. After a full psychiatric evaluation, she ended up in the hospital longer. It’s possible, but again unlikely, that a psychiatric team would keep a woman for a full week who expressed zero suicidal or manic thoughts or behaviors and only had a history of episodes.

Does this constitute a HIPAA violation? 

Contrary to some viewers’ perspectives, however, this situation probably doesn’t constitute a HIPAA violation.

It’s likely that Rodriguez had her husband listed on her medical paperwork. If her husband was on her consent forms and the OB/GYN had a genuine concern for her safety and did not tell her husband any additional information, it would not be a HIPAA violation.

Rodriguez later clarified this in the comments, saying that her husband, Derek, had a right to that medical information through her consent forms.

Where is Rodriguez now?

Based on her comments, Rodriguez is still married to her husband, who was simply concerned for her well-being when he placed her on a psychiatric hold. This situation occurred during the “Obama era” — so it happened some years back. She now sees the incident as humorous, despite the fact that the OBGYN may have been out of line during her appointment. 

The Mary Sue has reached out to Rodriguez for comment.

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