Confidentiality question

[Rosa]

can't find the therapy board so I'll just post this here..i was wondering, you now how everything that takes place (with a few exceptions) in therapy is confidential....how does this work when your doctor is away and they leave a message on their voice mail saying to call doctor so and so in case of an emergency....does that mean doctor so and so knows about you to? I just wondered how that works.
as always
Rosa

 

[momof5]

Re: confidentialty question

Hi Rosa, that is an interesting question.

I would think that the service that the doc has would be one that is totally trusted. Knowing the sensitivity of things that would be called in for an emergency.

 

[foghlaim]

Re: confidentialty question

Hi Rosa: over here the doc "on call" doesn't know anything but that's gp's. I can't imagine a therapist disclosing your info to another therapist unless you had given him permission to do so. in the case of emergency i would imagine that the therapist who is "on call" would do exactly the same as your own therapist, and that is listen, suggest and\or advise and maybe make a note for your usual therapist. a psychiatrist might if needed prescribe emergency meds.
that is what i would hope would happen if i had to have an emergency apt.

don't know if any of this is in any way helpful.

your friend
nsa

 

[David Baxter PhD]

nsa is correct.

Usually, any health care professional will have a trusted backup for when s/he's away. However, your file and information remains with your doctor or therapist, and the backup doctor will also be bound by the same rules of confidentiality.

 

[Rosa]

thanks for your replys... i didn't know how this worked.
In friendship
Rosa

 

[Steven_v]

what if you want them to know whats in your file cause it would be to stressfull and long to explain it all to the emergency dr

 

[ThatLady]

I'm pretty sure you can sign a release that will allow your doctor to share your file with another therapist.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Yes, ThatLady is correct. You sign the authorization to release information and your old doctor will send it to your new doctor.