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Old Apr 09, 2013, 09:47 PM
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archipelago archipelago is offline
Grand Poohbah
 
Member Since: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,773
I don't want to argue the details of the law here. I've gotten years and years worth of files summarized adequately though I had to give permission for extra time. So it's not necessarily true that a summary is worthless. In this case, though I did want to see the actual files, and could have if I petitioned for them, the summary was more useful.

In the case of psychological testing there are probably very different rules, but I still believe you are entitled to see the report. I myself have taken the MMPI-2 and also given it to others. It's a slightly outdated test so needs interpretation. For instance, one time I gave the person who appeared to be well-adjusted without any complaints scored high on certain things, but then in follow-up it was clear that because he was an unconventional creative writer his scores on those areas looked pathological when they were actually integrated into his overall personality and useful to society as an artist. So I say again that those tests can't be used without interpretation which depends upon a close interview and a follow-up of critical questions. I know that you do sign a confidentiality agreement when you take these tests, but I don't know the laws governing the results. They are usually handled by a psychologist, not an MD or MFT, so it seems it would be easy to look up what governs these tests and what you are allowed to know about them. I would suspect, but don't know for sure, that similar kinds of laws about client privilege would apply. That may not mean that you get the direct results. Again you may get a summary of some kind, but you are entitled to that. it is affecting your life. They can't just give you tests and tell you to go to therapy without letting you know a single thing about it. That just sounds plain wrong to me.