I need some input everyone, whether it is just my paranoia/insecurity or whether I am correct in being upset.

A few weeks ago I discovered that my T was putting our sessions on his computer under my medical record number. Not just vague generalities, but specific personal info that we had talked about - really, really personal stuff. I was horrified and got so upset in his office that I had cancelled any further appts. with him and started to leave. He stopped me and told me that all certain people with a password could get access, blah, blah....but he did agree to type in from now on that per my request, he was keeping my session notes in his office. This is the first person that I have ever really trusted and the knowledge that anyone in the hospital, including my other doctors, could just pull this stuff up and read it scared me to death. Anyway, I thought that was the end of it. Until today....

I had to go to the hospital today and set up all the prelim stuff for my surgery next Wed. and they gave me my file to take up to Admissions. I started looking thru it, as is my right to know what is in my file, and there they were - hard copies of all our sessions, dating back to 2001. They were open to anyone, nurses, lab techs, etc. to read. Someone looking for my lab results could just read this info as they paged thru the papers.

I freaked out......demanded to have them all removed and said that it was a breach of confidentiality. I have no problem with vague things like, "we met for one hour today and discussed the value of human life.......", but not my innermost thoughts for anyone. I went to a supervisor who said that was a "legal issue" because it is my medical condition. My reply was, "my family info has nothing to do with my physical condition. Why would my back surgeon need to know my private session talks?" I refused to leave the hospital until it was done.

This woman called my T and at first they told her that he was with a client. I told her to tell them the call was from me - and he did take the call. He did tell them to take the papers out, but all they did was put them in a sealed envelope and let me know that they will forward it to the legal dept. and try to work out something with my T. Which is fine, but she only did that after I got upset, esp. since I will be admitted next week and didn't want that stuff out in the open. He had put everything in there, my self-injury - my cutting and previous attempt to OD.

My primary physician's notes are kept in a separate file in his own office, so why should my T's be any different if that is my wish? Those black and white copies were there without my permission.

They told me they will keep them sealed until legal decides. Was I overreacting or within my rights? Thoughts??

Thanks,

Mary Alice