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imapatient · Mar 07, 2009, 02:19 PM

Did you sign anything with that T when you met the first time? It might have had a clause in there about sharing info.

IF you're in the US, regulations about that stuff are covered under state laws, differing by state. If the T was an APA credentialed member, that org's regulations play a role, likely to require specific authorization by the Pt.

In my state, both the T and pdoc would need authorization from me to talk about me; it can be dual to authorize both on the same form.

I disagree with some of this from ECHOES:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECHOES

A T who is so lazy as to go to a third party, and to someone who only knows you in one particular context, isn't someone I'd want to see. Sounds like he wanted to take a short cut and possibly knew he had poor T skills to do the getting to know you on his own.

It's common for mental health pros to share info on current and/or former patients. It's done to get one up to speed to provide greater help sooner rather than having to get to know you for X months before really important diagnoses and understanding of Pt might occur. Nothing sinister. I've had T's do it and T's with pdocs, and pdocs with pdocs. It's done to better help you. On an ongoing basis I've had standing agreements with a current T and pdoc so they can check their assessments, judgments, and perspective. Maybe the Pt has told important info to one but not the other. They need to be as well informed as possible. T's usually consult with peers and/or a supervisor to process what they've been doing to get an objective viewpoint regarding not just the patient but themselves and their behavior. My understanding is that, in my State, T's don't share names or other personally identifiable info about their Pt's. To run things by a pdoc can be even better because both T and pdoc know first-hand far more about a Pt than mere peers.

I wouldn't be happy either had it happened without my knowledge, but if you signed something or even gave verbal approval in some states, it's not against any formal rules, other than with a professional association like APA. It sounds like you didn't give verbal approval, but maybe written?

Don't take it so harshly as betrayal; it's done for important, beneficial reasons.