Hi everyone,

I'd like to get some input on this situation. This will be long and I apologize.

To preface my explanation I'd like to acknowledge that I come off as obnoxious on here often. I probably appear to be a very difficult personality to many. I doubt it would be assumed by my behavior on here that I'm mild, meek and let people walk all over me 90% of the time but I do. Not intentionally mind you...but because I forgive bad behaviors towards me easily. I assume people are having a bad day or life and try not to take things personally. On this board however, I'm more open with thoughts and feelings and assert myself frequently. It's anonymous which helps greatly and helps me to share my inner thoughts and feelings with those who understand that life is far from lollipops and rainbows all the time. I probably come off as a very difficult personality on here, but please understand that I'm typically not at all.

I'm trying to decide if I should file a complaint about something and would like your input. I recently lodged a complaint against the ER for treatment I received and KNOW I'm doing the right thing in this case but not positive about this situation. I don't want to be considered a complainer and dismissed but I also want better more considerate care going forward and must make sure others are protected from this kind of stuff happening to them.

I deal with chronic pain and sickness as some of you may know. If it's not one thing, it's another. Since late November, I've been very sick which was making me horribly depressed/suicidal. My husband and I both have watched my patterns and my period plays a big role in how I feel mentally and physically. When I've had "breakdowns" in the past, my period starts within 2 days or I've recently started. Physically and mentally I become very unwell and it seems to start close to 2 weeks before my period, get progressively worse and not ease up until a few days past starting.

I talked with my primary care doc and he recommended an IUD as I have risk factors making the pill a less viable option. I made an appointment with my OBGYN as I needed my yearly exam, needed to discuss the IUD and I also have a rash constantly on my left upper breast, lower legs, feet and unfortunately my private areas. I cancelled my appointment about 5 times because I was too sick to go. Couldn't shower, shave, trim or any of the things I needed to do before this appointment. I had ice packs on my lady parts for weeks to keep myself from maiming myself. I finally get to the doctor and this is what happened:

He walks in the room and makes note of all my cancellations. I explain to him I've been very sick and he sits down next to me with a sheet of paper with my diagnoses boldly displayed "schizoeffective". I didn't like this as I don't agree with this diagnosis but that wasn't too big a deal. When I tell him I've been sick he says "yeah, I looked at the notes from your last appointment with your psychiatrist, have you been taking your medications?" My brain went....WTF!!!!! Reading my psych conversations? I said I'm working on it and proceeded to redirect back to my reasons for coming. The Rash, my yearly exam and the possible PMDD and IUD.

He starts the exam and says "I'm really surprised you don't shave". <---WTF??? I don't know if he was talking about my legs or what but it was uncalled for!!! I almost didn't make it to this appointment for a 6th time because I was embarrassed and ashamed by my lack of "grooming" and it was just an odd thing for him to say while between my legs. Felt awkward to put it mildly. He said I wasn't "red down there" so ignored the itching. I wasn't red because I'd had an ice pack on the area for weeks. He offered nothing for the itching and told me to schedule my IUD with the nurse. I won't go into what happened during the IUD procedure but I feel VIOLATED. Maybe I will talk about that later but it was riddled with problems and possible malpractice. When I went into my GYNO appointment for the IUD, I expressed I was concerned with him reading my psych file. He said it was part of his job and he's required to talk to me about it once per year and we got that part over with until 2018.

Should my Gyno be allowed to read the details of my psych record? I feel violated. I've discussed personal, PRIVATE things that I had a hard enough time telling 1 person about.....let alone anyone with access to a computer in their building. Can my othomologist read these files? The nosey lab tech? The janitor? I think a complaint should be filed. My trust is shattered and it was already hanging on by a thread.

What do you think? Am I making something out of nothing? We're my rights violated cause it sure feels that way. Thanks for reading if you got this far.

[ReptileInYourHead]

Hey Elsa

I would suggest that you find out if all doctors that are treating you have legal access to your psych files. Perhaps they feel it is all somehow related.
Expressing how you feel is your right, but there may be no point putting in a formal complaint until you know if there was actual malpractice.

Thanks Reptile. That is what my friend suggested. She is betting he didn't have a right to this and feels strongly that I missed several appointments and he got Nosey and went places he shouldn't within my file. How would I find out if he has the right to this? Call the hospital and ask?

Even if this behavior is condoned via hospital policy, I feel strongly that it should not be. I've been able to share very little in way of what has happened to me and dislike it being in a "file" to begin with. The only thing that kind of helps is knowing this is between me and the doctor I share it with. I thought they took an oath or something. My trust is shattered. I feel a complaint should be made regardless. If this is their policy, it shouldn't be.

[Nammu]

Maybe it's just me but I think it's good that all my docs know all parts of my files. I was down in TX where none of the docs had access to each other even though I tried to get them to talk to each other. Now I'm in MN and all docs have access to the same info and I feel they are better informed and see me as a whole person and are not making choices in a void.

[Gabyunbound]

I used to receive care at the hospital where I worked. When I expressed concern to my pdoc about my privacy because of this, he showed me the computer and showed me how you had to go through two screens to get to psych notes (that essentially said ' do you REALLY want to see this'). This made me feel better. Until I found out that my pain doctor -at the same hospital- had been reading my T notes (!) and came out with some things my T had said about me. I was embarrassed and pissed but didn't say anything. I admire you for potentially taking this further.

I can say that according to law ONLY people who NEED (clinically) to read your medical record may do so. If you have nothing to do with that person's care, you may not read it. But that's meant more for people not treating you. It's frankly hard to say if your gyn can read your psych notes. If he felt he needed to for your treatment (and I guess could make that argument, i.e. checking notes to see if moods coincided with your period) I guess it can make sense.

That aside, it sounds like he treated you like crap, and I would definitely look for another gyn. No right on earth to treat you like he did. I don't know what happened with the IUD, but I actually had a horrendous experience with that too.

I would check with the patient representative (or advocate, they're called different things in different hospitals). You can lodge a complaint through them that goes to the gyn's boss. They can also tell you if it was appropriate, under the rules of that hospital, for your gyn to look at your psych notes. In any case, that's the road I'd take if I wanted to go forward with it.

Best of luck! You don't deserve to be treated that way and please don't feel bad about following up on it!

[ReptileInYourHead]

Else, you do what you feel is right.

I can see doctors sharing files, but psych reports can alter the way a dr may treat a patient.
A dr should assess the physical signs and make a diagnosis, the psychology should be left to the psychologist.

Nammu, I agree that my primary should know SOME details. I'm fine with my Gyno seeing my DX and medications but NOT ok with him snooping through my conversations with my psychiatrist at all. That is too personal and doesn't contain any useful information for him. I'm not sure I will ever be able to trust the psychology department again which leave me stuck in a way I shouldn't be. If people like their gynecologist being allowed to snoop through trauma history they should sign a waiver or tell their Gyno directly. I for one, do not want him or any other Gyno to do this. It's like taking your car in for repairs and them snooping through your suitcase....then telling you it's all part of the job or something.

[TishaBuv]

It sounds like a HIPAA violation to me for him to look at your psych records. There will be evidence that he accessed your records on the computer. For what reason did the gyn need to read your file? Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!

Plus, the crack about not being shaved is totally unacceptable.

[TishaBuv]

I once tried to go to a new gyn and I walked out of her office without letting her examine me, crying, because they were unprofessional and underhanded.

I phoned in a complaint and waiting to hear back. Sounds like he wasn't suppose to do that and they are investigating and will get back to me with resolution.

Thanks for being proud of me Gaby! It was that statement alone which helped me make the call.

I'm so sorry that happened Trish and I agree it's a violation. (((Hugs)))

To clarify, he did all this before I mentioned the PMDD diagnosis and symptoms. He had no right and when I called the psychiatric department the lady was shocked to hear what happened, said it doesn't sound right, transferred me to the manager who also said it wasn't right and now they are investigating, informing him not to do this again and I will find out the full resolution after the investigation.

How did he have access to your psych files? Are the files on some kind of shared computer system or something? My doctors don't have access to each other's files at all unless I fill out a release and they fax them after the release is signed.

Thanks Lefty. So far, the only thing I've found out is that *NO* he should not have done any of this. I'm pretty sure I can do more than just get over it but that is on the agenda as well.

The janitor could be working for some J. Edgar Hoover esque type for all I know and it's bullcrap if anyone other than those in that department know about my psych records. It's personal. Medications? Yes. Specific conversations? No.

I missed 5 appointments because I was too sick to get ready. Some women might go to this type of appointment when they are too sick to clean themselves and groom but I doubt many would. That would have opened up a whole new world of judgments and accusations slung.

I've talked about maybe 2% of what I need to talk about in psych. Now, I will share nothing with them. This is far too damaging to continue. He broke their policy and I'm the one who pays the price. It's not right.

Of course he had access to your psych files. They go with you from doctor to doctor to healthcare provider to healcare provider. I have my various healthcare team members ask me about how I'm doing and about my meds all the time.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

How did he have access to your psych files? Are the files on some kind of shared computer system or something? My doctors don't have access to each other's files at all unless I fill out a release and they fax them after the release is signed.

My provider is Kaiser so it's all kinda in house but he did something he was not suppose to do from what the hospital said when I called. I'm suppose to sign a release and I suspected. Why he had access to them I do not know...that is a good question. Fishy business. <--- intentional pun but it really is fishy!

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Of course he had access to your psych files. They go with you from doctor to doctor to healthcare provider to healcare provider. I have my various healthcare team members ask me about how I'm doing and about my meds all the time.

He's not suppose to. I think you perhaps do not understand.

***trigger warning ...read below at own risk****

I'm fine with him knowing the diagnosis and meds but not details. I have massive trauma in my past. He doesnt need this information or the "details". Let me put it in a way you perhaps can understand. My general practitioner is wonderful. He's my doctor, my dads, my moms and oldest son. My dad strangled me with a jump rope. My doctor should not be able to read this. He's my dads doctor too and it's all a conflict of interest. I wouldn't share certain things with my doctors that I share with psychiatrists. Psychiatrists have specialized training to handle and adequately and compassionately respond to me. I'm barely able to trust the psychiatrists with my trauma. They only know a tiny bit and what I share with them, I would'nt share with my Gyno or eye doctor.

Doctors will treat you differently if they know certain things and this could end in death. Psychiatrists have special training that medical doctor do not for a reason.

[Nammu]

Thanks for explaining that, now I understand better what you are talking about. I didn't realize he was accessing the private conversations. I'm so sorry that happened.

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Of course he had access to your psych files. They go with you from doctor to doctor to healthcare provider to healcare provider. I have my various healthcare team members ask me about how I'm doing and about my meds all the time.

Not in the U.S.A. Probably different in countries with national healthcare systems. Not sure what country the OP is in.

It appears some think this is acceptable. For me it's not at all. I've never talked about trauma in group therapy. Wouldn't even consider it and I've been thrown into group therapy MANY times in my near 30 years in the psychiatric system. Some people CAN share in group settings. I can't. I try to help others which can have a therapudic effect but it doesn't help me move forward in the ways I need to. So I've been advocating they STOP putting me in useless groups. They help some people but for someone like me who has HUGE trust issues, it's a ridiculous treatment option. Even with one on one therapy, it's been hard to open up but I'm trying. There are many things I need help moving forward on but just can't "trust". It goes to reason that I don't want just anyone looking at personal details of my life that I've been unable to share for 3 decades!!!! They should intuitively know this if they were real "professionals". When I say my trust has been shattered, I mean it. It's not an exaggeration.

[HALLIEBETH87]

My gun only knows about my meds and diagnosis and whatever I choose to tell him. He will ask how my moods are with my period but nothing super personal. He of course knows about my self-harm. But he never comments on it. He's very professional and compassionate.

Yours just seems rude and inconsiderate of your feelings.

[bizi]

I am so sorry that he did that to you. He is an ***.
I am glad that you complained and they should be able to tell you how he happened to read your personal notes from you pdoc.
He sounded really unprofessional.
So sorry you went thru that. YOu may want to make some notes about what happened and what was said in case you have to refer back to them at a later date.
((((((HUGS))))))
bizi

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I go to a HUGE hospital for my pdoc and have seen various specialties there since things often need run past my pdoc before doing them b/c of my MAOI and that's much easier when they are on the same email system. Their computer system is set up so that my orthopedist can see my gyn notes (not that he would, but there is access. With HipPa in place they can't unless they have a reason but they are not locked out. I don't think that anyone outside of psych can even tell I've had IP psych stays.

On the other hand psych notes are locked up like a bank safe. Nobody but psych can access them and I'm not sure that is true in all instances. When I'm IP my pdoc follows along with the electronic record (she's in another building a few miles away) but I don't think that the IP docs can access my session notes from that same doctor. For a long time IP psych notes were kept in writing after the rest of the hospital had gone electronic and I think that was to help maintain privacy as well.

So at least in my hospital your gyn would not be allowed and would have to be pretty sneaky to get into your records.

Really sorry that happened. Especially the thought you shaved part. Creepy. Hugs.

Thanks Rose. The shaved part was really creepy and embarrassing and shaming. I couldn't believe he said it. It wasn't appropriate. If that was the worst of it, I would have just thought he was awkward and I too sensitive but combined with the many other strange things he told me it all added up to a very creepy and traumatizing event. Needless to say, I've requested a switch to another OB, but this sneaking into my psych records stuff is beyond comprehension. I'm so disgusted right now.

I'm glad to hear other hospitals are diligent in protecting their patients from this type of invasion of privacy. The thing is, the psych department told me I should have been protected too so I don't know exactly what is going on, but they said this should not have happened. I'm thinking they need to outsource my psych care to another facility. I just don't feel safe sharing anything there again. I'm going to try to work past it though. Hopefully they will be able to insure my privacy somehow.

Thanks for helping me move forward on this everyone and sharing your opinions, experience feelings and support.

[bizi]

again so sorry for this trauma, you definitely did not deserve this treatment.
How awful.
((((((HUGS))))))
bizi