[skeye]

I've recently been Dx with Psychotic Disorder NOS by a psychologist. She wants me to see a psychiatrist and to discuss meds. I'm not too sure about that. I'm afraid the psychiatrist may Dx me something with more of a stigma or want a hospitalization or something for "observation", etc. I still haven't made up my mind if I'll contact one or not. I don't really think I need meds, as I can function on my own - I think I'd rather just have coping mechanisms. But ....
1. Can she force me to see a psychiatrist?
2. Can I be forced to take meds if a psychiatrist thinks I need to, even tho I may not be a harm to myself or others?
3. Does voluntary hospitalization follow you on records - background checks, etc....anything I may need for a job, schooling or certifications, etc in the US?
4. Does INvoluntary hospitalization follow you on records - background checks, etc....anything I may need for a job, schooling or certifications, etc in the US?
5. Can anyone else, beyond law officials access my mental records? Or does the label Schizo. or Psychotic automatically de-qualify me for certain types of jobs, etc, in the US? And if so, how do they get those records?

[Perna]

Don't know. Found this interesting piece:

http://www.progress.org/fold265.htm

I think a hospitalization would follow you in medical records and they can sometimes be germane to imployers (my girlfriend had breast cancer, changed jobs and didn't tell her new employer. The new employer's health insurance prices went way up because of her and, naturally, he had a right to know/was told why).

If you are an adult (18 or older) the therapist cannot force you into treatment including hospitalizations unless you are a danger to yourself (suicidal, self injury) or a danger to others (threatening to harm others or hurting others)

No a psychiatrist cannot force people over the age of 18 to take medications unless they are a danger to themselves and or others. if the person is a danger to themselves and or others the psychiatrist can and most do hostitalize and or court action to have the person who is a danger to themselves and or others legally bound to taking medication.

But they cannot have you committed or arrested just for not taking medication.

Hospital records Volluntary and involluntary do follow the person but are not available to the genteral public unless the person signs a release of information form giving their boss, teacher and so on permission to see those files. Those that have access to medical records without permission is the courts and police, DHS agencies for example My child went into foster care and so DHS had access through the court to get my medical and mental health records. They were also given access through the court to my childs health records.

If you have been police escourted to a hospital for involuntary commitment and the boss does a background check (police records check) then it will appear as you were involuntarily transported to the hospital but will not contain any information as to what went on during the hospitalization just what the police log says about you when they were called to transport you.

No one will know what your diagnosis is unless you tell them when applying for a job unless you were police escourted and it was disclosed to the police what your diagnosis was as a part of why you were being transported to the hopsital and the job does a police back ground check to make sure you are not a criminal, terrorist and so on.

Everything is now computerized. here in my appartment complex they do background checks. the manager types in the persons social security number into their computer to the local police department data base for varifying who the person is and to make sure the person doesn't have any outstanding warrents and so on. The police send back a fax stating whether of not the person has a police record and if so what for.

[Sarah116]

You have come to a very great place! I hope you are doing great and find PC useful. From what I have heard MH records are private unless you are missing or like a suspect for something really big such as blowing up a building or killing someone. I have heard of happy places with nice Psychiatrists and other places with naughty Psychiatrists. it just depends on if they are naughty or nice. If you go to www.cchr.com you can learn more about that. You can also talk with your GP. Let us know how you are doing and feel free to vent when you want to. the nice thing about PC is that people are so caring, supportive, helpful and on the right boards funny.

[skeye]

I want to thank you all for your replies on this. It is much appreciated. I was feeling a bit paranoid about it all, but this board and some more internet research helped a bit. I did make that psychiatric appt. my psychologist wanted me to for later this week. I'll see what he has to say. Oh...he's a Dr. of Osteopath (DO not MD), too, so that should be interesting.

[Sarah116]

Yes it should,
Let us know how it goes if you want and remember when you are down and need someone to talk to or your shrinks are not helping....... feel free to vent on PC. Good luck and God bless!