Posted by Dinah on May 4, 2003, at 14:38:32
In reply to Re: Stealing medical records?? » stjames, posted by WorryGirl on May 4, 2003, at 9:50:52
Depending on your state, you can certainly request copies. In my state, there is the ability for the doctor to refuse to release psych records but only if releasing them would be harmful to the patient. And I think they have the burden of proof there. Also, I believe they're required to keep your records for a certain number of years, so a few months later shouldn't be a problem. You will probably have to pay a fee.
I asked for my records from one pdoc and will probably do the same with this one when he retires. I don't think I want to see my therapist's records ever although he claims that he writes very little down, and only makes enough notes to satisfy clinic guidelines. He's read them back to me on occasion, and they seem to be general "client is upset today" or "client is upbeat today" comments, and notes on medication and sleep. External sorts of things. But we discussed note taking when we were talking about a fill in, and it apparently varies widely. Some take notes after session, some write everything down, some take only cursory notes. (I insisted on a cursory note taker.)
But it can be upsetting, so make sure you really want to see them. My pediatric therapy records have long since been destroyed, but just the notes in my pediatric general file were enough to take up several sessions with my therapist. And enough for me to track down my former psychiatrist and ask him what he might have meant by some of what he said. (He was a good sport about it, bless him.)
poster:Dinah
thread:223854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030426/msgs/224268.html