Privacy Policy

Confidentiality: The law protects confidentiality; I can release information only with written consent in a patient-clinician relationship. There are a few exceptions. In judicial proceedings, you can prevent me from providing information about your treatment unless I am court-ordered to release information. There are some instances where I am legally required to take action to protect others from harm, even if it requires revealing information about a patient's treatment.

For example, if I believe a child or elderly person is being abused, I must report this to a state agency.

If I believe a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, I must take protective action, which may include notifying the victim police or seeking hospitalization.

If a patient threatens to harm him/herself, I may be required to seek hospitalization for the patient or contact people who can help. These occasions have rarely arisen in my practice, and I will seek ways to discuss them thoroughly before taking action. I may occasionally find it helpful to consult about a case with other professionals. I always conceal identities, and the consultant is ethically bound to maintain

confidentiality. Unless you object, I will not mention these consultations unless it is essential to our work together.

While this is a summary of exceptions to confidentiality, it should prove helpful in informing you of potential problems and encourage you to talk about any concerns. These are all legal issues, and given that I am not an attorney, you may want to seek formal legal consultation.