strange situation

[finalpsychyear]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Seeing a 16.5 yo for adhd and depression and the parents are divorced. Dad claims the mom is very cunning and stated she is borderline and child has chose to live with dad as she feels she cannot get along with mom and the child has confirmed this in our sessions 1x1 many times. The custody is shared between parents. Dad has been coming to all appts and mom is not involved. My office got a call that mom just found out about her daughter seeing a psychiatrist (even though the bills go to her house) and said something along the lines that he is not allowed to take her to a psychiatrist based on the terms of their divorce and my staff said she (mom) first tried to "pretend" that she wanted to become a new patient and then revealed she just wants information about her daughter's progress.

What exactly am I obligated to reveal here to mom who i have never seen in person? "She is not suicidal or homicidal and has been improving in her mood and adhd symptoms." It is my understanding everything else is confidential between the patient and myself.

Please advise.

 

[wolfvgang22]

Do not reveal anything until you know more. This situation is why you should require a copy of the court custody agreement before ever seeing a child or adolescent. It will spell out which parents have the ability to provide medical and psychiatric care to the child. You should decline to continue evaluation and treatment until the parents provide you a copy of the custody agreement. You can refer them to another clinic or psychiatrist if they decline.

Once you know who has rights to seek psychiatric care for the child, have the one with rights sign a consent to provide info to the other parent if he or she desires to do that. If they have full joint custody and it says they both have right to seek psychiatric care for the child that is not necessary. Offer to meet with the whole family regarding treatment planning if they are agreeable to that.

 

[michaelrack]

The OP's question has 2 aspects: 1) what to do in a divorce situation with uncertain custody, and 2) what to tell a parent about a minor child's psychiatric condition (confidentiality for child psychiatric treatment).

# 2 is state law specific

 

[DD214_DOC]

Does anyone know of any case law to reference for this exact thing? I'm constantly fighting admin on this, who insist the patient be seen regardless for the sake of customer satisfaction and RVU. Usually in the guise of, "at least see them briefly for a safety check" despite no known safety concerns up to that point.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[michaelrack]

What Can Parents Do? A Review of State Laws Regarding Decision Making for Adolescent Drug Abuse and Mental Health Treatment