Posted by Seedwoman on March 29, 1999, at 14:38:42
In reply to Re: Medical Records, posted by Elaine on March 28, 1999, at 17:59:00
Speaking from my perspective as a patient: I have thought about requesting to see my records, but I don't think I will. I've read enough of the psychiatric literature to know something about the language and format in which clinical information is presented. Being a scientist myself, I understand why this is so and it doesn't bother me...however, I have a strong, warm relationship with my psychiatrist and I *know* that seeing my deepest fears & most distorted perceptions translated into jargon would hurt my feelings because it would seem so impersonal. I would rather have him tell me about treatment plans, diagnoses, therapeutic strategies, etc. We have done it this way so far and it works for me. If I have technical questions, I just ask.
Trust is essential and with the right therapist it's an important lesson learned. Then again, one has to be informed and if one feels left in the dark, this is a threat to the therapeutic relationship.
why not simply offer to answer a patient's questions, in detail if requested, and then explain in a straightforward way why you think it's a bad idea for the patient to actually read the chart? if the patient insists and is "competent" to make the decision (I'm not sure how that would be determined), I'm not sure it would be appropriate to resist further, even if it's permitted by law.
my personal view, perhaps because I have a therapist/Dr. whom I trust completely (after roughly four years of working at it), is that all therapeutic decisions should be made on the basis of what will help the patient to grow in the direction of improved health, whatever that entails at the moment. I trust my therapist's advice because I know he adheres to this principle. so what if he's wrong sometimes; he's human. we make decisions together for the most part. there are things I don't want to know because they would at present be possibly harmful, but this may change in the future. Psychotherapy, like Tai Chi, is about change.
Seedwoman
poster:Seedwoman
thread:3230
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/4155.html