Posted by Dinah on October 6, 2002, at 13:58:50
In reply to Reposted: Can I Legally See My Doctor's Records??, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2002, at 14:15:56
I've asked for copies of all my psych records except for the one that was affiliated with my therapist (I was afraid I would see something that would jeopardize the therapeutic relationship). That was pdoc#1, who I did not like and I did not think had a good idea of how to treat me.
In our state, you can see all medical records but pdocs have a special exemption from disclosing them to you if they think it will be harmful to you. I think they have to have a reason that will hold up legally though.
However, my suggestion is that anyone be careful about transferring records from doctor to doctor without seeing them first. Especially if you don't like the treatment your former pdoc has been prescribing. When I left pdoc #1, I had him forward my records to pdoc #2, a highly respected doctor in this area. Pdoc #2 basically continued pdoc #1's treatment, conceptualized my problems in the same way, and his only suggestion was to add on an antipsychotic. I still didn't feel like my meds were helping, so I switched to pdoc #3.
I didn't have my records transferred to pdoc #3 so he didn't have any preconceived notions about me. He immediately saw that my problems were cyclical in nature and prescribed a mood stabilizer on the first visit. And that has proved to be the best solution for me. But I wonder if I had transferred my records before he saw me if he would have had that fresh perspective?
poster:Dinah
thread:30677
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020924/msgs/30866.html