Confidentiality & Privacy Policy

The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychiatrist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission.

Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

Patient’s Rights

• You have the right to privacy and confidentiality regarding your office visits and records.
• You have the right to adequate education and counseling regarding your psychiatric condition.
• You have the right to have all procedures, risks, benefits and alternatives explained and your questions answered in lay language.
• You have the right to have medications' effectiveness and possible side effects explained to you.
• You have the right to see results of tests and have the meaning of tests explained to you.
• You have the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and the right to receive information on alternatives and consequences of refused treatment.
• You have the right to review your medical records and have them explained.
• You have the right to decide whether or not to participate in clinical research studies.

Patient’s Responsibilities

• Patients have the responsibility to give honest, accurate and complete medical history information.
• Patients have the responsibility to make sure that they understand what the doctor is saying and if not, ask questions for clarification.
• Patients have the responsibility to follow their doctor's medical advice and instructions.
• Patients should report any significant changes in their health to their doctor.
• Patients should keep appointments or cancel in advance because failure to do so prevents other patients from being seen.
• Patients have the responsibility to understand their own insurance benefits, mental health coverage, co-payment, and / or deductible and are responsible to obtain referrals and initial authorizations.