Source: https://adinasilvestri.com/privacy-policy/
Timestamp: 2020-02-17 03:22:04
Document Index: 99181

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 32', '§ 20', '§ 16']

Privacy Policy - Adina Silvestri
As a rule, I will disclose no information about you, or the fact that you are my patient, without your written consent. My formal Mental Health Record describes the services provided to you and contains the dates of our sessions, your diagnosis, functional status, symptoms, prognosis and progress, and any psychological testing reports. Health care providers are legally allowed to use or disclose records or information for treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes.However, I do not routinely disclose information in such circumstances, so I will require your permission in advance, either through your consent at the onset of our relationship (by signing the attached general consent form), or through your written authorization at the time the need for disclosure arises. You may revoke your permission, in writing, at any time, by contacting me.
There are some important exceptions to this rule of confidentiality – some exceptions created voluntarily by my own choice, [some because of policies in this office/agency], and some required by law. If you wish to receive mental health services from me, you must sign the attached form indicating that you understand and consent to accept my policies about confidentiality and its limits. We will discuss these issues now, but you may reopen the conversation at any time during our work together.
· Health Oversight: [For licensed psychologists and social workers:] Virginia law requires that I report misconduct by a mental health care provider of my own profession. By policy, I also reserve the right to report misconduct by health care providers of other professions. [For Counselors:Virginia law requires that licensed counselors report misconduct by any mental health care provider.] ( See licensing board regulations ). By law, if you describe unprofessional conduct by another mental health provider of any profession, I am required to explain to you how to make a report to the licensing board ( § 54.1-2400.4 ). If you are yourself a health care provider, I am required by law to report to your licensing board if I believe your condition places the public at risk ( § 54.1-2400.7 ). Virginia Licensing Boards have the power, when necessary, to subpoena relevant records for investigating a complaint of provider incompetence or misconduct.
· Court Proceedings: If you are involved in a court preceding and a request is made for information about your diagnosis and treatment and the records thereof, such information is privileged under state law, and I will not release information unless you provide written authorization or a judge issues a court order (§ 8.01-399; § 8.01-400.2 ). If I receive a subpoena for records or testimony, I will notify you so that you (or your attorney, or I ) can file a motion to quash (block) the subpoena and can give reasons why I think your records should be protected from disclosure [Clinicians: for reasons you can cite, see paragraph H-6 in § 32.1-127.1:03 and the lists elsewhere on this site). However, while awaiting the judge’s decision, I am required to place said records in a sealed envelope and provide them to the Clerk of Court. NOTE: In Virginia civil court cases, therapy information or records are not protected by patient-therapist privilege in child abuse cases, in cases in which your mental health is an issue (e.g., if you sue someone for mental/emotional damages), or in any case in which the judge deems the information to be “necessary for the proper administration of justice.” In criminal cases, Virginia has no statute granting therapist-patient privilege, although records can sometimes be protected on another basis. Protections of privilege may not apply if I do an evaluation for a third party or where the evaluation is court- ordered. You will be informed in advance if this is the case.
· Records of Minors: Virginia has a number of laws that limit the confidentiality of the records of minors. For example, parents, regardless of custody, may not be denied access to their child’s records ( § 20-124.6 ); and CSB evaluators in civil commitment cases have legal access to therapy records without notification or consent of parents or child ( § 16.1-342 ). Other circumstances may also apply, and we will discuss these in detail if I provide services to minors. [Clinician: On this site, also see discussion of minors’ confidentiality rights under HIPAA and Virginia law; discussion of how custody agreements might affect divorced parents’ right to seek mental health services for their child; and a Sample Adolescent Consent Form, to be signed by minor and parent]