Connie - re laws in Ontario Canada

[Guest guest]

Yep. We do things different up here in Canada......... It is also

different in every province.

It is the law that a child 16yrs and over, being treated for a mental

illness, has privacy rights. Unless papers are signed, by law the

psychologist cannot disclose any information to us, the parents. The

patient can actually sue the doctor if they do disclose info. It has

been crazy making to say the least!!!

I would not have a problem with it at the age of 18, but our son had

just turned 16 when he entered a program for 16 - 18 yr olds, and was

really more like a 13yr old.

We do meet with the psychiatrist involved and a supervising

psychologist and have general conversations about things, but in

terms of the ocd or incidents that happen etc it is confidential.

I am very invested in having this law changed. Unless it happens to

you directly people don't understand the impact of this law.

Barb

>

> Barb,

> I found your comment about not being included in therapy

> interesting. We have a 17 yr old son who has recently been

diagnosed

> with OCD and recently started ERP/CBT. We have already sat in on a

> couple of his sessions. His therapist mentioned that because of

his

> age most of the time it is not necessary for us to sit in on the

> sessions; however, we are welcome to sit in if we like. She let us

> know there will be times when she definitely will want us in on the

> session. I am not sure why your therapist would tell you that you

> could not sit in unless your child signs papers giving permission.

If

> I recall, you mentioned you are from Ontario. Maybe the rules are

> different in Ontario. I am from St. Louis area. But, I would

question

> the therapist about it.

>

> Connie

>