Question for nurse

[eagle18]

Upon seeing a new pain management Dr. I was told that I would be seen and treated only if I also saw a pain psychiatrist who would consult with the pain doc about my treatment. At the time nothing seemed unusual about this arrangement and I agreed. During my last visit with the pain doc, the Dr. mentioned an evaluation made by the psychiatrist about my mental condition. Am I mistaken or isn't the info between the shrink and myself confidential? Furthermore, how can they confer about my treatment in the first place given my understanding about confidentiality. Is the psychiatrist allowed to disclose any info about me to anyone else?


Thank You

[rfbdorf]

You were told that the psychiatrist would consult with the pain doc, and agreed to that. In order for that to happen, they have to talk.
My wife's pain doc suggested that she see a psychologist (not conditional on treatment, as yours apparently was) - it has been helpful. Talk therapy is always slow - there's no procedure or pill that has effect within hours, as with most branches of medicine - so it can seem like nothing is happening for a long time. But it can help.
Just remember they're both on your side.
- Richard

[JGNI]

When a doc refers you to another one for consultation, he always gets a report of that consultation, that's the point, he wants advice from a colleague to treat you better.

[firesmurf]

JGNI is right about the referred consult.any doc that sends you to another is entitled to a report on what they found.i see five sepereate specialists just to treat the multitude of ongoing crap that I have going on in this body and there is always a "new' update in my primarys file on my latest visit with one of the other docs.this is not unusual at all.

the one thing I did want to mention to you tho is that you can get a copy of this report that was sent to your PM but you would have to go thru the originating doc not the recpient doc.for some reason(legally?) i guess the recipient doc isn't allowed to give out any info that comes from another doc but the doc who wrote it ,well thats different.although,my primary and i have such a very long history that he lets me get copies of everything and anything from the other docs.he knows that I am fully aware of all of my bizarre conditions and has no problem in giving them to me,but this is a big exception to that rule.just contact that docs office regarding wanting a copy of that report,you are entitled to it as the patient.it would give you some great insight as to what these two are discussing about you.good luck with this new PM,i certainly hope he can help with your pain.please let us know how things go,K?marcia