There are things you can do to convince doctors to talk with you when your loved one has a mental health crisis. That’s because there are times when doctors are allowed to talk with caregivers without consent. But, they have to believe doing so would be best for your loved one.
It’s a pretty common scenario. A family member contacts a treatment provider about a loved one with mental illness, only to be told, “I can’t speak with you – HIPAA prohibits it.” In reality, though, there are many ways HIPAA permits doctors to talk with caregivers.
As the parent of a young adult with mental health issues, I’m no stranger to the hospital psychiatric unit. I’m usually numb with worry, waiting for information about my daughter. Of course, providers don’t share any information. This is because my daughter won’t . . .