CPA review, and asking about meds questions

cest.la.vie · 06-09-2008, 11:59 PM

Sorry to bother you all, just a quick question -
After I have a CPA review, a letter is sent round to a bunch of people (me, my mum, GP, consultant and so on) saying what has happened, how I'm doing etc. I was just wondering, if I asked to speak to my consultant on the unit confidentially about something, would he still have to put it in the letter? Or would he have to tell my consultant at home?
It's just that, I trust him more with some things and I don't want it to get back to other people, if that makes sense.

Also, I've been on meds for depression/sleep in the past, and I think that it would be helpful to try them again, but I'm not sure how to bring it up with my doctor. I don't know why but I just feel stupid asking to be put back on them. Any ideas on what to say to her?

Any help would be great xxxx

cest.la.vie · 07-09-2008, 06:33 AM

Thank you for replying.
I am over 16, and I'm not 'at risk' so I think it should be confidential - but I don't want him to tell my other consultant (he's more understanding, whereas she has a tendancy to overreact). Is he obliged to tell her because she's one of my doctors? It's nothing serious, just a general 'I'm finding things hard' kind of thing.

I don't know why really, I just feel embarrassed asking about it. Asking a general question is a good idea, and that way I guess I judge how she'll react before I ask
xxxx

loopylucy08 · 07-09-2008, 06:54 AM

Mental health professionals are allowed to share information about cases within their "team", without breaking confidentiality rules. This is because communication and keeping members of the treatment team informed is essential to your care. If you imagine that all of them are part of a machine to make you well, if one of the cogs starts working away from the others, the whole thing breaks down. The thing is if for example ( and this is a very basic example) if I went to my GP and said " I think Im going to commit suicide, but dont tell my consultant", this immediately puts my GP in a fix. She is a generalist and doesnt really have the specialist expertees to deal with me and so it puts her under a lot of pressure. If I was to carry out my threat, and she hadnt told the consultant, she could be in a lot of trouble. Plus if the consultant knew, I might warrent a different or more serious treatment, whereas if the consultant went on thinking I was hunky dory and the GP went on thinking I was suicidal, you've got two professionals working on the same person at effectively opposite ends of the spectrum, which is not going to benefit you or your care.

You could try discussing with the consultant you trust your feelings about the other consultant and see what he/she says, he may be able to help you find away around this.

sherlock holmes · 07-09-2008, 11:43 AM

Your consultant would keep it confidential from your mum, but he might tell the other members of your team. You should ask him if you told him something in confidence would he have to share it with the team.

About the medication, it's not stupid to ask. But if you are scared of asking then maybe write it down and give it to your doctor?