You need legal advice on this. Hopefully someone here is a lawyer. I don't think so though. Isnt' that what HIPPA is all about????

from what ive been told, its none of thier business. If you want to tell them bout your treatment thats fine but they have no legal right to any notes or anything

i honestly dont think they can do that... its confidential... it may be different if the therapist isnt a doctor...but it should still be confidential. they have the right to know you are going to therapy but the notes are none of their business.....good luck with this! i hope it works out

heppa law is to protect you. your employeer needs your permission to get your medical records. know that for fact had a freind that dealt with that. only time it would come into play if your job had you around people or druggs. by people i mean a police officer teacher where you could be a danager

I used to work in the medical field. If you signed a general release for your employer/therapist to communicate then yes they can see them. If the release is specific and only states that they can see this or that and they are not listed then no they can not. Not knowing what your situation is you might want to discuss this with your therapist and possibly a lawyer.

oh hell no, my lawyer is even having a hard time getting mine. You are protected by confidentialty, they can not and will not give your notes to them. They can not even state why you were there without your permission. I've was on fMLA for years, no one needs your notes, just a daignosis. Don't worry, they can't by law break you confidentility. Your have rights, and as long was you don't threaten to harm yourself or others, what you say, stays with the therapist.

There would be some unemployed medical people and therapist if mine was ever broken without my consent.And, it better have a notary seal on it. Generalized constent forms should be illegal, and I don't think that goes for this, May get them a diagnois, but that is all.

I just checked my release form and it is very general. Nothing at all as far as details and If i didn't sign it I would not be approved. If i wanted the company to have access to my deepest darkest thoughts and secrets i would have just posted them on the website. I just never even considered them being able to have access to something so personal. And how in the world could you ever prove that they used that information against you if it ever came down to that? thank you all for your input.. keep it coming :)

I would assume canadian law would be slightly different than american law.... either way... they have no right to see your file! Stay strong. We are here if you need us....

if u signed a release form then they can have your files....did u read the release form carefully before signing it? theres a confidentiality agreement so normally they won't give out your information unless your going to urt someone or yourself.

Therapist and mental health official take confidentiality very seriously. They spent a lot of years working for their title; and, believe me, they will not risk losing it.

FMLA only requires general information on a form signed by the doctor. NOT your private notes.

such as: Name of illness, Length of illness, how long you are expected to be off work, could it return, or be what is referred to as "intermittant" you really want that where work is concerned". Any visit to the therapist can then be logged as FMLA. Those visits can eat up some hours.

I had one doctor answer the form like this, he really hated where I worked.

Length of illness--

doctors reply, "how the hell should I know, am I God?".

And, it went through.

How would you know, ask for a copy of your personal file and anything in it. (pertaining to this incident) Make sure you keep copies of all documentation that you give to them, now and in the future. Start your own file. You never know when you might need it for disability. I never though I would, am now in big mess.

OK.. so i was thinking i was screwed because i was forced to sign such a vague release form. but i found this on the American Psychiatric Association website
Requests to release medical records to a third party such as an insurance company, employer, or government agency must be accompanied by a permission form signed by the patient authorizing release of the information. Unfortunately, a patient has little choice
but to sign the form if he/she wants to be reimbursed.

In these cases, information disclosed should be limited to the minimal amount of information necessary for the purpose at hand, and the consent only should be valid for a limited period of time.

The American Psychiatric Association is unwavering in its support of patients right to privacy with respect to their medical records. The American Psychiatric Association Guidelines on Confidentiality state, The patients consent to the release of information from his or her medical record should be informed and given freely, without threat or coercion. For their consent to be informed, patients should have an appreciation of the nature and content of the information to be released, the purposes for which it will be used, the manner in which it will be protected, and the extent to which any of the information be redisclosed to other parties.

NOBODY GETSTO SEE ANYTHING! it's $25,000 fine for the employer to even ask!... call a lawyer right now!

Like others have said, it'll jsut be the bare minimum. They wont know your secrets so try not to worry too much.
But yes, do try to keep a record of all signed documentation that goes between you and your employer.

Well they ok'd my FMLA but won't "certify" it which means they won't pay me because me and health care provider refused to provide what they requested. I am in a union shop and a grievance filing started before the official email was sent. I've looked up some lawyers but i guess i'll give the union a chance to see what they can do. Meanwhile i am out 3 days pay and even more stressed than before. I've left a message for my therapist to have her write a letter for the union. I am so prepared to fight this hard. I think the company is way wrong in even asking for this kind of thing. It's flat out none of their business. My therapist offered to answer any questions they might have but every note she made on me is not right at all. I'll try to keep updates in my journal if anyone is interested. Thanks to everyone for your advice!!!!!