ADHD

Navyman

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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May 4, 2007
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My son is a high school junior and will very soon initiate the application process for a Navy ROTC scholarship. I was hoping to get ahead of the game by accumulating all paperwork related to potential medical issues which could be raised during his DODMERB physical. One such issue is that he was evaluated for and diagnosed with the inattentive form of ADHD. While the doctor discussed meds with us and wrote a prescription in case we wanted to go that route we declined and never had him take any medications to address the matter. Since the impacts of his condition were pretty mild (he's always been an honor student and tests out as gifted) we thought it best to try to address his focus issues and poor organizational skills in other ways.

Since I know that the advice provided on this forum has been to gather all such records together, I contacted the psychiatrist he saw and was able to get a form to have records sent, but since they are technically psychiatric records, they will only send them to the organization who needs them and not to me. Should I just wait until after he has his DODMERB physical and have them sent to wherever they request or is there something more I should do now?

Thanks for any guidance.
 
Once your son has had his physical examination and if DoDMERB requests the records, then I would have the psychiatrists office send the records to DoDMERB.
 
I contacted the psychiatrist he saw and was able to get a form to have records sent, but since they are technically psychiatric records, they will only send them to the organization who needs them and not to me.

Huh? :confused:

Not to derail the thread, but why would the parents of a minor NOT be permitted to see these records?

I'm actually a bit upset at the implications. :mad:
 
It is normal practice for psychiatrists not to release mental health records, even to parents/guardians. There is a whole huge patient confidentiality thing there. Even at DoDMERB we would have a difficult time getting copies of the actual clinical notes. There were some psychiatrists who would only submit an abbreviated summary of treatment.
 
Okay, well.....

I'm not going to hijack any further, but I guarantee you that any shrink who sees my kid and then denies me the records is going to find his ass in court, and I'll mortgage my soul to destroy him if I have to. No one is going to make a psyche record on one of my kids or pump them full of drugs and then tell me, "Nope. Sorry. Can't share anything with you." :mad:

Sorry, Navyman. I'll leave you with the Doc now as I walk off shaking my head in disbelief.... :confused:
 
Z, I'll help you hijack . . .

It's my understanding that medical records are "your" records. You have paid for them, they belong to you. You can have them if you want. I agree with Z. Doctors cannot keep you from seeing/having your medical records. Ask in writing and they will have to comply. They can turn you down on the phone all day, but in writing . . . I suspect they will comply.
 
I would consider making a bigger stink out of the office's response but, since we have moved about 600 miles away from the area where he was seen, there's only so much I can do. I don't think I would get the same response regarding any other type of record but since they characterize this as psychiatric, they won't budge. Thanks for the input and support from all.
 
Please be aware of the fact that DODMERB will not get involved until an NROTC scholarship has actually been offered. That will be at least November or December. So, take a deep breath! You have a long ride ahead!
 
Okay, well.....

I'm not going to hijack any further, but I guarantee you that any shrink who sees my kid and then denies me the records is going to find his ass in court, and I'll mortgage my soul to destroy him if I have to. No one is going to make a psyche record on one of my kids or pump them full of drugs and then tell me, "Nope. Sorry. Can't share anything with you." :mad:

Sorry, Navyman. I'll leave you with the Doc now as I walk off shaking my head in disbelief.... :confused:

Sorry Z, you'll loose your soul (again?? :) ) if you were to take this one to court, well part of it anyway. Psychiatrists have a special little hole in the laws when it comes to who/when/how they have to release records. You are correct in that other physicians must release COPIES of your record to you upon request; however, they may charge for this. You are not authorized to have your actual record. Now for psychiatry the records are somewhat protected from everyone AND this includes the patient. Psychiatrists are not required to release their portion of the notes as relates to what the patient tells them. They may be required to release a note saying what the diagnosis and treatment is, but you probably would not get the "juicy" details.

As a parent of a minor you can always decide to not give your child any medications prescribed by any physician and ultimately have the ultimate authority in your childs care; however, you do not have the right to know that your child told their psychiatrist that they are homosexual or who knows what else.
 
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