Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I was just wondering if anyone has asked and received a copy of your GRS letter from your therapist?  I recently requested a copy from her and she said "I do not give out copies of professional correspondence to clients.  Sorry."

As I see it I paid for the letter ($100) so I should be entitled to a copy of it.  This is important to me.  This is my life and I'm entitled to a copy of the letter.  I'm having a hard time understanding her policy. 

If she won't give me a copy I'll have to ask Brassard's office for a copy.  It really means a lot to me.

Julie

Funny.  I have a copy of everything.  I also requested them.  Under California law, a patient is entitled to receive a copy of their medical and psychiatric records.  This, of course, includes everything,  i.e, lab results, diagnosis, surgeries, assesments, history, medication being taken, type of therapy being received, records of conversations between patient and doctor (or medical staff), and letters/medical certificates/other documents issued to patients.

You may want to find out what the laws are in your state and use them to your advantage if your therapist still refuses to give you a copy of this letter you are entitled to have.

tink :icon_chick:

Sorry to hear that, Julie.  And your therapist was being so very accommodating for you.  I hope Brassard will come through for you.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi

I didn't even have to ask.  Both my therapist and the second opinion doctor mailed me  a copy of what they sent my surgeon.

Robyn
Washington State

I'm in Illinois.  I've been able to find that I have a right to my medical records but mental health records information was a little vague.  There are exceptions and the article I read that said that snet me to another website (Legal Aid) but I couldn't find anything there to answer this.

I have a friend who received her GRS letter from the same therapist and I'm pretty sure she has it in her possession so I'll call her today and ask her how she got it.

Thanks ladies,
Julie

My therapist gave me a copy of my letter as well, there was no charge either.

Steph

I did not have to ask for my letters either. They just mailed them to me. I even had one edited by my therapist, cause she worded it wrong. She said she didn't know how I wanted it. So I go two from her. I even receive my surgeons letter to me.
Sheila

I had asked for a copy of mine, was told that I would get it, and never received it at all. Going to give her a call in a couple of weeks and, if still nothing, go with one of the shrinks that will churn out a letter for anyone for the right price.

Quote from: Julie Marie on September 02, 2007, 06:49:57 AM
I'm in Illinois.  I've been able to find that I have a right to my medical records but mental health records information was a little vague.  There are exceptions and the article I read that said that snet me to another website (Legal Aid) but I couldn't find anything there to answer this.

Once it's been sent to your surgeon, it's a medical record.

i received a copy of all my letters before being released from the hospital.  isnt that what they are supposed to do anyway?

Quote from: Katia on September 06, 2007, 10:21:02 PM
isnt that what they are supposed to do anyway?

No, it isn't.  Your SRS surgeon is only supposed to give you the glorious SRS letter where he/she states that you are now post-operative and anatomically female; they will not give you the recommendation letters your therapist sent him/her to get you approved for surgery.  (you either have to ask for a copy or know the laws in your state to get a duplicate)

tink :icon_chick:

What I'm finding is it's difficult to nail down any specific law that says a mental health care professional is required or not required to give you your records when requested.  I suppose I could hire an attorney but is the hill I want to die on?  I don't think so.

I am a woman of principle though and I do find it confrontational when a therapist flat out denies you a copy of, what is in effect, a form letter.  I highly doubt she takes the time to write out individual letters for each client that, if they compared notes, would have the potential of causing problems for the therapist.  From the first time I met her I knew she was a very rigid person and when I received her response regarding the letter I wasn't all that surprised.  I was however surprised at the bluntness and lack of compassion in the way she answered my question.  I at least expected an explanation.

No matter.  I stopped seeing her over a year ago because I really wasn't getting much out of the sessions.  They consisted of me talking and her listening with very little input on her part.  That's not therapy in my eyes.  I knew when I was ready to have GRS I'd go back to her as starting anew with another therapist would be time consuming and more costly.  I wasn't looking for help with the decision so therapy wasn't necessary.

I have choices as to what I will do.  I will take a look at these choices and pick the one that I feel best fits me and my present situation.

I do want to thank everyone for responding.  You helped fill in another gap in my trans knowledge.

Julie

Quote from: Julie Marie on September 01, 2007, 08:55:48 PM
I was just wondering if anyone has asked and received a copy of your GRS letter from your therapist?  I recently requested a copy from her and she said "I do not give out copies of professional correspondence to clients.  Sorry."

As I see it I paid for the letter ($100) so I should be entitled to a copy of it.  This is important to me.  This is my life and I'm entitled to a copy of the letter.  I'm having a hard time understanding her policy. 

If she won't give me a copy I'll have to ask Brassard's office for a copy.  It really means a lot to me.

Julie

I could never get a GRS referral from my NHS U.K therapist/ psychiatrist. I attended their gender clinic in London for 6 and a half years, my real life test was 5 years but they still refused to make a referral. They also would not give a reason why it had been turned down. I am now looking into my legal options as they have not complied with the 'HBSOC' or their own protocols.

If you go to a new therapist have the old one send a copy of your files to the new one.

Quote from: lisagurl on September 10, 2007, 07:23:33 PM
If you go to a new therapist have the old one send a copy of your files to the new one.

you must be joking, no way...

I wouldn't want a new therapist to see inacurate information, especially when my old therapist mixed up my files with other patients...

Quote from: Berliegh on September 11, 2007, 05:39:20 AM

Quote from: lisagurl on September 10, 2007, 07:23:33 PM
If you go to a new therapist have the old one send a copy of your files to the new one.

you must be joking, no way...

I wouldn't want a new therapist to see inaccurate information, especially when my old therapist mixed up my files with other patients...

A case for malpractice?

Quote from: lisagurl on September 11, 2007, 10:50:34 AM

Quote from: Berliegh on September 11, 2007, 05:39:20 AM

Quote from: lisagurl on September 10, 2007, 07:23:33 PM
If you go to a new therapist have the old one send a copy of your files to the new one.

you must be joking, no way...

I wouldn't want a new therapist to see inaccurate information, especially when my old therapist mixed up my files with other patients...

A case for malpractice?

I have already been though various routes (the Healthcre Commission, the General Medical Council) next stop is a solicitor.....

In Canada they are legally obligated to provide any medical documentation to a patient if they request it.