catspurr wrote:
maybe it's in my state by my psychiatrist asked me questions about violence and said outloud "You do know that if you say you are thinking about hurting anyone or commiting violent acts I have to report it to the government."
Did he really mean that??? Is there some new law that I'm not aware of?
In the US, laws are CRAZY! I WILL say that I have heard that TECHNICALLY, it could be argued that a psychologist doesn't have to abide by the secrecy. Psychiatrist secrecy is SUPPOSED to be sacrosanct! Still, WHO KNOWS!? ALL Doctors are supposed to keep secrets, etc... yet they tell insurance companies, and are required to tell of suspected child abuse.
If they violate the trust, it could OBLITERATE the profession by restricting the willingness of people to go to them and be candid.
It is one of those things that, like lawyer confidentiality, is a necessary evil to allow the just and decent to benefit.