IAB boundaries re: psychotherapy

[ancilla89]

If IAB is investigating a detective, and they found out the detective was seeing a psychologist, could a scumbag in IAB attempt to get information out of the detective's psychologist, and what are the limits of confidentiality? Can the doc even admit that the detective is his patient, or not?

[tanksoldier]

It depends on who is paying the psychologist.

[ancilla89]

Detective is paying him out-of-pocket.

[NolaT]

Should be confidential

[CCCSD]

It is ALL confidential unless Tarasoff is involved.

And why, exactly, is the IAB Investigator a “scumbag”?

[Aidokea]

I recognize the importance of the IA process.

That said, I have a very low opinion of how the IA process tends to actually be used, and with VERY few exceptions, I also have a very low opinion of the people who do it.

But that's because I have actual experiences in this area. The OP does not, so I too am curious as to why he's using the word "scumbag".

[NolaT]

I’d Never share anything deeply personal with a Dept psych.

[Aidokea]

A-freekin'-men. I don't ever want some shrink applying a label to the effects that this job has had on me. Those labels can make you a second-class citizen, unemployed, and all sorts of other bad things.

[tanksoldier]

Detective is paying him out-of-pocket.

Doctor-patient privilege would apply. Unless the patient was an imminent threat to themselves or others, and a few other very limited mandatory reporting circumstances, everything would be confidential, and the patient would get a big payday. Even if the patient was a threat, the IAB investigator isn't the person to report that to.

If the psych was paid by the department, they would disclose up front that doctor-patient privilege didn't apply, and nobody tells those docs anything unless they are stupid, really f-ed up (which is why the dept sent them there in the first place) or they are trying for a psych retirement.

Any info that was obtained this way would be unusable for any official purpose.

Lastly, an IAB investigator would know all this and what would happen to them for even trying.

[BNWS]

If the NYPD suspected mental illness they would just order you to see the department psychiatrist. Refusing to cooperate with a department psychiatrist will at the very least get you modified duty/ restricted duty. Refusing to cooperate with any department doctors will get you jammed fast.

[Aidokea]

Seems to me we signed away our HIPAA rights when we got backgrounded during the hiring process.

[CCCSD]

Seems to me we signed away our HIPAA rights when we got backgrounded during the hiring process.

Not if you see a psych outside.

[Iowa #1603]

Seems to me we signed away our HIPAA rights when we got backgrounded during the hiring process.

Only for the background investigation

[Iowa #1603]

It is ALL confidential unless Tarasoff is involved.

And why, exactly, is the IAB Investigator a “scumbag”?

He is an author


Are You Employed in the Law Enforcement Industry
No

Are You a Sworn Police Officer
No

Occupation
Caregiver

Location
Virginia

How did you find Officer.com?
Googling policies for fanfiction I'm writing

[CCCSD]

He is an author


Are You Employed in the Law Enforcement Industry
No

Are You a Sworn Police Officer
No

Occupation
Caregiver

Location
Virginia

How did you find Officer.com?
Googling policies for fanfiction I'm writing

Hence my question.

[Aidokea]

...and mine.

[Ratatatat]

It's a big Catch-22, this psych stuff....

If you tell your department you are having difficulties after a traumatic incident, off you go to a mandatory appointment with the department head doctor, who flat out tells you they are not your physician, and anything you say is reportable to your department. They could care less about making you whole- their job is only to make a fitness for duty determination.

The department cares about your wellness even less than the doctor.... either you're an asset or a liability. If the doctor advises you are unfit, you likely will be 'constructively terminated', where they say "if you resign today, none of this will be in your official file. If you fight this, you'll be fired for being unfit and it will follow you." 90% will resign and the department just chalks it up as another attrition in a job with 30% attrition for new hires and 50% attrition in the long run.

Getting a medical retirement for pysch issues is nearly impossible, and rest assured the department will fight tooth and nail against paying you 80% salary for life. I only saw it once in my career, and it only happened because the officer incured traumatic head injuries during the incident. Had he not sustained actual brain damage, the department would've 'constructively terminated' him, I have no doubt.

Going to a private doctor provides protection from all the above. Good luck finding a good therapist... I know a couple of people in that line of work, and trust me when I say there's a reason people are drawn to studying how the brain works: because they have issues.

The ultimate Catch-22, of course, is not getting treatment often results in tragedy. Not that treatment is 100% effective, but at least some people benefit from it.

Just don't tell your department.

[Aidokea]

Good luck finding a good therapist... I know a couple of people in that line of work, and trust me when I say there's a reason people are drawn to studying how the brain works: because they have issues.

No kidding.

I have no idea why crazy people are drawn towards the mental health profession, but it seens like they all are.

The "mental health professional" that taught our "how to deal with crazy people" class during academy, had a mental breakdown while teaching the class, for no apparent reason, and had to be escorted out of the classroom.

And then a few years ago, I accompanied someone to a mental health appointment, and when the "doctor" walked in, it was a 6-foot tall dude in a dress, with 5 o'clock shadow and lipstick. I was taking a sip of water from a water bottle when he opened the door to walk in, and almost blew it out my nose. We couldn't get out of there fast enough.