Once the Psychiatric Services have formed an opinion of me, is it possible to change it?

Question

I discharged myself from the Psychiatric Services 2 years ago. now I have found out they have said horrible things about me in my Psychiatric notes. Will legal intervention make things worse or will they just think I am ill again?

I've got copies of 14 years of my Psychiatric notes. They seem to have misenterpreted what I said to them, didn't believe me when I said something was the case.

Answer 1

Legally, you do have the right to view, and have amended any incorrect statements, made about you. However, you may find it difficult getting another 'professional' to agree with you and contest what the other 'professional' has written.

The following link gives you quite a comprehensive explanation of accessing your medical records. If you click on Access to Medical Reports, it will jump directly to that area, where you can read about having the right to amend the report if you feel it is incorrect.

The last part of your question surrounds whether legal intervention might make things worse. I believe that's down to who reassesses your mental capability, and whether they've read the original statements ... and you can bet your bottom dollar that they will have.

I wish you the very best of luck, particularly if you believe that a wrong has been committed.

Answer 2

You can get a re-assessment by a psychiatric consultant. You would normally need to be referref by your G.P in order to have this consultation but if you still have a phone number then go ahead and make an appointment. Your previous records will still exist but in your latest notes (once you've had an assessment) will be the ones on the top pf the pile and therefore the most relevant. Anyway, no-one (apart from mental health professionals) are allowed to read your notes without your prior permission, so to a certain extent it doesn't really matter what it says about your past. You can contact the mental health helpline (run by SANE) on 0845 767 8000 and they should be able to give you more detailed information. I only know the above information as i used to work as a personal secretary for a Psychiatric Consultant but I hope it's useful to you - good luck!

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you mean legal intervention or what you will use that to accomplish.
I have to warn you that psychiatrists on an intake (initial and other sessions) only write down what you tell them, and write it exactly word for word as you tell them. Maybe your mind does not acknowledge what your mouth is telling them. Here's my suggestion....they say (who is they is of no importance) that if you change your mind you will change your outlook. People can change. Maybe you just need information. So I suggest that you get with a psychologist (not psychiatrist) and find a way to change about you what you don't like. Legal intervension won't change anything but newer information as to a better outlook might change both you and the record. Just remember that whatever you tell them goes on the record exactly as it was said. So ask your questions differently this time and word your questions and comments more gently.

Someone responded to you that your records are never seen by anyone. Although that is a blanket statement, your records can be brought out by law in a courtroom, i.e. for a disability case, in a divorce case, if you are around people who get into trouble and your testimony is needed, etc.

Answer 4

I know. I am in the same boat. My medical records say a lot of things that are not true. If you are to be readmitted there, they will pull the records and read them..they will follow you. I would suggest talking to a lawyer. there may be a free legal service in your city. However, you will have to be able to prove that what they charted was wrong...Staff think we are not competant in we are there and will put down whatever they want to to make us look bad. Once they noted in my chart that i REFUSED to go to groups, etc. I missed 1 group because I had a migraine..Now any hospital I go to that gets those records assume that I am going to be a hard a** and not follow the rules or go to group. It will be hard to find a lawyer who will take this case..they will listen to med. staff before you because you were depressed or whatever. Good luck

Answer 5

If I was you, I wouldn't bother. I worked in a psychiatric unit and once those notes are made there is no turning back. It is their "professional opinion" whilst you were ill. It would cause you a lot of heart ache, frustration and stress and the chances of someone at least apologising are very slim. Don't make life more complicated for yourself, it is not worth it.

Answer 6

What exactly do you mean by horrible? If you were in a state and they commented on it rightly is that what you mean?

I suggest you discuss this with someone in authority in this place first. Take someone with you as a witness. Don't be confrontational, just ask questions on why certain things were said. Then ask if these things were "professional opinions" or personal affronts to you. Let them know how this makes you feel.

Please remember, it is not what someone has said about you, it is what you make of your life. If you are striving for to be a good, honest, healthy person, that is what really matters. Not someones opinion who only knew you at a difficult time in your life. Move on, make yourself proud.

These records are confidential in nature and are never to be discussed or seen by anyone other than at that facility.

Answer 7

i had the same problem with my records, untrue things recorded, or misinterpreted,only found out through a solicitor,but was still not corrected, it seems once things are written in notes it is very hard to get them corrected,although perhaps not impossible,maybe if possible to correct these notes would be best in case you ever need these services in the future ,the last thing a person needs when needing these sevices is a load of untrue or opinionated notes that don't help anyone.

Answer 8

Yes it is true you can see all notes written about you, you may not be able to take them away from the site but you could take a solicitor or someone with you to see them, and then if their not true you can take some action. It does not matter if you had problems before their views should be true and professional and nothing else, the best of luck!!

Answer 9

By law you have the right to obtain any medical records about yourself and you could obtain and counter what they are saying. Either way they could never use your mental state of mind against your or allow any information pertaining to your medical condition to be used as public records unless you are working with children or you have a crimal record against you. It really depends on the situation. First things first, before jumping to conclusions get all documents and records that pertain to you.

Answer 10

You'll need to be clinically re-assessed to change any previous diagnoses of your condition. 2 years is a long time, is there something stopping you wanting to be re-assessed? If you bring it to the courts, they will probably order you to be r-a'd anyway, so why not just get it over and done with!