CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
Do social workers follow the patient confidentiality code?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Allen Feinanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
All health care DO: All providers, including social workers are required to respect patient confidentiality, just like dentists, physicians, nurses, and pas. In the case of suspected child abuse for example, it is normall legally required for the provider to alert the authorities (child protection services). There are other situations that would require alerting authorities such as elder abuse and death threats.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Steven Reidbord commented
Psychiatry 38 years experience
*Clinical* social workers respect patient confidentiality as stated by Dr Fein. However, many social workers are employed by agencies such as the Welfare Department and are not clinicians. Their clients are not patients, and the level of confidentiality is set by the agency where they work. Since this is a health site, you probably meant the first kind of social worker, though.
Dec 20, 2011
Dr. John cuong Doananswered
Family Medicine 20 years experience
Yes they are bound : by the same HIPAA rules and regulations as all other healthcare providers. At least in the USA they are.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
231 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 5, 2019
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