Is it legal for a psychiatrist to refuse to diagnose

Hello. I was wondering if there are laws a doctor must follow that would make it illegal or malpractice to not reveal the diagnosis of an adolescent to a parent for essentially financial gain? Both me and my wife had been seeing a psychiatrist for our own issues and after years of
observing serious issues with my stepson, I finally convinced my wife him to be seen. The doctor essentially said that my wife would never admit that I was right about him and set a course of basically trying to urge me to leave my wife instead of being straightforward with my wife about the diagnosis of my stepson. Because of the relationship between my wife and stepson, I am certain the doctor knew that my wife would leave as a patient if he told her the seriousness of the child’s problems. I was essentially a scapegoat and this doctor has vindicated my wife by her thinking it is all my imagination and that he is just like every other child. Of course, this assumes the doctor thought nothing could be done for him which is disturbing.
I looked for info on the state licensing board website but could not find anything. I am planning on filing a forma complaint.
Thanks.

I don't know why but for some reason this exact post sounds familiar but that aside...

here in America anyone can provide a service, buy or sell anything for financial gain.

in fact most people out there in the work force no matter what career or job they have will say the number one reason they are in the jobs they are is because of financial reasons. they have to eat, they have to cloth their self, they have to pay for a roof over their heads whether its their own home or rental.

that's how it goes in the world dependent upon currency.

whether a psychiatrist is in their job and refuse or not refuse due to financial gain is a personal choice based on their own bills and so forth.

now finances aside can a psychiatrist refuse to diagnose people... yes they can. there in nothing saying a mental health treatment provider of any kind ………..must...…….render a diagnosis...

in fact most treatment providers do …………..not …………...jump right to diagnosing someone. they take time to get to know their clients, get to know their clients background, their clients life style, their symptoms and challenges. then they usually work on the persons symptoms and challenges. this helps to narrow down what a persons diagnosis is and whether a person actually needs a diagnosis.

here in America the way the mental health system is now a person can work on their problems, symptoms with out actually receiving any official diagnosis,

and even when a treatment provider does render an actual diagnosis, there are diagnosis labels that allow treatment providers to not disclose what the disorders are.

and yes if you feel the treatment provider is not providing adequate mental health care you can make a formal complaint. someone from the state board will contact you for a legal statement and your signature. a hearing will take place where you may have to give testimony on how you think this treatment provider is doin something wrong by not rendering a diagnosis. then the state board will decide based on your evidence and the treatment providers defense whether a crime against your child happened. if so the treatment provider will either be sanctioned (given a fee to pay the board) or as severe as loss of their credentials to practice in your state. they will be able to most to another stand and go through certifications and such for another state. complaints do not make it so that treatment providers can never work again unless the crime is so severe that it warrents disbarment from working as a psychiatrist.

This situation seems very complex.

So your Pdoc whom you and your wife both see , saw your step son and didn’t diagnose him with anything ? and you feel that’s incorrect? Now he’s (Pdoc) is thinking you should leave your wife ??

I’m very confused ....

Hi. Yes he diagnosed him, but only discussed it with me. And I can’t discuss this with my wife since she needs to hear it from a professional. After putting pressure on the Dr. about why he has refused discussing this with the child’s mother, he came up with a demonstrably false
story that he had told her everything. When I sent him a letter saying that I am fully aware this never happened, he terminated me as a patient. The serious issues with the stepson is juvenile psychopathy/sociopathy.

I'm confused too. I'm sending hugs.

Doctor told you the diagnosis but refuses to tell it to the child’s mother? That’s kind of bizarre. I don’t get it

Ok I’m still confused but how about you and his mother get an appt with a different Pdoc for evaluation?? I’m “ assuming” he’s a minor.

Does your wife believe there is nothing wrong with her son? Is that why you expected/wanted the Pdoc to tell her.. something ??

What is he doing that has you thinking Sociopath?

You have posted about this in March this year, July this year and now again. As this p'doc dumped you I would have no qualms about telling your wife what his diagnoses was of your step son. Seems to me very murky waters. If you think that the doctor is in the wrong go and file a complaint. It does not seem right that he was seeing you, your wife and stepson at the same time.

just rereading this thread and I saw you stated it doesn't seem right that the treatment provider is seeing the husband, wife and stepson...

here in America mental health treatment providers are legally and ethically able to see and treat whole families individually and together.

that's what the letters MFT (Marriage Family Therapy/ therapist) stands for. its so that couples, husbands and wives and their family can work separately and together with the same therapist on any issues that affect the marriage and family)

theres nothing wrong with the same therapist/ psychiatrist treating everyone in the same family here in America. in fact most if not all mental and physical health treatment providers here in America are licensed and certified to work with family members. its just how the mental and physical health system here in America works.

for example if I am having a problem I can see my therapist, and because my therapist is a MFT my wife and children can also go see her if they want to (and have)

another example my primary care physician is a individual and family physician so he not only helps me to take care of when I get a cold or flu or any other physical health problems he also treats my children and my wife when they have physical health problems.

here in America that's how the health system is a treatment provider can work with individuals and can also work with the family members.

Thanks for clearing that up amandalouise. I dont live in the US. Seems even odder that TipsyTurtle got dumped.

not surprised on my end.

just because our mental health system is one where treatment providers can and do see and treat whole families, does not mean they ……….have...……..to continue with a client if they feel what they offer for treatment is not what the client is looking for, this poster has posted many times they don't get along with this treatment provider and don't like how this treatment provider is going doing things. whats a treatment provider to do, stick with someone who is constantly refusing and questioning their services or saying hey heres what I offer and if you don't agree I guess you don't have to keep seeing me, they terminate so that the client can move on to look for the kinds of treatment options they are looking for.

its like individual therapy, the client and therapist if they don't get along can terminate and move on.

so it does not surprise me that this poster has said they got terminated. they don't get along with the treatment provider and don't like how the treatment provider is doing things so its common sense to terminate and have the client go elsewhere if they are not happy with the treatment provider that they do have.