Limitasyon ng pagiging confidential ng pasyenteng may mental health issue

Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta / Magtanong Kay Attorney

Dear Chief Acosta, May batas ba na maaari kong gamitin bilang patunay na confidential ang aking mental health record? - Jay

Dear Jay, Para sa inyong kaalaman, ang inyong katanungan ay binigyang-linaw ng Section 4 (t), Chapter I at Section 5, Chapter II ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11036 o mas kilala sa tawag na “Mental Health Act” kung saan binigyan ng kahulugan ang service user at ang confidentiality ng kanyang mental health records:

“SEC. 4. Definitions. — As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as follows: xxx

(t) Service User refers to a person with lived experience of any mental health condition including persons who require, or are undergoing psychiatric, neurological or psychosocial care; xxx

“SEC. 5. Rights of Service Users. – Service users shall enjoy, on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis, all rights guaranteed by the Constitution as well as those recognized under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human

Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and all other relevant international and regional human rights conventions and declarations, including the rights to: xxx

(l) Confidentiality of all information, communications, and records, in whatever form or medium stored, regarding the service user, any aspect of the service user’s mental health, or any treatment or care received by the service user, which information, communication, and records shall not be disclosed to third parties without the written consent of the service user concerned or the service user’s legal representative, except in the following circumstances:

1. Disclosure is required by law or pursuant to an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction;

2. The service user has expressed consent to the disclosure;

3. A life-threatening emergency exists and such disclosure is necessary to prevent harm or injury to the service user or to other persons;

4. The service user is a minor and the attending mental health professional reasonably believes that the service user is a victim of child abuse; or

5. Disclosure is required in connection with an administrative, civil or criminal case against a mental health professional or worker for negligence or a breach of professional ethics, to the extent necessary to completely adjudicate, settle, or resolve any issue or controversy involved therein; xxx” (Binigyang-diin)

Batay sa nabanggit na batas, ang service user ay tumutukoy sa taong may karanasan sa anumang kalagayan sa kalusugang pangkaisipan kabilang ang mga taong nangangailangan o sumasailalim sa psychiatric, neurological o

psychosocial na pangangalaga.

Ang pangkalahatang tuntunin ay confidential ang lahat ng impormasyon, komunikasyon at records ng service user na may kinalaman sa kanyang mental health pati ang paggamot at pangangalaga na kanyang tinanggap.

Gayunman, kung ang inyong sitwasyon ay kabilang sa mga nabanggit na exceptions sa itaas, hindi ituturing na confidential ang lahat ng impormasyon, komunikasyon at records na may kinalaman sa inyong mental health.

Nawa ay nasagot namin ang inyong mga katanungan. Nais naming ipaalala sa inyo na ang opinyong ito ay nakabase sa inyong mga naisalaysay sa inyong liham at sa pagkakaintindi namin dito. Maaaring maiba ang opinyon kung mayroong karagdagang impormasyong ibibigay. Mas mainam kung personal kayong sasangguni sa isang abogado.