<p>I'm not sure where to post this, but here goes: I've been accepted to stae college and part of the registration is a health history form which asks whether or not I've ever been hospitalized or treated for depression. I was treated medically for depression .</p>
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<li><p>Am I required to disclose any of this to my school? Is it possible that they will revoke my admission upon seeing this disclosure? </p></li>
<li><p>When i go in to my doctor with the form will she fill this out ? Can i ask the doc not to? Etc? How can i keep it confidential if i choose not to disclose? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I do not want my teachers (professors ) to see my medical record and treat me differently. I feel that despite all our gains in knowledge in treating depression that their is still a great stigma against those with a history of psychiatric problems. Thank you so much for your time and help!</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>The medical forms are kept confidential; once you are over 18, even your parents need written permission to access them or to talk to anyone about you.</p>
<p>Your teachers will not be given copies nor will the contents be shared with them. That would be a violation of the law governing privacy and confidentiality of medical records and could result in a fine for the school.</p>
<p>Please be open in your responses - if you have any issues at school and go to the counseling center, they will need to have as complete a medical history as possible.</p>
<p>Your acceptance will not be revoked for filling out the form correctly.</p>
<p>Physician here. Please fill out the forms accurately. This is for future health care reasons- knowing your history, including depression, is important in case of urgent care. A lot of time can be saved and the best treatment in a crisis can be given if the forms indicate your mental health care history. You do this for your best care. Hopefully the information will never need to be be accessed, but if you do need to see a campus health care person they are professionals and will only use the information to optimize your care. Although the form is requested by the school there is a separation between the health care and the academic part of the school. Likewise your dorm life is also separate from your academic life and health care. The school is just the coordinator, separate divisions do not have access to the information of each other’s.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that with the current health care privacy rules this information will be safe and NOT available to everyone, only to those who give you any medical care. It is entirely separate from your academic record. No one, not your parents, your RA (resident assistant), professors or anyone who is not authorized to take care of you medically will have access to your information. There are severe penalties from the government for violations- health care people take the privacy laws seriously. As a physician and consumer of health care for decades I have noticed the changes- they can be inconvenient but are followed.</p>
<p>They will not revoke your admission because you’ve received treatment. The clinic will not disclose this information to your professors. So don’t worry about these things.</p>
<p>Having said that, I would say if you don’t want to tell this information, don’t. If it is going to cause you anxiety and prey on your mind, make your own decision. If you feel strongly enough, go to a new doctor to get your exam, and don’t disclose your psychiatric history. Listen to what the previous posters have said, but it is up to you.</p>