In what circumstances can I speak with the relative of an adult patient?
My understanding of my ethical obligations is that, absent some emergency/concern about harm to self or others, I can’t/don’t acknowledge I’m treating an adult to anyone, ever, absent my patient’s consent. If I’m contacted by someone about a treatment, I generally don’t return the call/e-mail, or, if I do, I inform them that I can’t speak about – or even confirm – a treatment – unless my patient asks me to do so.
When a patient asks me to speak with, or to have a session with, someone else in their life, I generally decline as well, preferring instead to protect my treatment/relationship with the patient, and to explore, with them, what they might imagine/hope/fantasize would come of such a conversation or session, and to work with that, instead of acting.
My patients have generally appreciated my protectiveness over the relationships they have with me.
