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False allegation by consultant (phone recording)

4 replies

Masie24 · 06/03/2020 21:07

DH and I had to attend an interview when DS, who suffers from a mental illness, was being seen by a psychiatrist and a support worker. We were fully cooperative, as we were hoping that the interview would lead to DS getting the help which he needs, but so far has not received.

We had had virtually no notice before the interview, and both had to text our respective employers to explain our absence from work. Also, the psychiatrist arrived 15 minutes late, and the support worker slightly later, and DH texted the Team Leader to ask what was happening.

When the psychiatrist began the meeing, we were still turning our phones off, and the psychiatrist remarked rather pointedly: "When everyone has turned their phones off...."

We have just received the written report of the interview. In it the psychiatrist states that he 'believes' that we were recording the interview

This allegation is untrue. It is also leads us to fear that other professionals will treat us with suspicion if they believe this allegation.

We can't let this drop. The report, in the form of a letter to a fellow psychologist, will be on DS' carenotes by now and will have been sent to other people, perhaps even from other agencies, directly or indirectly involved. DS is caught up in a bit of a tangled web and this is bound to have happened.

What to do? We have tried, over a long time,to work co-operatively with the professionals, we are open and honest and always respectful, even in the face of considerable frustration. To sneakily record phone conversations would be utterly out of character and wouldn't be in our son's best interests.

The possibility of future conversations being compromised. We want to write to the consultant, asking him to withdraw this statement, even to replace the letter/report. If he doesn't, do we have other avenues?

OP posts:
Falcor40 · 06/03/2020 21:10

So. I had this. A consultant (though not to do with mental health). Tried to take me off life sustaining medication.

First thing. Write to pals. My understanding is. You can't have the letter removed (bastards!) but you can have it written that it is wrong.

I'd also write to your practice manager explains how wrong this letter has portrayed you. Etc.

The last thing. Is write to the chair commissioner of the hospital. They are the top dog. Explain what you felt was wrong.

RedHelenB · 07/03/2020 10:50

He's just stated he believes not that you were recording. And as they were late you had ample time to switch your phones off. Seems a bit of a storm in a teacup so next meeting simply switch your phones off and on place them on the table.

Masie24 · 07/03/2020 11:38

Thanks, Falcor. I hope that you're OK - and there was some resolution to what you happened to you with that consultant. Your advice is very helpful.

RedHelen - I'm afraid that it is much more than this. DS is very poorly and has been badly let down. There's nothing sadly unusual in that but it does mean that we have to have conversations with health and social care professionals and this statement (which is just how it reads) is not only unjust but could do damage to our relationships - there's no doubt about that. He was referring to the brief period, half a minute, when we were doing just that - turning phones off having checked work had received our texts. We'd had virutally no notice of this meeting. Off they went and into our bags.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 07/03/2020 11:43

Hopefully you can add this to the notes then and make it clear you have no intention of recording any meetings.

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