ptsd Privacy Of My Health Records

[hawkcrewchief]

Hello brothers and sisters

I am asking if I wanted to join the local police force and the VA has diagnosed me with PTSD and I collect benefits, do I have to disclose this to the Doctor during my police psych eval. I know I have to take the 600 question test the MMPI. But I guess what I am asking is, are my VA records kept private. Or can an employer such as a police department request to see my medical charts? Do they even do that? Any help would be appreciated.

Edited August 9, 2010 by hawkcrewchief

[john999]

You know this is very tricky. They can't just demand to see your records. However, being a cop with PTSD seems like a bad idea. I think you might talk to a employment discrimination lawyer and run the situation by him/her. The police may have some ability to know the nature of your disability to see if they can accommdate you. If you lie to them and they find out your job as a cop will be gone. Being an armed policeman is not like being a mailman. Not to say half of cops don't have PTSD from their jobs. Only their kids, bartenders and ex-wives can tell that. I think this would be adding a whole new level of stress to your life. One PTSD driven decision could put you next to the felons you would be arresting.

[Pete53]

If the VA has exchanged info with Insurance or say Homeland Security you could get caught. Best to be honest and hope that your treatment and what you are doing is enough to balance.

Good Luck

[Tbird]

Tell the truth. IMHO being a police officer is going to make your PTSD worse. You may want to talk this through with your psychologist if you have one.

[Testvet]

somewhere in the medical screening I am pretty sure there is a question about treatment for different medical conditions like heart problems, mental health and if you answer no then if they later learn of it they can and probably will terminate you for not disclosing it during your inprocessing and if they are like the federal govt they put penalty statements making it a felony for lying about it under HIPPA your records should be protected however becoming a police officer regardless of which agency can and probably will involve a back ground investigation and if they learn you are getting VA compensation and ask why and the VA tells them PTSD then you are still going to be in trouble

just my 2 cents if you think it's wrong and asking on a public board about it then it probably is wrong and you already know what the right thing to do is disclose it upfront if your PTSD symptoms affect your life and you have a quick to anger problem etc don't play well with other people etc, ask yourself would you hire some one like yourself to protect your family? You know the answer do the right thing and be honest up front if you aren't and they learn it later you might find yourself in legal trouble

do NOT omit or lie about information on the application and medical forms the punishment maybe more than you want to deal with