Can You Bring Your Spouse & Tape/video Recorder To A C&p Exam?

[tssnave]

Does anyone know if there is a regulation, training letter, SOP, or other documentation that either allows or prohibits a veteran from having another person such as a spouse present during a C&P exam?

Are there exceptions in the case where the disability (like a mental condition or physically incapacitating illness) makes it difficult for the veteran to advocate for themselves?

Is there a regulation, training letter, SOP, or other documentation that either allows or prohibits a veteran from tape recording or video recording a C&P exam?

I thought about calling and asking the patient advocate at the outpatient clinic that did my C&P exam but given some of what I’ve read on hadit I thought I’d run it past the members here first to see if anyone could give me the straight skinny along with what and where I could find the governing regulation.

As always, thanks for your assistance.

ts

Edited April 19, 2007 by tssnave

[tssnave]

Pete,

When you said "the first clerk" did you mean doctor?

You are the second person I've read that VA ordered a second C&P exam when the IMO contridicted what they wanted to believe. I am going to post that as a question on a new thread, please reply to it (and others reading this as well) so I can get a feel how prevalent it is for the VA to order a second C&P after you send in an IMO.

Thanks,

ts

[betrayed]

The way I read it, they could, by regulation, refuse to let my spouse in the C&P exam room with me. Do you read this the same way?

ts

I will say it again You get your spouse a medical power of attorney and put it on file with the hospital (VAMC) it helps in allot of areas, including getting out of the pysch ward when your being held against your will. Then call the C&P office prior to the exam and tell them my spouse has a medical power of attorney and will be accompying me inside during the exam. Will there be a problem with this? And make sure you get the name of who you talked to.

MICHIGAN_DURABLE_POWER_OF_ATTORNEY_FOR_HEALTH_CARE.doc

[tssnave]

Betrayed,

EXCELLENT advice on getting my spouse the medical POA. I hadn't thought of that even though medical POAs came into play during my father's final illness a few years ago. I never thought about it in my own case with the VA. I realized the wisdom in your suggestion when I read it and also realized that somewhere in my mind that medical POAs are only for the last stages of life but you are correct, it would be good to have one now, especially with my psych disorder.

Did you read on watchdog.org how they didn't let psych patients have visitors for 3 years!?! This is outrageous. All I can figure is these poor souls were "forgotten veterans" and didn't have family to advocate for them. Here's the link:

http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf041507-4.htm

Thanks for the good advice on spousal medical POA.

ts

[betrayed]

Betrayed,

and also realized that somewhere in my mind that medical POAs are only for the last stages of life but you are correct, it would be good to have one now, especially with my psych disorder.

ts

I dont think they are only useful in last stages of life, the one I had on file played a large part of getting me out of the psych ward when they were holding me in there against my will. I have also used it just like I explained for C&P's.

I did not read that article how they didn't let psych patients have visitors for 3 years!? but am going to do it now!

[Testvet]

my experience has been for all C&P's other than PTSD they allowed my wife into the exam room, the only C&P they would not budge on is the PTSD C&P the shrinks refuse to have witnesses to their garbage everyone else has been great about my wife being there for appointments and C&P's this is at Dorn and at Augusta VAMC

[carlie]

tss,

Your spouse or significant other is not an attorney, or other representative.

That precopgc has been stuck in the back of my mind for years.

jmho,

carlie