Privacy and Confidentiality
Your Privacy Is Our Responsibility
Our Responsibilities
Lakeshore Family Therapy is bound by the provisions of the Minnesota Privacy Act.
No information will be released to persons or agencies outside of Lakeshore Family Therapy without your consent, except by court order.
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Your written permission is required if anyone inquires after information from Lakeshore Family Therapy related to you or your record. Before granting permission, you must be satisfied that the information is really required. Be sure that the information being given out and that giving it out will help you. You may wish to refuse or withdraw permission after it has been given.
Exceptions To Confidentiality
Due to safety purposes there are several situations in which client confidentiality is not maintained:
1.
If Lakeshore Family Therapy has knowledge of, or reasonable cause to believe, a child is being neglected or physically or sexually abused, in which case Minnesota statutes (1976, Section 626.656, Subdivision 3) require that such information be reported.
2.
Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults (as specified in the Vulnerable Adults Act, Minnesota Statute 626.557) must be reported.
3.
If Lakeshore Family Therapy has reason to believe there may be physical harm done to any person.
4.
If Lakeshore Family Therapy is required by specific court order to disclose information.
5.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services may, on occasion, monitor Lakeshore Family Therapy files to assist in program and fiscal planning. This is provided for in the Minnesota Data Privacy Act of 1975.
6.
If Lakeshore Family Therapy has knowledge of, or reasonable cause to believe a pregnant woman is taking drugs, Minnesota statutes require such information to be reported.
7.
If Lakeshore Family Therapy needs to disclose your name to collection agencies for the purpose of obtaining delinquent payment for services rendered.