Bill Jones is a client who has been in alcohol treatment programs at your facility. He is currently depressed about his pending divorce and present marital separation. He has signed a release of information form for you to share information with his priest, who is counseling Bill about his religious conflicts regarding the divorce. A man calls you claiming to be Bill’s priest and requesting information on Bill’s current state of mind. You have never actually spoken with Bill’s priest, and you think this might actually be Bill’s wife’s attorney calling. You should:
a. Give no information on the phone until you have verified the identity of the caller.
b. Refer the caller to Bill, but send the information to the person at the address on the release form Bill signed.
c. Insist upon meeting with the priest in person.
d. Share no information with the caller and contact Bill.
e. Get the person’s number and call him back.
The hypothetical practice situations that follow are designed to stimulate thinking and discussion on the issue of confidentiality. Each situation is followed by a multiple-choice list of possible responses you might make. Choose the responses that you consider the best. In some cases you might want to use more than one of the responses listed. Others may choose a different answer. Discuss with your fellow students the different possibilities and what might present the best outcome for the client.
