Jerry was a client who improved and was discharged 2 years ago. You receive a call from the National Can Company. The caller explains that Jerry has applied for a job and that the company would like to hire him. Jerry told them he was in treatment 2 years ago and was discharged after showing considerable improvement. The company wishes to confirm the fact that Jerry did indeed complete the program as he claims. You say to the caller:
a. “I don’t know if Jerry was ever a client of our agency. If you send me a release-of-information form I can look into that and get back to you.”
b. “Jerry was a patient here but I am not at liberty to say any more than that without a release-of-information form.”
c. “I can tell you that Jerry was a client here around 2012 and he successfully completed the program with us. I will need a signed release-of-information form from Jerry to put in his file.”
d. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Good-bye.”
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.
