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refusal of treatment

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kehr1

Junior Member
undefinedWhat is the name of your state? PA

College health:
Counseling center on campus sees a "No show" for an appt. as a refusal of treatment. And does no follow-up phone calling.
As a basic acute health center for students, can we do the same?
How are we obligated legally?
 


panzertanker

Senior Member
kehr1 said:
undefinedWhat is the name of your state? PA

College health:
Counseling center on campus sees a "No show" for an appt. as a refusal of treatment. And does no follow-up phone calling.
As a basic acute health center for students, can we do the same?
How are we obligated legally?
That is a multi-faceted question:
If you have done testing and established a relationship with the student, and have something to tell/go over with the student (such as a test result) then yes you are obligated.

However, if "joe student" makes a new appt to be seen and tells the front office person that they want to be seen for "sinusitis" but the student never shows up; then you are under NO obligation to do any calling, etc.

If you have a relationship already established with a student, they make an appt for "sinusitis" and you have done no testing or have no counseling to do with the student; you are under no obligation to follow up.

A "no show" appt is considered to be a refusal of treatment. However, you are obligated to ensure you have provided the pt with necessary info re: testing, etc that you have already performed if they have not recieved the results already. If you attempt to call the pt to make an appt to discuss results and they either refuse to come in or are a no show I would suggest a CCCR with a letter that states they must contact the office for follow-up. This will help to absolve you of responsibility if the pt refuses to come in anyway. (There are many scenarios; too many to get into here, but mental health issues that hold a concern for the safety of the pt or others are an entirely different matter.) If they do not follow up after the CCCR telling them they need to contact you, I would suggest another CCR dismissing the pt from the practice.
 

rmet4nzkx

Senior Member
In addition to the mental health issues raised by Panzertanker, if the treatment is in some way court ordered, such as a diversion program, failure to present for treatment might require mandated reporting to the court or PO.
 

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