who can tell me?

[KIDDO 0]

Hi everybody . Is it ethical for a doctor, a psychologyst(therapist) to ask you wether or not you are a citizen of USA, durring one of the first visits? The issue my friend went to councelling was related to depression. Can a psycologyst ask that, he was wondering? If yes, i wonder why? My friend feels like he is now different, almost judged, in the doctor's eyes because he is not a citizen . I wonder why was that question put since someones status should not matter in councelling, should it?

Is this something normal, common? Should i tell my friend that is not a big deal and to go back?

thanks

[Fandango 1,439]

Where's Dean???????

[Niels Bohr 72]

No. It's only unethical if the doctor releases confidential information outside his office. This will make him/her loose his job, and license. Your doctor will not release, and cannot discriminate because his/her profession requires him/her to follow a set of ethical cannons. If he/she don't follow it, then he/she will loose their license.

Engineers are similar. We must follow a set of ethic cannon.

1. Uphold the safety of the population.

2. Always loyal to your employer.

etc...

etc...

Edited April 19, 2007 by consolemaster

[meauxna 15]

Must.....resist.......temptation...arggghhh!

ROFL!

NOT at you, OP, or your question!

Edited April 19, 2007 by meauxna

[kitkat1 5]

Hi everybody . Is it ethical for a doctor, a psychologyst(therapist) to ask you wether or not you are a citizen of USA, durring one of the first visits? The issue my friend went to councelling was related to depression. Can a psycologyst ask that, he was wondering? If yes, i wonder why? My friend feels like he is now different, almost judged, in the doctor's eyes because he is not a citizen . I wonder why was that question put since someones status should not matter in councelling, should it?

Is this something normal, common? Should i tell my friend that is not a big deal and to go back?

thanks

I don't think it's ethical - it has zero bearing on a person's depression. I suppose it depends on how/why he asked - did he say "by the way, I'm just curious, are you a USC?" or did he seem to think not being a USC was related to the patient's state of mental health?

In a work situation, employers who impose citizenship requirements or give preferences to U.S. citizens in hiring or employment opportunities violate the The Immigration Reform and Control Act. In any event, if it were me, I would go to another doctor (and I would tell the current doc why I am leaving). Citizenship is none of his business in this context.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Must.....resist.......temptation...arggghhh!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[KIDDO 0]

Thank you for the answears so far . I was just wondering why it would matter someone's status here? For what reason would the doctor ask a question like that? It never happened to me before. Actualy my previous councellor never even mention something like that...and i came to him with family related issues.

Well, i guess i will still wait for your oppinions.

P.S. I have recently discovered this forum and i find you guys absolutely wonderful. I am realy happy to have discovered a lot of decent, intelligent people who are so willing to help everybody in any matter. I too came here on a K1 and it's been a looooong journey. I will be married this year for 4 years. I want to send everybody lots and lots of hugs and encouragement in the visas procecing times. I will try to help too with advices and oppinions in familiar matters

[kitkat1 5]

Must.....resist.......temptation...arggghhh!

ROFL!

well done Mo

To the OP, status doesn't matter. That's why I said it's NOT ok.

[KIDDO 0]

Hi everybody . Is it ethical for a doctor, a psychologyst(therapist) to ask you wether or not you are a citizen of USA, durring one of the first visits? The issue my friend went to councelling was related to depression. Can a psycologyst ask that, he was wondering? If yes, i wonder why? My friend feels like he is now different, almost judged, in the doctor's eyes because he is not a citizen . I wonder why was that question put since someones status should not matter in councelling, should it?

Is this something normal, common? Should i tell my friend that is not a big deal and to go back?

thanks

I don't think it's ethical - it has zero bearing on a person's depression. I suppose it depends on how/why he asked - did he say "by the way, I'm just curious, are you a USC?" or did he seem to think not being a USC was related to the patient's state of mental health?

In a work situation, employers who impose citizenship requirements or give preferences to U.S. citizens in hiring or employment opportunities violate the The Immigration Reform and Control Act. In any event, if it were me, I would go to another doctor (and I would tell the current doc why I am leaving). Citizenship is none of his business in this context.

That's what i think too, kitkat1. The problem had nothing to do with eighter intergration in this country, nore it ever came into discussion any aspects related to feeling depressed because of the different lifestyle in America. The problem was totaly personal and if the councellor would not have noticed an accent, that would question would have never been put. I felt it was a little discriminating...but that's just in my oppinion. Thank you for answearing.

[KIDDO 0]

The question was totaly out of the blue. Had no context what so ever.

[randolady 1]

I don't think it's ethical - it has zero bearing on a person's depression. I suppose it depends on how/why he asked - did he say "by the way, I'm just curious, are you a USC?" or did he seem to think not being a USC was related to the patient's state of mental health?

I disagree. I think that immigrating to a new country, facing different values and cultural norms, and feeling uprooted from friends and family can be really stressful. It may not cause depression, but immigration certainly can exacerbate it.

Of course, it depends on how and why the doctor asked. His intentions may have been in the right place.

[kitkat1 5]

I don't think it's ethical - it has zero bearing on a person's depression. I suppose it depends on how/why he asked - did he say "by the way, I'm just curious, are you a USC?" or did he seem to think not being a USC was related to the patient's state of mental health?

I disagree. I think that immigrating to a new country, facing different values and cultural norms, and feeling uprooted from friends and family can be really stressful. It may not cause depression, but immigration certainly can exacerbate it.

Of course, it depends on how and why the doctor asked. His intentions may have been in the right place.

But if it's correct that "the problem had nothing to do with eighter intergration in this country, nore it ever came into discussion any aspects related to feeling depressed because of the different lifestyle in America" then don't you think it's TOTALLY wrong?

Either way, as I said, I would leave that doctor immediately, but that's just me.

[randolady 1]

I don't think it's ethical - it has zero bearing on a person's depression. I suppose it depends on how/why he asked - did he say "by the way, I'm just curious, are you a USC?" or did he seem to think not being a USC was related to the patient's state of mental health?

I disagree. I think that immigrating to a new country, facing different values and cultural norms, and feeling uprooted from friends and family can be really stressful. It may not cause depression, but immigration certainly can exacerbate it.

Of course, it depends on how and why the doctor asked. His intentions may have been in the right place.

But if it's correct that "the problem had nothing to do with eighter intergration in this country, nore it ever came into discussion any aspects related to feeling depressed because of the different lifestyle in America" then don't you think it's TOTALLY wrong?

Either way, as I said, I would leave that doctor immediately, but that's just me.

I missed that post- forgot to refresh. I guess I don't see how asking the question is TOTALLY wrong... maybe inappropriate, but maybe he was trying to get a wider sense of what the person was dealing with. In any case, if the friend feels uncomfortable, he should find a different doctor.

My friend went to a psychologist for depression, and he went on and on about all the weird people there are at her school, and how most of them were homosexual. He looked right at her and said, "YOU'RE not gay, are you? You're too pretty to be gay." Lo and behold, she is gay, but she didn't want to deal with a therapist who would be more concerned with her sexuality than her depression. You can't be open with someone whom you're afraid is judging you all the time.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Must.....resist.......temptation...arggghhh!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Touche

[homesick_american 1]

Hi everybody . Is it ethical for a doctor, a psychologyst(therapist) to ask you wether or not you are a citizen of USA, durring one of the first visits? The issue my friend went to councelling was related to depression. Can a psycologyst ask that, he was wondering? If yes, i wonder why? My friend feels like he is now different, almost judged, in the doctor's eyes because he is not a citizen . I wonder why was that question put since someones status should not matter in councelling, should it?

Is this something normal, common? Should i tell my friend that is not a big deal and to go back?

thanks

I wouldn't say it's unethical. Every therapist I ever had in the UK (and I had several) asked me many questions about my immigration status. I never thought anything of it. I think your friend is overreacting.