Privacy Statement and Informed Consent
Confidentiality is is held in utmost regard and your information is not shared. By engaging in communication with Dr. Mroczek, you acknowledge acceptance of the following:
- Terms of communication are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Massachusetts; in communicating with Dr Mroczek, you agree to abide by the terms of those laws.
- You alone are responsible for messages you send to Dr Mroczek by email.
- Harassing, obscene, or defamatory messages will be deleted.
Dr Mroczek is not responsible for authenticity, accuracy, completeness, suitability, or terms of service of any links to news, websites, ads, or damages from them.
Please read and acknowledge acceptance of the Informed Consent document regarding stipulations of legal and ethical considerations pertinent to confidentiality.
Informed Consent of Dr. Mroczek Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws C. 112 5129A:
Terms of communication are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Massachusetts; in communicating with Dr Mroczek you agree to abide by the terms of those laws.
Emergencies
If a person is in a state of emergency, such as feeling or thinking about suicide or homicide, the person should go immediately to a local hospital and ask for the on-call psychologist or psychiatrist.
Confidentiality
All emails are confidential. Please note however, that there are certain legally defined circumstances in which a professional such as a psychologist is mandated and obliged to disclose information without a person’s written permission. A psychologist’s refusal to obey such a court order would expose the psychologist to potential contempt charges. The first situation occurs when, in a psychologist’s professional judgment, a person threatens bodily harm to another or to her/himself and therefore she/he or others must be protected. The second situation occurs when a court of law issues a legitimate court order requiring production of the specific information. A psychologist is also required to render a written report to state authorities when she/he has reasonable cause to believe that a child or an elder has been abused or neglected.
As above, a psychologist is not required to inform a person in every instance when she/he is legally obliged to breach confidentiality. However, the psychologist will make reasonable efforts to contact a person about disclosing information, unless it is professionally inappropriate, or unless a person is not available.
Applicable Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 233, Section 20B
A psychologist may be obligated to release confidential information if the consumer communicates to the psychologist an actual threat to kill or inflict serious bodily injury against a clearly identified or reasonably identifiable victim and the consumer has the apparent intent and ability to carry out the threat, or if a consumer has a history of physical violence and the psychologist has a reasonable basis to believe that there is a clear and present danger the consumer will attempt to kill or inflict serious bodily injury against a reasonably identifiable victim.
A psychologist may be mandated to release confidential information to the Department of Social Services of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, if the psychologist in her/his professional capacity shall have reasonable cause to believe that a child under the age of eighteen (18) years old is suffering serious physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him, including sexual abuse, or from neglect, including malnutrition, or who is determined to be physically dependent upon an addictive drug at birth.
A psychologist may be mandated to release confidential information to the Department of Elder Affairs, if the psychologist has reasonable cause to believe that an elderly person is suffering from abuse or has died as a result of abuse and if information provided by the consumer caused the psychologist to believe that the abuse is related to the conduct of the consumer.
A psychologist may be obligated to release confidential information to a nonprofit hospital service or medical service corporation in the ordinary course of determining eligibility for or entitlement to benefits, so long as the insurance policy, under which the claim is made provides that such access to such records is permitted.
The rules and regulations of the Board of Licensure of Psychologists may also determine other circumstances under which confidential information may be disclosed.
The laws of confidentiality and disclosure of consumer information is extremely complex. Therefore, if your individual circumstances dictate a need to more fully understand these laws, you are advised to consult with an attorney.