Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 1/26/2011

Question
Dear Dr. Goldberg, 2 questions:
1) My wife is a newly minted MD and has just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder - after a 2 week hospitalization.  She's currently applying for residency match and is afraid of the possibility that a program director may hear that she has this disorder.  Is there any obligation of treating physicians to disclose this info to the AMA, residency programs or any other governing body? FYI,some of her current doctors are aware of where she is interviewing.
2) She is also fearful that residency directors may ask her about her recent hospitalization since she postponed some interviews with undisclosed hospitalization as the reason.  If they ask her directly, even though they should not, what would you recommend as a "safe" response?  Thank you so much in advance.

Answer
Hi Avi . . .

In the USA it would be a violation of the your wife's right to privacy for anything about her illness to be revealed without her specific written permission.

I cannot tell you what your wife "should" do if asked directly about why she postponed her interviews. Most of my physician-patients in a position similar to your wife's have felt more comfortable disclosing the details of their illnesses than keeping then as a secret.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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