New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 22 - PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATES
Part 2 - CODE OF CONDUCT
Section 16.22.2.12 - PROTECTING CONFIDENTIALITY

A. Safeguarding confidential information. The psychologist shall safeguard confidential information obtained in the course of practice, teaching, research, or other professional services. The psychologist shall disclose confidential information to others only with the written informed consent of the patient or client in accordance with the Public Health Act, Section 24-1-20 NMSA 1978, except as provided in these regulations.

B. Discussing the limits of confidentiality.

C. Disclosure without informed written consent. Except as otherwise permitted under the provisions of the MHDDC, Section 43-1-19 NMSA, 1978, and the CMHDDA, Sections 32A-6-1 thru 32A-6-22 NMSA 1978 and as amended, a psychologist may disclose confidential information without the informed written consent of the patient/client when the psychologist judges that disclosure is necessary to protect against a substantial and imminent risk of serious harm being inflicted by the patient on the patient or another person. In such case, the psychologist shall limit disclosure of the otherwise confidential information to only those persons and only that content necessary to address the imminent risk of harm. When the client is an organization, disclosure shall be made only after the psychologist has made a reasonable and unsuccessful attempt to have the problems corrected within the organization.

D. Services involving more than one interested party. In a situation in which more than one party has an appropriate interest in the professional services rendered by the psychologist to a patient(s) and client(s), the psychologist shall, to the extent possible, clarify to all parties prior to rendering the services the dimensions of confidentiality and professional responsibility that shall pertain in the rendering of services. The relevant limitations on confidentiality shall be clarified, including limitations where applicable in group, marital, or family therapy or in organizational consulting. Such clarification is specifically indicated, among other circumstances, when the patient or client is an organization. The psychologist shall also communicate the foreseeable uses of the information generated through his services.

E. Legally dependent patients. At the beginning of a professional relationship, to the extent that the patient or client can understand, the psychologist shall inform a patient or client who is below the age of majority or who has a legal guardian of the limit the law imposes on the right of confidentiality with respect to the patient or client's communications with the psychologist.

F. Limited access to client records. The psychologist shall limit access to patient or client records to preserve the patient or client's confidentiality and shall make effort to ensure that all persons working under the psychologist's authority comply with the requirements for confidentiality of patient or client material.

G. Release of confidential information. The psychologist may release confidential information upon court order, or to conform to state or federal law, rules or regulations. The psychologist shall consult with others and take appropriate action if a court order appears to violate confidentiality rights under state or federal law, rules or regulations.

H. Reporting of abuse of children and vulnerable adults. The psychologist shall be familiar with the Child Abuse and Neglect Act (CANA), Sections 32A-4-1 thru 32A-4-34 NMSA 1978, Resident Abuse and Neglect Act (RANA), Sections 30-47-1 thru 30-47-10 NMSA 1978, and any other relevant law concerning the reporting of abuse of children and vulnerable adults, and shall comply with the mandatory requirements of such laws.

I. Discussion of client information among professionals. When rendering professional services as part of a team or when interacting with other appropriate professionals concerning the welfare of the client, the psychologist may share confidential information about the client provided the psychologist ensures that all persons receiving the information are informed about the confidential nature of the information and abide by the rules of confidentiality.

J. Disguising confidential information. When a case report or other confidential information is used as the basis of teaching, research, or other published reports, the psychologist shall exercise reasonable care to ensure that the case report or information is appropriately disguised to prevent client identification.

K. Observation and electronic recording. The psychologist shall ensure that diagnostic interviews or therapeutic sessions with a patient are observed or electronically recorded only with the informed written consent of the patient or his legal guardian, if any. The patient may withdraw consent at any time verbally or in writing unless otherwise required by law.

L. Confidentiality after termination of a professional relationship. The psychologist shall continue to treat information regarding a patient as confidential after the professional relationship between the psychologist and the patient has ceased.

M. Confidentiality of electronic transmission. The psychologist shall ensure that confidential information is not transmitted in any way that compromises confidentiality.