Reporting sexual abuse?
Posted By: Beth on 2009-04-17
In Reply to:
If we are transcribing a report that we believe to be a sexual abuse case, are we required to report it if the physician does not? Is this a breech of confidentiality and a violation of HIPAA?
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reporting sexual abuse
This is hard to talk about. Two weeks ago my daughter woke me up to tell me her friend "had" to talk to me. I was asleep, not very happy with 17-year-old drama. Long/short the girl's father had been sleeping with her "until she turned 16". At that point apparently she told him she would tell if she did not get her own bedroom....she then went on to say the reason she "had" to tell someone is that the night before she heard him through her wall now with her 14-year-old sister. There were two other little girls in that house - the mom had apparently moved 60 miles away and gave this monster custody while she found herself or whatever. When the girl started telling me the rest of the story, I was stunned. I am so visual that as she spoke my skin began to crawl - I wanted to beg her to stop with the chilling details, but I knew she needed someone to tell and I was it. I felt like a victim myself. It was the creepiest story ever. She went on to spill details that made me 100% sure she was telling the truth (like....he got really, really angry when he found out my sister had started her period) that type of thing. By the time she finished her gut-wrenching story, my own daughter looked at me and said...mom...you are just staring....Ended up calling a Sexual Assault Hotline. Next morning I was driving home and there were 7 police units in front of this creep's house. The mom came and picked up all the girls, thank God.
I think what happened to the MT who read this sexual abuse case is the same thing that happened to me -- somehow in even reading or hearing about it -- you become somewhat of a victim yourself -- a victim of just how sicko the * of the world can get. Thanks for letting me vent. The friend of my daughter stays in touch and says she is much happier. I am going to watch in the courts and make sure that this sicko does not get off lightly -- let em just try that...not on MY watch.
Sexual Abuse
You don't even want to go there. It is not in your scope of practice as a Transcriptionist sitting in a room somewhere to determine sexual abuse.
For you to go over a physician's head and report it because "you" suspect it is a good way to get yourself at least fired, in essence you are saying the physician did not practice according to the law.
Sexual abuse
As a survivor of sexual abuse, I can tell you that I wish someone had made a report. This was back in the 70's when it wasn't widespread knowledge, wasn't talked about. I honestly think that my mother was relieved he wasn't bothering her. Everytime I was taken to the doctor as a teenager (which wasn't very often) my mother would go in the room with me. The doctor sometimes would tell her she could wait in the lobby, and there was always a nurse in the room. I never got to ask questions that were burning in my teenage brain, I never got any help. I think my mother was afraid I would say something. This was after she found out about it and acted like it wasn't happening. He started when I was 13 and stopped when I was 18 when I threatened to cut his you know whats off.
I know in the performance of our jobs that we can't say anything about the things we learn. But hopefully the doctor stood up for this young person and did the right thing. I wish mine would have.
Child sexual abuse cases - used to do them sometimes where I used to work - sm
now do a lot of Trauma ER, it used to bother me a lot, but not anymore unless its kids. Guess I am getting used to all the gunshot and knife wounds in the city nearby, that is sad in itself.
Must have been hard to do that....in the past I have done a lot of child sexual abuse reports - sm
and they were no picnic. After my mom died, it also seemed I got a lot of congestive heart failure patients (what she had), and now since Jen's diagnosis of Wilms, I did 2 letters last weekend on two other kids with Wilms at the same clinic we attend.....what freaked me out was the Stage II child had a 3 place recurrence at the completion of his chemo, while a Stage IV child was just fine.....Jen is Stage I....and then at her ultrasound this week the doc was extremely thorough (more thorough than the last one, same doc too) and it made me a bit uneasy as he did stuff this time that he did not do last time. But he said all was well, said they get faked out a lot by shadows where the removed kidney used to be that looks like recurrence so they have to be extra careful and rule out that possibility. But the child abuse ones, when I used to get them, were definitely depressing, can only do so much of them.
It's one thing if there's infidelity, substance abuse, physical abuse,
neglect of the family, verbal/emotional abuse, gambling, criminal activity, drug dealing, or other addictions. However, temporarily being a bonehead isn't a crime against the marriage.
Would rather have Bill and his sexual escapades...
than W with his useless and tragic war anytime...
She sounds bi-sexual, not lesbian, if she likes men too. As sick as it may sound sm
he is marrying her to fulfill his sexual fantasies. I mean, what man (with the exception of a few) wouldn't want their mates to be with another woman especially if it will involve him. I'm sorry to say that, mom. I really am.
Pray really hard that he not go through this the marriage. That's about all you can do. And if he does marry her, BE THERE FOR HIM unconditionally because we all know that it will not last.
Idaho case was botched in that a convicted sexual offender was out on the street to
kidnap this little girl and her younger brother. This is what the Arubans were protesting when people are saying they botched a case when this stuff happens in America.
We don't hold people who are guilty long enough as evident in the Idaho case where the sexual
OFFENDER (a very real proven criminal) was given freedom to kidnap, molest and kill one of two children. Then again we have that society reject who TOLD the police he was a sexual offender and would do it again. He was free to kill the little girl in Florida. Now you hear our wonderful system cannot use his confession because he did not have a lawyer present. I see why the Arubans may think we are the pot calling the kettle black.
As for Mrs. Twitty, she needs to appoint a spokesperson before she does any more damage. I don't care how emotional she feels, she really is clueless about what is going on internally in the investigation and she needs to realize this and quit commenting.
Some abuse QA
This is certainly not everyone's case (in fact, it is a very, very small percentage) but we have MTs who send stuff to QA rather than research. Some of the blanks I get are plain medical terminology 101. Some can be found by typing a single word in Google and finding the appropriate reference.
It is unfortunate that the lazy MTs have made it bad for all MTs. QA penalties have had to be instituted because of this abuse.
Another point I would like to make, you say you are sending work to QA for correct patient name spelling - we do not have a census and are working at home like you, so we do not have access to patient's names. If the physician does not spell the name and it does not come up on the report, do not send it to QA. I'm sure your company has a policy for dealing with names - when they are not given, not spelled properly, etc. Find out what that is and follow the procedure. That should eliminate unnecessary blanks to QA.
QA abuse
In ANY business you are going to find the rare but ever-annoying case of incompetence. It's easier in this line of work because of the remoteness and anonymity that comes along with it. This mind-set is eventually exposed for what it is. Then the rest of us go on and do our professional best. :)
I didn't have the same abuse, but have a lot
of the same feelings. I was sexually abused at 8 months - though didn't learn this until I was almost an adult. I was reading my chart at the doctor's office, because he was always an hour behind and I found it it there. I had been abused when I was 5 and 6 and I remembered that but has suppressed it for the most part. I started therapy and was seeing a therapist, but had to see a psychologist once so they could sign off on reports for insurance to pay. The psychologist said I was making it all up, that it didn't really happen and that I was just attention seeking.
I tried therapy again and I was getting to the point of finding out who abused me when I was so young - I knew who it was at 5 and 6, but not before, and I felt it was my father and I just couldn't deal with it, was having severe panic attacks so I quit therapy. I'm overweight, have poor self-esteem, I'm very judgmental, distrustful, and just overwhelmed. I don't use my trauma as an excuse, but I'm not happy and I want to be happy and I think when that happens most of the other issues will resolve. I don't drink or do drugs though, but I guess food is my escape.
spouse abuse
Yes, I have talked to the police, but he was married before and living in NC and I believe he may have a record there. He is a real slick one. He put scratches all over himself to try and make it look like I hit him. I have never had anyone do this before and he is a sick individual. I am sure he has had prior incidences.
We were only married for 6 months. I refuse to let anyone hit me, no matter how much I love them.
Thanks for your concern.
Spouse abuse
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there is a way to find out if someone has a previous record of spousal abuse.
My husband hit me and I cant afford a lawyer but make too much money for Legal Aid. I want to do this on my own. I just need to know if there is a way to find out this information from a different state. Are these files open to the public? Or does a lawyer have to request these things?
Thanks so much for your help!.
My ULD was suspended for abuse too.....
I was so surprised but at least I know I am not the only Transcriptionist in the US to have this happen to. Lisa, I e-mailed you.
What, do you think?? I abuse my dogs, LOL
Like the post below, my dogs know when the collar is on/off, turned on/off. They are very smart. And, I do know the difference between just barking or something approaching. My dogs are very much loved and very well taken care of. I don't think you know the correct use of a shock collar at all.
Who said you abuse your dogs? Why be
x
abuse comes in many forms
This truly is abuse. You may not have visable body scars but mental abuse is just as bad if not worse as physical abuse. I'm not sure there is help for your husband but you need to get out of this relationship for your own sanity. A tiger never changes his stripes. I had been in relationship that had the same elements. I worked all day and would teach a class at night and we were to dress in a professional manner and I would be accused of having an affair. (Huh, like you have the time and energy.) I had the courage to get out and have now married a man who respects me and treats me as an equal partner. Is that not what a true marriage is, a partnership. If you do not have family to help check with you local Women's Help Center possible that could be a start. I wish you the best and hope you have the strength to more forward and leave him in the dust.
Not about child abuse, but...
...a pretty funny story. A friend was working with her horse when he tossed his head, smacked her in the face and broke her nose. By the time her hubby got her to the ER she had a huge shiner, a huge nose and was swollen and black & blue on one side of her face, plus had wrenched her shoulder.
Various hospital personnel began asking her how it had happened. About every 10 minutes somebody else came in to put her through the whole horse story again, and this went on for a couple of hours. Then a cop showed up and asked her the same stuff and also spoke with her husband, and then it dawned on her that this whole time they had been trying to shake her story. They thought her HUSBAND had belted her!
And about a week later she got a visit from a social worker just to make sure she was 'okay.' Far from being upset about this (although it was annoying to have people bothering her constantly in the ER) they both thought this was pretty hilarious. And they figured that their tax dollars were not being wasted and their county agencies were doing what they should be doing.
I don't believe in child abuse
or drug abuse, but I don't refuse to type reports involving child abuse victims and drug overdoses.
This seems a little out there to me. Don't get the logic.
Have you tried reporting this (sm)
to the police? It's called telephone harassment. Once the police get the list back from the phone company, I'm sure they'll be happy to have a chat with the delinquents and their parents, maybe even arrange a meeting in your husband's office. Is your husband at a school where there is a DARE officer or police officer assigned? That would be a good place to start.
IRS reporting
Thought it was 500.
Child abuse reports
I too have typed the child abuse reports and I go through an array of feelings. I just cannot believe what some people can do to other human beings -- much less an innocent child. I know that after I type those reports, those kids will be forever damaged at the hands of someone they love and trusted. Sad stuff.
dog abuse in China story
Listen . . . .what is your real posting name anyway?
My priorities are not your concern. It is a well known fact that people who abuse animals easily go on to violent behavior against people. If clubbing innocent dogs to death doesn't bother you, it should. There are much better ways to deal with a rabies problem than that. Perhaps instead of ranting about my priorities, maybe you could put your energy toward helping create a solution for the abuse of innocent childern or one of the other million problems going on in the world. What ARE YOU doing to help make the world a better place?
These same people abuse ambulances too!
I typed a note on some woman who called the ambulance because she stubbed her toe! Geez, hope nobody in her town was having a heart attack at that time...
I would do it just to save my hands from further abuse! nm
nm
court reporting
I have a friend who did court reporting for many years. She made excellent money, but had back trouble and neck, arm and carpal tunnel problems. The machine she had to tote around is quite heavy, even in a roller suitcase, was not easy, especially if elevators were out and she had to be on the third floor. Of course, no one ever offered to help her with the suitcase. She did her own editing and printing out of all her depositions and made probably $70,000 to $85,000 per year attending all the courts and taking depositions. She gave it up because of her hands and back and is now a paralegal. after going to college for that. She loved it though and used to call me for medical words she was stuck on....
Court Reporting
I actually graduated from CR school in Iowa and use my machine to transcribe. I would never discourage anyone from trying, but be aware that is very difficult to learn and achieving speeds takes dedication and a lot of time and practice. It sure isn't as easy as it looks, but the payoff is great in the end. I couldn't transcribe w/out my machine!
COURT REPORTING???
Has anyone out there ever thought of going from being an MT to court reporting? I have been transcribing for almost 15 years now. I know that the pay scale is better for court reporters, and there are schools that offer on-line classes now. I just wonder what the job prospects were. I have only known 2 court reports and both of them were working as MTs. Any info, anybody? Thanks
court reporting
I often think about court reporting too. I was told just recently by a court reporter if I was going to do it to go into real time reporting, don't know much about it, other than it is doing caption work for live tv.
court reporting
She's right, there are no jobs...they're all held by people who have no intention of giving them up and the rest of the court reporters are doomed to working for services. How do I know? My daughter attended a local college for this, finished the course with excellent grades and looked for a job but could not find an opening within reasonable distance. Tuition is horribly expensive also, so she's now in debt to the tune of approximatey 14,000 dollars, luckily it's Sallie Mae and is at 2.12%. Don't do it! This job is just too hard on your body and mind (if you do get a job, all you'll be hearing is about murders, drug deals, divorces and child abuse), and who needs that? In West Virginia, a court reporter starts out at 13,000 a year -you could make that McDonald's, easy, without having to repay an education loan. The local college's ads say Make $60,000 a year your first year...that is also bs. It's more like $28,000.
Court Reporting vs MT
Hello all ! Years ago I considered getting into court reporting, but back then I remember being told you only get paid PER PAGE/LINE, and not for your time in the court room when you're recording the cases. Recently I was told a court reporter gets anywhere from $3 to $5 per page.
Does anyone have any info on how payment for court reporters works? Is the above true? I thought MT was a better-paying position, as the whole go-to-work-and-jot-down-the-text part was eliminated - and we (used to) make good money doing MT.
Any info would be interesting! Thanks !
Court reporting (see m)
Hi - if you work for a court, you are paid an annual salary plus benefits, starting around 50k per year, just for sitting in court and taking down the proceedings and even if no one orders a transcript. On top of that, you also get transcript fees (if anyone orders a transcript) of $3 to $5 per page and more if you provide RealTime. Most court days come out to about 250 pages of transcript, so if someone orders even the cheapest transcript that's $750 right there.
Court reporting is much more lucrative than MT if you can get a full-time job with a court.
If you freelance and take depositions, then you can charge the parties an appearance fee for showing up, plus the transcript per-page fee, but it's usually a bit less lucrative than a courthouse position.
court reporting
thanks for the info! It's a better position than I was aware !
Court Reporting
The poster is right in that it's a hard field to get into, at least in our area at the Courthouse, but there is always freelancing. You can make really good money if you're good. I do know that when I took ShortHand a long time ago (I was a legal secretary), there were court reporter students in the class and the machine looked really hard. You have to have tremendous speed. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
court reporting
I used to transcribe for a friend who was a court reporter and she did voice recording. This was 15 years ago though. She had a 2-track tape recorder. She would repeat everything being said in the courtroom into a small microphone, that I believe was almost like a mask. One track of the tape would record the court proceedings, and the other track would record her. I would transcribe the court proceedings, and if I could not understand something, I would switch to the other track, and it would be her repeating the testimony, etc. Not sure if they even do this anymore, but she made a lot of money at the time.
court reporting
Recently there had been an ad in our local paper for a full-time court reporter for the superior court in our local area. It was advertised at $78,000 per year with full federal benefits, and bonus days off like President's day (when was the last time a MT got paid for being off on President's Day?) Again, I too pick the wrong career and should have went into court reporting but at that time (in 1976) there was not a lot of interest in that field so I just went into transcription training and here I am 30 years later. Can you still teach an old dog new tricks?
They might not be reporting it on a 1099
Do they have your SSN, they might not be reporting it on a 1099 to IRS and so you have a choice to report it or not, I guess. How much was it? I have a couple of small accounts that do not send me a 1099 but I do report the income through my business, just add it into the total. A 1099 is not necessary to file your taxes if you are an IC. Not all plumbers or electricians get 1099's when they do contract work.
Court reporting
Yes, I've been through CR school. If you want to do it, go for it, but fair warning...you have to be married to that machine and have no life outside of it until your graduate. I agree with the other poster...it is extremely difficult, and unless you can dedicate 100% of your time to it, it's near impossible to make it through the course.
court reporting
I spent almost 3 years in CR school, was about to graduate and began to hate every minute I was chained to that machine. The school also had a MT program, so most of my credits transferred. Of the people that I knew who did go on to that career were disappointed with the money. Be careful researching this career and make sure you really want to do it. You really are a slave to that machine in court.
Try reporting it to the moderator.
I just sent one - I don't know if this is just some way to send viruses or what, but is certainly illegal.
Court Reporting
I definitely would go to school for court reporting, but unfortunately I am too old (64). I know this would be very interesting. Where I live near Chicago, they have an excellent court reporting program that a person can take.
Also, you can work at home eventually. Like I said if I were younger, I would go for court reporting.
court reporting
Go for it! You can do it. If I lived near a school, I would try it myself. I am 69 and will be 70 in the fall plus I am a disabled person (terrible back after surgery). Do not let your age stop you for doing anything. At the rate it is going now days, you might live to be 90 or 100. Just think all the productive years you have ahead of you!
I hate the ones where child abuse is suspected or
the injury could have been avoided entirely if the parents hadn't been so stupid, like a young child without a carseat in an MVA. I used to hate the death summaries at my old job, especially on young people.
Have any of you ever thought of court reporting? sm
It seems like there is more job security in court reporting -- and much better money. I'm really thinking of getting out of medical transcription... just so tired of getting paid less and less to do the same job. I was just laid off a great in-house job and I am really wondering if transcription is right for me anymore. 
I think they meant not reporting your income
or paying taxes on it.
Nothing wrong with waitressing or any other job as long as you report ALL your income AND pay proper taxes on it.
It's called tax evasion and it is a criminal act -- whether or not you got caught. Sad point of view that it's not wrong unless you get caught.
Court Reporting Employment
How do you get into this field of work?
I've been looking into it court reporting...
...and the training is EXPENSIVE...so is the software and equipment used. Go price a few stenotype machines online, basic models, nothing fancy...you're looking at over $1,000.00. Just when you thought MT had an expensive start up/out of pocket cost, this career takes the cake and the 'best' part of all...there is NO guarantee you will ever reach the 225 WPM required to earn your degree.
I had been looking at The College of Court Reporting, as well as a few other schools, currently I'm comparing programs and degrees offered...Plus, I'm still debating if I really have the desire to proceed with a court reporting career.
I'd think it would be next to impossible to learn the language skills required to master the stenotype machine without receiving proper training. Can't just buy the machine and the software, hook to your computer and expect to increase your MT production...there's a whole language of court reporting that needs to be learned.
If anyone is seriously looking into court reporting, I'd suggest you visit the NCRA site and read about it.
Good luck.
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Moderator
I agree with the court reporting...
comparison. I, however, disagree with the nursing comparison. MT and nursing, in my opinion, do not require the same skill level. Court reporters do make great money; however, they do have to pass certain tests in order to become certified (if that is the correct term -- could be licensed). Generally speaking, it takes approximately 2 years of studying and practice to gain enough speed to pass that test, so many have spent more time on education and practice than a lot of MTs before they receive an actual job. Anyway, I think all in all that is a fair comparison. 
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