Will the doctor tell my family what I say?

As an adult, what you tell a clinician is expected to stay between you and the people providing your care. She does not routinely report it to your family. The practical exceptions are worth knowing about in advance: who is in the room, who collects the reports, and who is paying.

Most of what gets shared is shared by the room rather than by the clinician. If a relative comes in with you, they hear everything. Asking for a few minutes alone is the simplest control you have and it is an ordinary request.

Reports and prescriptions travel. If somebody else collects your results, or if the bill goes to a family member, the information goes with them. Ask for your report to be given to you, or ask whether you can collect it yourself.

Where the appointment was arranged by a family member, or where they are paying, ask at the start what will be discussed with them. Finding out afterwards is the situation to avoid.

AskHer works on the same principle from the other direction. A question you ask here is private; it is only published if you are shown the exact public wording and approve it, and asking is a separate permission from publishing. AskHer does not send your questions to any clinic.

This is a general description of what confidentiality is expected to mean, not legal advice and not a guarantee about a particular clinic.

This cannot tell you how a specific facility handles reports, billing or family enquiries. Ask them.

This explanation was written by AskHer's editorial team from the guidance listed under Sources. A clinician registered in India has not signed this version off yet — that is why no clinical reviewer is named at the foot of this page, and it is why nothing here is a diagnosis.

Is what I tell you today confidential?

I would like a few minutes on my own, please.

Can my report be given directly to me?

If my family rings and asks, what would you tell them?

Same day: you are being threatened or harmed at home — tell the clinician; ask to speak to her alone

In the next few weeks: there is something you have not told a clinician because you were afraid it would get back

In the next few weeks: somebody else collects your reports and you would rather they did not