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AHA Newsletter Articles

Patient Bill of Rights BBS Board of Behavioral Sciences

The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), a division of California's Department of Consumer Affairs, is of the opinion that therapists should share with patients a "patient bill of rights."

While there are numerous models, they are of the opinion that the "patients bill of rights" included in the brochure, "Therapy Never Includes Sex," is a good model. One copy of this brochure is provided to each new BBS licensee, with details on how to obtain additional copies.

Of course, a therapist is mandated to give a patient a copy of the brochure in a case where a patient discloses to the therapist that a prior therapist engaged in a sexual relationship with the patient.

It was suggested that professional associations should print this "patient bill of rights" in their publications so that therapists will be reminded of the value of posting the information for patients to see. This "patient bill of rights" is reprinted, with permission on the adjoining page.

AHA Newsletter Articles