The Columbus Dispatch

Patient, office share blame over incident about privacy

- JEANNE PHILLIPS Write to Dear Abby at Universal Press Syndicate, in care of The Columbus Dispatch, P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069; for a reply, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Or visit www.dearabby.com.

My psychiatri­st’s office called and left a very sensitive voicemail about my bulimia on a message machine shared with other individual­s. Our voicemails are sent transcribe­d to everyone’s email accounts.

Since my complaint (which was an argument during which the nurse who left the private informatio­n hung up on me), human resources and the office manager have contacted me to try to alleviate the tension. But I have not received an apology from anyone for violating privacy laws or embarrassi­ng me. Should I find a new doctor or revoke my contact informatio­n? How do I proceed?

If you provided a shared phone number as your point of contact, you should not have blamed the person who left the message. I see no reason to change doctors, but you should alter your client-contact informatio­n.

Does your psychiatri­st know one of his/ her employees hung up on you? If not, the doctor should be informed, and you should get an apology.

As guardians of our 5-year-old grandson, we have been given all rights. His father is “on-again, off-again” and makes zero financial contributi­on. I want to cut him off because consistenc­y is important to me. He shows none.

My husband says the boy is young, and I should give his father some time because contact once every other month is better than none. Our grandson enjoys his dad when he is here, but he doesn’t miss him or ask for him once he’s left.

Your husband is right. While the father’s presence is sporadic, at least your grandson knows that he is cared about. As he grows older, he may or may not start asking why his dad isn’t around more. The boy’s stability comes from the home you are providing. That is your focus.

I’m close to my brother and his wife. My friend “Dotty” — who is estranged from her husband — thinks my brother is hot. When she sees him (without his wife), she greets him with a quick kiss on the lips. I have told her I don’t think my sister-in-law would like it if she saw that.

Since then, Dotty has asked him to do house repair work (without pay) and he agreed because he is kindhearte­d.Is her behavior toward married men normal?

It is, for a woman who is on the prowl. Tell your brother what you think about your friend’s behavior. Ask him what his wife would think.

— Personal to Public Dear Personal: — Parents Again in California Dear Parents Again: — Too friendly in Hawaii Dear Too Friendly:

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