Parental involvement and patient privacy

Parents often believe that they will be notified if their son or daughter gets sick or injured and seeks care at MIT Health. 

And parents who have been instrumental in convincing a child to make an appointment with the Mental Health and Counseling Service may expect to remain involved with their care.

However, MIT students are considered adults once they turn 18. This means that we cannot share students’ medical information—including information about diagnosis or treatment—with parents or others. The exception is that clinicians are permitted to share relevant information if they determine that a student is at significant risk of harming himself or herself or others.

This does not mean that you cannot call us for advice. Although we may not be able to share information about individual students, we will always be available to listen and respond to parents’ concerns.