Written in the voice of a concerned mother — respectful but clear, highlighting both her son’s needs
and the legislative/clinical context.
[Mother’s Name]
[Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
Date: [Insert Date]
Dr. [Physician’s Full Name]
[Clinic or Practice Name]
[Address]
Dear Dr. [Physician’s Last Name],
I am writing as the mother of my 25-year-old son, [Son’s First Name], who is currently under your care.
He lives with a severe mental illness and, as you may know, one of the most challenging symptoms he
experiences is anosognosia — a lack of awareness of his illness. This makes it extremely difficult for him
to recognize the seriousness of his condition or to ask for help.
Because of this, I am deeply concerned about some risky behaviors he has been engaging in recently.
These behaviors put his health and safety at risk, and without adequate communication between you as
his physician and me as his caregiver, I fear that he may not receive the support he needs to avoid the
most severe consequences.
I understand that privacy legislation has historically made professionals cautious about sharing information
with caregivers of adults. However, I also know that recent legislative and policy changes encourage healthcare
providers to involve families more readily, particularly in cases where the patient’s judgment is impaired by
the very nature of their illness. I respectfully ask you to consider these changes and to open a line of
communication with me.
Please understand that I am not asking for confidential medical details that you cannot legally disclose.
Rather, I am seeking guidance on how I can best support my son in his treatment and safety, and I am
offering to share important observations about his behaviors, routines, and challenges. My goal is to work
with you — as part of his care team — so that together we can give him the best chance at stability, safety,
and recovery.
I have always admired the dedication of family physicians in balancing patient autonomy with family involvement,
and I know how difficult these decisions can be. I believe that, in this case, cooperation between us could make
the difference between crisis and stability.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I would be grateful for a call or meeting at your earliest
convenience.
[Mother’s Name]
[Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
Date: [Insert Date]
Dr. [Physician’s Full Name]
[Clinic or Practice Name]
[Address]
Dear Dr. [Physician’s Last Name],
I am the mother of [Son’s First Name], a 25-year-old patient living with severe mental illness. A significant
symptom of his condition is anosognosia — a lack of awareness of his illness — which prevents him from seeking
or accepting care in a consistent or safe manner. This directly increases his risk of harm to himself.
I am aware that historically privacy legislation has discouraged professionals from sharing information with
caregivers once a patient is over the age of 18. However, a recent amendment to NS PHIA Clause 38(1)(d)
reads as follows:
38 (1) A custodian may disclose personal health information about an individual without the individual's consent
(d) to any person if the custodian believes, on reasonable grounds, that the disclosure will avert or minimize a
significant danger to the health or safety of any person or class of persons;
The intention of this amendment is to encourage providers to use clinical judgment in contacting caregivers when
it is in the patient’s best interests, especially where impaired insight prevents informed decision-making.
In line with this evolving standard of practice, I am respectfully requesting that you establish direct communication
with me. While I understand there may be limits on the sharing of confidential medical details, legislation does allow —
and in many cases encourages — the exchange of information necessary to protect health and safety, as well as the receipt
of information from family members that may guide clinical care.
I ask that you consider this not only as a legal allowance but as a moral imperative. Without timely collaboration between
physicians and families, patients like my son too often fall through the cracks, with consequences that can include
hospitalization, homelessness, or suicide.
Please let me know when we can arrange a discussion. I am committed to supporting your clinical role and ensuring that my
son receives safe, appropriate care.
Personal / emotional version (heartfelt, less formal).
[Mother’s Name]
[Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
Date: [Insert Date]
Dr. [Physician’s Last Name],
I am reaching out as a mother who is deeply worried about her 25-year-old son, [Son’s First Name]. He has a severe mental
illness, and one of the hardest parts is that he doesn’t realize how ill he is. This lack of awareness — the doctors call it
anosognosia — means he often refuses help, even when he desperately needs it.
Lately he has been engaging in risky behaviors that frighten me. I see warning signs every day, and I am afraid that without
stronger communication between us, he may come to serious harm.
I know doctors are often cautious about talking to families of adult patients, but I also know that times are changing. More and
more, the law and the medical community recognize that family members can be partners in care — not barriers. I am not asking for
every medical detail, but I do ask that you share what you can, and let me share what I see, so that together we can keep him safe.
I raised my son with love, and I want nothing more than to see him healthy, stable, and able to live his life. Please help me help
him. Even one phone call or a short meeting would mean so much, and could make all the difference.
[Mother’s Name]
[Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
Date: [Insert Date]
Dr. [Physician’s Full Name]
[Clinic or Practice Name]
[Address]
Dear Dr. [Physician’s Last Name],
I am writing about my son, [Son’s First Name], who is 25 years old and living with a severe mental illness. His lack of insight
(anosognosia) means he cannot/won’t recognize his illness or ask for the help he needs. As a result, he has recently been engaging
in risky behaviors that place him in clear danger.
As his mother, I cannot stand by while the system treats him as if he were capable of managing this on his own. He is not. It is
precisely the nature of his illness that prevents him from seeking support, and it is precisely why the involvement of family is
most essential.
I am fully aware of privacy laws and professional obligations. But I am equally aware that recent legislative and policy changes
explicitly encourage — and in some cases require — health professionals to use their discretion to involve caregivers when patient
safety is at stake. I expect you to exercise that discretion here.
I am not asking for unnecessary personal details. I am asking for collaboration. I am asking that my observations be received, my
concerns taken seriously, and that I be given guidance on how to support my son so he does not slip further into danger.
Can you please communicate with me and specifically inform me of both what I personally need to do to best support my son and what
information I need to provide to you on an ongoing basis so that together we can support my son in the best possible ways.
Too many families like mine have faced tragic outcomes because clinicians were reluctant to involve them. I am determined not to let
that happen here. Please contact me directly by phone or email to plan our continuing cooperation. My son’s safety and future depend
on timely action, and I am holding you, as his physician, accountable for ensuring he receives the coordinated care he deserves.