MindPath Clinical Policy & Consent Agreement

By proceeding with MindPath’s services, you confirm that you have reviewed, understood, and agreed to the following policies regarding treatment, telehealth services, and personal data use.

1. Consent for Treatment

MindPath provides diagnostic and treatment services in the Republic of Ireland for ADHD, Autism, and related conditions, which may include:

• Diagnostic Assessments: Clinical evaluations for ADHD/Autism and associated conditions.
• Therapeutic Interventions: Psychotherapy and other treatment options.
• Medication Management: Prescription and ongoing monitoring as part of the treatment plan.

By continuing, you acknowledge that:
✔ The purpose, benefits, and potential risks of treatment have been explained.
✔ You have had the opportunity to ask questions and understand your options.
✔ You may withdraw from treatment at any time, without affecting access to future care.

2. Consent for Telehealth Services

MindPath offers telehealth services, allowing consultations and assessments to be conducted remotely via secure video conferencing.

You acknowledge that:
✔ Telehealth services involve electronic communication, which may carry technical risks (e.g., connectivity issues, unauthorised access despite security measures).
✔ Telehealth may not always provide the same depth of evaluation as in-person assessments. If necessary, in-person care may be recommended.
✔ Clinical recommendations are made based on the limitations of remote assessments.

3. Consent for Use of Personal and Health Data

MindPath collects and processes personal and health information in compliance with GDPR and Irish data protection laws. This may include:

• Personal Information: Identifiers such as name, contact details, and date of birth.
• Health Data: Medical history, diagnostic results, treatment records, and clinician notes.

Your information will be used for:
✔ Providing assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
✔ Appointment scheduling, payment processing, and healthcare operations.
✔ Sharing with relevant healthcare professionals when necessary for care.

MindPath maintains strict security measures to protect your data and ensures compliance with GDPR guidelines. You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your data, subject to regulatory and legal requirements.

4. Consent for Transcription and Notetaking Services

To support clinical accuracy, quality assurance, and report preparation, MindPath may use a secure, GDPR-compliant transcription service during video consultations.

This service is used solely for the purpose of:

• Assisting clinicians with accurate clinical notetaking;

• Supporting clinical review and case formulation;

• Assisting with the preparation of assessment reports.

The transcription service operates under strict data protection safeguards and processes information only in accordance with GDPR and Irish data protection law. It functions as a data processor acting under the instruction of MindPath.

Transcription outputs form part of the confidential clinical record and are handled in accordance with MindPath’s data protection, confidentiality, and retention policies.

No recordings or transcripts are used for marketing, training, or non-clinical purposes without explicit additional consent.

By engaging in video consultation services with MindPath, you acknowledge and consent to the use of secure transcription technology for clinical documentation purposes. Where the client is under 18, such consent is provided by the parent or legal guardian.

5. Suitability for Service

MindPath’s telehealth ADHD assessment service is not suitable for individuals with certain complex mental health conditions, including:

• • Severe mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder).
  • Psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia).
  • Substance use disorders.
  • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

• Significant cognitive impairments.

• Personality disorders.
• Self-harming behaviours or suicide risk.

Due to the overlapping symptoms of these conditions with ADHD specifically, a validated ADHD diagnosis cannot be provided via telehealth in such cases. A more comprehensive, in-person evaluation would be required. No refunds will be issued if an individual proceeds with an assessment and is subsequently found to require an in-person evaluation.

6. Withdrawal of Consent

You may withdraw consent for treatment, telehealth services, or data processing at any time by contacting MindPath. Withdrawal will not affect the lawful processing of data prior to the request, nor will it prevent access to future services where applicable.

7. Important Notice: Crisis Support

MindPath is not a crisis service and does not provide emergency mental health support. If you are in distress, experiencing a crisis, or require immediate intervention, please seek help through the appropriate emergency resources:

• Emergency Services (Immediate Assistance): Call 112 or 999
• Samaritans Ireland (24/7 Support): Call 116 123
• Pieta House (Suicide & Self-Harm Support): Call 1800 247 247
• Your GP or Local Mental Health Crisis Team

If you feel unsafe or require urgent support, please do not rely on this service—contact emergency or crisis support services immediately.

By agreeing to this policy, you confirm that:
✔ You have read and understood this policy.
✔ You voluntarily consent to receive treatment and telehealth services under these terms.
✔ You understand how your data will be used and your rights under GDPR.
✔ You acknowledge the limitations of telehealth assessments and suitability criteria.

If you do not agree to these terms, you should discontinue use of the service before proceeding.

8. Consent to Share Personal and Health Information

By agreeing to this Clinical Policy, you hereby provide explicit, voluntary consent for MindPath to share your personal and health information with relevant third parties, including but not limited to:

• Your General Practitioner (GP),

• a Designated Next of Kin,

• Your Designated Pharmacy,

• Other healthcare providers or insurers involved in your care

• Such authorised bodies as are necessary for provision of clinical services, legal compliance, or care coordination.

This consent includes the disclosure of data collected during your assessment, diagnosis, treatment, payment processing, and referral processes. Any sharing will be carried out only to the extent necessary for direct care, administrative purposes, or legally required obligations, and always in accordance with GDPR and applicable Irish data protection laws.

You retain the right to withdraw this consent at any time by contacting MindPath in writing. Withdrawal will not affect the lawful processing of information prior to the withdrawal, nor will it compromise your access to future care where permitted. Such withdrawal may mean that certain clinical services or coordination cannot proceed.

Appendix A — Adult Psychiatry Service Policy

A1. Scope & Purpose

This appendix outlines clinical and operational policies specific to MindPath’s Psychiatry Service (“Psychiatry Service”), supplementing the overarching MindPath Clinical Policy & Consent Agreement. The Psychiatry Service provides ongoing psychiatric assessment, medication management, titration protocols, and clinical monitoring for clients who have received a formal diagnosis and are engaged in psychiatric care with MindPath.

A2. Eligibility for Psychiatry Services

1. Clients must:
   a. Be aged 18 or over.
   
   b. Have received a diagnosis suitable for psychiatric medication management as determined by an accredited clinician.
   
   c. Provide informed consent for psychiatric evaluation and telehealth medication management in accordance with the main Clinical Policy. 
2. MindPath reserves the right to determine the suitability of any client for its Psychiatry Service and may recommend alternative or in-person care according to clinical need. 

A3. Discharge Policy for Psychiatry

3.1 Inactivity & Engagement

MindPath reserves the right to discharge clients from the Psychiatry Service for inactivity or lack of engagement in clinical care.

1. Inactivity Definition: Lack of meaningful engagement with scheduled psychiatric follow-up, titration reviews, or communication with the treating clinician for a period of six (6) consecutive months.
2. MindPath will issue a 30-day written warning to the client’s registered email address advising of potential discharge due to inactivity.
3. If no meaningful response or contact is received within the 30-day period, MindPath may proceed to discharge the client from the Psychiatry Service automatically. 

3.2 Unsuitability for Continued Psychiatric Care

MindPath may also discharge clients whose clinical presentation or risk status exceeds the scope of telehealth-based psychiatric care, or where ongoing management cannot be safely delivered via this service. In such cases:

a. The client will be informed of the clinical rationale.

b. Appropriate alternative clinical recommendations will be provided where feasible.

3.3 Continuity of Care Post-Discharge

Upon discharge, MindPath will, with consent, communicate relevant clinical information to the client’s GP or another provider to support continuity of safe care.

A4. Medication Titration Protocol

4.1 Titration Period Definition & Purpose

MindPath employs a mandatory medication titration period for all clients beginning psychiatric care. This period aims to ensure safe, clinically informed dose escalation and early monitoring of response and side effects.

4.2 Titration Duration & Reviews

a. The titration period may last up to six (6) weeks from initiation of pharmacotherapy.

b. During the titration period:

i. No repeat prescriptions or medication adjustments will be issued outside of formal clinical review appointments.

ii. Clients must attend scheduled titration reviews with their psychiatrist.

4.3 After Titration Completion

a. Upon completion of the titration period, the treating psychiatrist will:

i. Confirm the established regimen based on clinical response and tolerability.

ii. Advise on ongoing monitoring, including side effect tracking and symptom review.

b. Following successful titration, it is recommended that clients undergo a medication review within 6 months; however, a minimum annual psychiatry review remains mandatory in accordance with standard clinical practice, including NICE and HSE guidance. This annual review ensures ongoing safety, correct dosing, and appropriateness of medication regimen.

4.4 Clinical Governance

Medication prescribing, review, and titration protocols are informed by nationally and internationally recognised standards for safe psychiatric practice and evidence-based guideline recommendations (including NICE and HSE best practice frameworks for adult mental health care).

A5. Follow-Up & Routine Monitoring

1. Regular follow-up appointments will be scheduled based on clinical need. 
2. Failure to attend scheduled psychiatry reviews may invoke the Discharge Policy outlined in Section A3. 
3. Clients are provided with instructions on how to report emergent side effects or concerns between scheduled appointments. 

A6. Data & Confidentiality

All psychiatric clinical information, treatment plans, medication records, and communication remain subject to the data use, confidentiality, and consent provisions in the main MindPath Clinical Policy & Consent Agreement.

A7. Crisis & Emergency Care

MindPath’s Psychiatry Service does not replace emergency or crisis psychiatric care.
Clients experiencing acute psychiatric crises (e.g., suicidal ideation, intent to self-harm, significant behavioural disturbance) must seek urgent care via emergency services or crisis supports, as outlined in the main Clinical Policy.

Appendix B – Children & Adolescent ADHD Clinical Framework

This Appendix outlines the additional clinical governance and assessment considerations for ADHD services provided to children and adolescents under 18, in line with MindPath’s clinical standards.

B1. Introduction and Scope

MindPath provides ADHD assessments and related clinical services to children and adolescents when:

• Parental or legal guardian consent has been obtained; and

• It is clinically appropriate based on developmental presentation and history.

These services complement the standard ADHD assessment processes and are consistent with current professional and clinical standards for child and adolescent neurodevelopmental assessment. There is no substitution of emergency or crisis services.

B2. Informed Consent and Legal Guardianship

Prior to commencing any clinical service for a minor:

1. Verifiable Consent
   A parent or legal guardian must provide written informed consent. This includes acknowledging understanding of the purpose, process, and limitations of the ADHD assessment.

2. Authority and Responsibility
   The consenting adult is responsible for engagement with services, completion of any preparatory information (e.g., rating scales), and financial obligations related to assessment.

3. Conflict in Guardianship
   Where more than one guardian exists and there is disagreement about assessment participation, services may be paused until lawful authority is clarified.

Consent standards follow established principles ensuring that legal guardians understand the nature of clinical services provided.

B3. Multi-Informant ADHD Assessment Process

Assessing ADHD in children and adolescents requires a multi-source approach, recognising that symptoms must be present across settings and supported by evidence from caregivers and educational or third-party reports. Components include:

• Clinical interview with the guardian about developmental history and current concerns;

• Interview with the child/adolescent (age-appropriate);

• Standardised rating scales completed by parents and, where available, teachers or educational professionals;

• Communication with school for educational reports that document behaviour and functioning over time;

• Consideration of co-occurring conditions and differential diagnoses.

Assessment recommendations are informed by professional diagnostic frameworks and Irish practice expectations, and are made in the context of information gathered across informants.

B4. Suitability Considerations

Children and adolescents with:

• Significant emotional dysregulation not typical of ADHD alone;

• Complex developmental presentations;

• Significant trauma histories; or

• Severe co-occurring mental health conditions

may require in-person or multidisciplinary assessment and are considered unsuitable for a remote telehealth-only assessment. In such cases, clinicians will recommend appropriate alternatives or referrals.

B5. Parental Involvement and Reporting

1. Clinical Feedback
   Results and clinical impressions are communicated primarily to the parent or legal guardian, with the child present where appropriate and consistent with consent.

2. Information Sharing
   With consent, information may be shared with educational professionals, GPs, or allied clinicians to support holistic care planning.

B6. Safeguarding and Child Protection

MindPath clinicians operate in line with Irish child protection legislation and mandated reporting obligations. Clinicians will:

• Monitor for indicators of risk to the child’s safety and welfare during assessment;

• Document and report concerns to appropriate authorities where required;

• Encourage guardian collaboration if additional supports are indicated.

Guardians are informed of mandatory reporting obligations and limits of confidentiality before services proceed.

B7. ADHD Diagnosis and Adjunct Findings

A valid ADHD diagnosis in children and adolescents:

• Requires evidence of symptom presence across multiple settings;

• Must consider developmental norms;

• Is based on synthesising clinical interview data, rating scales, and collateral reports.

Findings related to associated features (e.g., executive functioning characteristics) are described in clinical feedback, with recommended next steps tailored to the child’s needs.

B8. Coordination with Other Supports

Where clinically appropriate and consented to:

• MindPath may liaise with a child’s GP or school professional;

• Referrals to allied services (e.g., educational psychology, child mental health teams) can be recommended.

Coordination supports continuity of care and the child’s functioning across environments.

B9. Withdrawal of Consent

A guardian may withdraw consent for ongoing assessment or data use at any time. Withdrawal does not affect lawful processing of information gathered before the request. Withdrawal may limit completion of the assessment or reporting.

B10. Crisis and Emergency Protocol

MindPath does not function as a crisis service. Guardians and families will be directed to immediate resources if urgent needs arise, consistent with the main policy’s crisis guidance.