Legal Issues & Social Services

Lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana

Social Services: Substance Abuse, Mental health and the Law

If you have received counseling or treatment for substance abuse or mental illness, you have privacy rights that can protect you from the unauthorized disclosure of health, treatment, and educational information. When your rights have been violated, you want an experienced attorney to handle your case,. One who knows the law and understands the importance of confidential communications.

At the Law Firm of Gaylon James Nettles, PC, in Indianapolis, we have over 10 years of experience as an attorney and over 19 years experience with the Indiana Department of Education enforcing laws related to education. Before becoming a lawyer in 1998, Gaylon James Nettles worked for 20 years as a social worker, and served 21 years in the military, where he regularly dealt with social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, as well as mental health concerns of agencies and patients.

We offer caring and compassionate counsel in a wide range of issues related to or involving school administration. To set up a free initial consultation, contact our office or call us at 317-897-9219 (toll-free at 877-897-9219).

Our Handling of Legal Issues Related to Social Services

We work closely with individuals with complaints concerning services in institutions of government, such as schools or facilities, or private institutions. Because of our broad range of experience, we can hep you get to the core of any substance abuse, mental health, or social service problem. We handle:

• wrongful disclosure of health records or private information. We work with people who have privacy complaints related to health or mental health services, as well as health or mental health records. The unlawful disclosure of health records could limit your work options or lead to discrimination in the workplace. We will take all legal steps to protect your interests. Our attorney has been a speaker and lecturer on privacy issues at Indiana University Paul Munger Conference for many years, discussing FERPA and HIPAA requirements as well as privacy laws governing schools and educational institutions.
• discharge planning for individuals leaving long term care. We represent individuals who are about to be released from long term, reviewing the procedures of the treatment facility to determine whether you were properly instructed on aftercare or ongoing treatment requirements. If you were not adequately prepared for release, I can intervene on your behalf and help you get the information you need.
• issues of neglect by social service institutions. We protect the rights of children and adults who have received treatment from a social service institution, including substance abuse or mental health care and educational programs. If you believe the treatment was substandard or you were subjected to neglect, we can act as your advocate to get you the care you need.

For a free initial consultation, contact us or call us at 317-897-9219 (toll-free at 877-897-9219) to schedule an appointment. We will travel to your home to meet with you, if necessary.