Dr. Ford's therapist should be asked to testify before the Senate.

[pnwmom]

With Dr. Ford's permission she can present her notes. This would carry weight and is legal.

At the very least, she should be allowed to call expert witnesses to speak on the effects of assaults like this, and how memory works -- that it's not unusual for a victim to be able to recall some of the details.

https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/14/health/what-you-reveal-to-a-psychotherapist-may-go-further.html

"The privilege of privacy is the patient's, and ordinarily a therapist needs a signed release to breach it," said Dr. David Nevin, a psychologist in Albany. "Any licensed therapist who breaches confidentiality without a patient's approval is open to a lawsuit and can lose his license for violating professional ethics."

[brooklynite]

1. I don't think this would change the dynamics...

Either Dr. Ford testifies or she doesn't. Non-contemporaneous reports aren't going to weigh heavily.

[pnwmom]

3. Of course it would change the dynamics. The therapist could also act as an expert witness,

explaining why most girls and women don't immediately report sexual assault, as well as confirming the effects the attack had on Christine's life.

Otherwise, it's just " he said, she said."

[Stallion]

2. No Because That Would likely waive the Patient's Privilege

...her testimony as a medical expert would justify Republicans legally to request Dr. Ford's entire psychological file since any opinion she would have would be based partly on those medical records. In fact I was concerned that the mere mention of her prior statements to her psychiatrist might have waived her medical privilege

in legal terms it is referred to as the Sword/Shield Doctrine-you can't use your medical records as a sword and simultaneously claim to shield those same records from discovery

[pnwmom]

4. Why are you assuming she wouldn't agree to that? She went to the therapist for counseling

about the attack.

[Stallion]

5. No Patient I've Represented or Litigated Against Wanted to Open that "Pandora's Box"

---which might be humiliating on a national scale. Any random comment might be used to completely discredit her