Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 I now have a copy of all my medical records including referral letters. I asked, paid a fee, and was given them with little hassle. I was surprised to find out that local gyn in his summation of his meeting with me mentioned my race, my husband's race and my level of education. At first I thought that race was there because it had to do with fibroids--more common among some ethnic groups--but I have since had some doubt. Why my education? Those of you who have your medical records or referrals, is your race mentioned anywere or anything else that seems strange? Robyn > Ha! I asked my no 4 Gynoclogist for a copy of the referral letter from > Gynie no1 (it was quite lengthy), Gynie no 4 said the letter was Gynie no > 1's 'intellectual property' and I would have to ask him for it! > > It's all about control and medical Freemasonry. > > Vivienne > > Sydney, Australia > > > Re: Obtaining Copies of Medical Reports > > > > Hi - > > > > I was told by the radiologist's office that I can get a copy of the report > > only from my doctor. At the time I thought it was stupid that I had to > get > > the copy from my doctor being as it was mine and all that, but whatever. > I > > guess they don't want patients trying to interpret their own reports > without > > physican knowledge. I had no problem getting the report from my doctor > (or > > any other reports, for that matter) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 I too was asked about my education, but I was pregnant at the time of my first visit to my doctor, so I just assume it has something to do with whatever kind of research they do. I know my education has nothing to do with me having fibroids or not. I answered the first time visit questionaire that they give you, and one of the questions was my education level. I too am a college graduate, and I find that has nothing to do with my condition. Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 Robyn: I can see a legitimate purpose for mentioning YOUR race in your records ,(we know that statistically, certain ethnic groups suffer disproportionately from certain disorders. i.e., fibroids, high blood pressure, certain anemias). BUT. . . I fail to understand what importance your husband's race has to do with YOUR medical issues. So. . . even if you end up changing gyn, why don't you first ask him about it (in a non-confrontational way.) As for mentioning " educational level, " I discussed this very thing with a friend of mine who is doctor. She claimed it was somewhat helpful to know in order to be able to communicate to the patient at an " appropriate level. " She conceded that educational level doesn't always translate into intelligence or knowledge or being articulate or informed--so knowing a patient's educational level it has somewhat limited value. Have I encountered anything strange in my medical records. HA! Where to begin? In my records, I've discovered many inaccuracies I suspect occurred because of poor listening skills or errors in transcription. But a few are inexplicable. These are a few of my examples off the top of my head 1) In one case, I was described as " post-menopausal. " At the time I was 35 and premenopausal . This was in conjunction with a blood test--and this info. affected the results. 2) One doctor's report mentioned that I had had an appendectomy (never happened; never said it happened). 3) While in the hospital once, my total cholesterol was listed as an incredibly low " 76 " - this was not a misprint, but apparently later deemed a " lab computer error. " 4) In an abdominal ultrasound, I read " . . . shows kidney damage. " Only after repeat testing, and numerous attempts to reach the radiologist did I realize that what had been inadvertently omitted was the word NO, as in " shows NO kidney damage. " A big difference one word can make! Physician-to-physician letters can contain all kinds of distortions and inaccuracies. Again, listening skills come into play here, as well as the doctor's individual biases, and how the doctor perceives, and even likes you. I remember one that included the fact that I was " well-groomed! " A number have said I was " lovely " as in " lovely young woman! " Hello?!?!? Relevance?!!? Is this meaningful to my diagnosis?! (But, hey, I'm not complaining! I'll take " lovely " any day ---over " middle-aged fibroid-filled female! " ) -Roma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 I did the same thing as you when I switched doctors. I now keep a folder at home of my medical visits and procedures. I don't remember seeing anything regarding race/education. Being that they say fibroids are more common in ethnic groups, I can see that being in our files but I don't see what eduacation has to do with anything. I never heard of fibroids until my doctor told me I had them and I'm a college graduate so it shouldn't matter at all. My advice-seek out another doctor asap. You have every right as the patient to interview your doctors. Make a list of questions everytime you go. Ask for a copy of every test/results for your own file-they cannot say no. Good luck! > >Reply-To: uterinefibroids >To: uterinefibroids >Subject: Race and Medical Reports >Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 12:58:52 -0000 > >I now have a copy of all my medical records including referral >letters. I asked, paid a fee, and was given them with little hassle. >I was surprised to find out that local gyn in his summation of his >meeting with me mentioned my race, my husband's race and my level of >education. At first I thought that race was there because it had to >do with fibroids--more common among some ethnic groups--but I have >since had some doubt. Why my education? Those of you who have your >medical records or referrals, is your race mentioned anywere or >anything else that seems strange? > >Robyn > > > > Ha! I asked my no 4 Gynoclogist for a copy of the referral letter >from > > Gynie no1 (it was quite lengthy), Gynie no 4 said the letter was >Gynie no > > 1's 'intellectual property' and I would have to ask him for it! > > > > It's all about control and medical Freemasonry. > > > > Vivienne > > > > Sydney, Australia > > > > > > Re: Obtaining Copies of Medical Reports > > > > > > > Hi - > > > > > > I was told by the radiologist's office that I can get a copy of >the report > > > only from my doctor. At the time I thought it was stupid that I >had to > > get > > > the copy from my doctor being as it was mine and all that, but >whatever. > > I > > > guess they don't want patients trying to interpret their own >reports > > without > > > physican knowledge. I had no problem getting the report from my >doctor > > (or > > > any other reports, for that matter) > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 Wow, that's interesting and disturbing. Why indeed? Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2002 Report Share Posted June 4, 2002 In a message dated 6/4/02 1:07:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ARomaWithAView@... writes: > remember one that included the fact that I was " well-groomed! " A number > have said I was " lovely " as in " lovely young woman! " Hello?!?!? > Relevance?!!? Is this meaningful to my diagnosis?! (But, hey, I'm not > complaining! I'll take " lovely " any day ---over " middle-aged > fibroid-filled > female! " ) > > -Roma > Hi, I am a medical transcriptionist, and often a physician will describe a person's hygiene since a person who has poor hygiene may also be depressed. Hygiene often reflects the level of a person's depression in a medical exam. It is a clue. Physicians frequently dictate things and we have to decipher what they are saying and often have had to correct inaccuracies in medicine dosage, etc. It is an interesting field to be in and one that you will find any medical transcriptionist worth his/her salt will take delight in being as accurate as possible, we have to listen to those very same docs you talk to, while they eating, running, driving, in the operating room, with all the bells and whistles, babies crying, people moaning, etc. so next time you meet someone who does medical transcription, please bless them, cause they need it! By the way, in most consultations there is a part that is considered " Social History " this is where the physician notes how many children, marriage, smoking habits, etc. go, very common. So not surprised if race is mentioned. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2002 Report Share Posted June 5, 2002 Was the physician an OB/GYN? Your husband's race may play a hereditary part in any children you may have together. Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2002 Report Share Posted June 5, 2002 Robyn, When I went to my OBGYN for the first time I was pregnant with my second baby and had to fill out a questionaire which included my race and age and education. When I had my hysteroscopy my race and age was all over my chart. I sat and read my chart while I was in pre-op. I guess it is for statistical purposes. I am also known as a habitual aborter on my medical records. Nice name for it hugh? Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2002 Report Share Posted June 5, 2002 In a message dated 6/5/02 4:03:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, robynspencer@... writes: > My mind would be put at rest if I heard from > others that thier race or ethnicity was also indicated on thier > medical records. > > If not, I am forced to assume that my gyn thinks that only black > people have a race, (only women have a gender, only gays have a > sexuality.... you get the idea!) Anyrate, I will ask him about these > things and others when we meet again. I will let you know the I can tell you that in most consultations the persons race is mentioned in the first paragraph when describing the patient. Doctors will also mention if you are thin, well-developed, obese, morbidly obese, etc. No race is excluded, the fun part is trying to figure out how to spell the patient's name when the doc doesn't and I don't now Spanish, or Farsi, or whichever ethnic group/country or otherwise they are from for sure. :-) The most common race I transcribe has probably been East Indian, or Filipino, also Caucasian, as well as Black, and of course here in San California Hispanic! :-) Don't feel as if you are being singled out based on race, it is common practice amone most physicians to mention a person's race in their medical reports. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2002 Report Share Posted June 5, 2002 Thank you for all this feedback. Yes, it was an OBGYN and initially I assumed that race was a standard question due to ethnicity connection with fibroid and also because he might have been concerned about genetic factors with children. We did see him in the context of trying to concieve. My mind would be put at rest if I heard from others that thier race or ethnicity was also indicated on thier medical records. If not, I am forced to assume that my gyn thinks that only black people have a race, (only women have a gender, only gays have a sexuality.... you get the idea!) Anyrate, I will ask him about these things and others when we meet again. I will let you know the responses. Robyn > Was the physician an OB/GYN? Your husband's race may play a hereditary part > in any children you may have together. > > Ann > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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