My File, My rights?
 

I've been treating with a great neurologist for a couple of decades. Then some THC was found in my urine. (I don't use or smoke anything, I suspect I was 'dosed' with a cookie or something), Anyway, not to make excuses. He tossed me, or should I say his wife did. This doctor was very compassionate and told me 'they should just legalize it'. I'm allergic to smoke of any kind though.

Anyway, found an kind Internist, that took care of me for a couple of years, and now, I've been assaulted, I also have TOS and this assault involved my neck, a lot! But, this dr ditched me, he was afraid of all my problems.

Went to a couple PM docs, and they wanted to switch my from methadone, to Lyrica. NO! Hold up on that car wash! I know too many people who have put on too much weight with that, and my 'cocktail' of meds was working fine!

I don't pretend to be a dr. Nor, did I. But, if I object, shouldn't I be heard?

They did a urine test on me, and, I noticed that they didn't check off, but half, of my prescribed meds, so, naturally it's gonna come up suspicious, eh?
So, they refuse to treat me, and I'm out of Cymbalta, and now methadone.
Ever hear of withdrawal?
I can't tell you how horrible it is!
I'll NEVER get into this situation again.

Anyway, this doctor PM is now on vacation, and I want my file, while they want to 'forward' it to a new doctor.
No!
It's MY File, isn't it?
I own it.
If they want a copy, so be it.
But, they want me to sign off, and PAY for copies!

It's not that I got a huge problem with a few bucks, or signing off on a copy of my file.
But, truly, is that right?

Gimme your thoughts?


Thanks, and love.....


Pete



ASB

So sorry to hear of all you are going through.

I agree that there should be no issues as far as you getting your own copy of your file. That's your medical information and you can and should have access to it and be able to see it for yourself.

As for copies...well...depending on the size of your file I can see why they would want you to pay for copies. Of course...if they could get you a digital copy then that would be best and wouldn't cost anything...but not all offices would be equipped for that sort of thing. The doctor I saw for most of my life didn't have typed up notes of any kind so when I switched doctors and when my lawyer needed copies of my medical files from him it was quite an ordeal to read through any of it.

Hi Pete! Sorry about what you are dealing with! Yes, they are your records and you do have a right to see and obtain a copy of them. Because of HIPAA regulations, they are required to obtain a release form from you even if the records are gong to you. But it doesn't stop them from charging you for the copies. They normally do not charge when sent to another doctor. Looks like majority of the drs that charge for copies have outsourced that service...someone has to pay them...grrrr

I recently obtained copies of all my records. I wanted to send them in with my STD appeal and with my SSD claim. I am glad I got them, interesting how some drs are such idiots and pay NO attention to what the patient says!! My current PCP gave me an electronic copy at no charge (it was over 300 pages :eek:). My PM dr used to be at a university hospital here, along with my neurologists and dermatologist, it is also where I had my SCS surgeries...I already had some of the records so I told them what I had and specifically what I needed. Guess what? Yes, they sent me what I already had and charged me $127! Some drs mailed me copies without issue or charge. I ended up spending close to $200 for all my records.

I agree that it doesn't seem right, but it is the norm.

Good luck to you!!
Nanc

Hi Aint so bad
 

By LAW you have a right to your records. Offer to pay for it, they cannot refuse you. Bring the records with you to your next physician. If some doc. refused you for THC that you didn't even know you consumed, they are not giving you a fair chance. I do know about withdrawl. I withdrew from Morphine with a doctors help and it was hell. doing it cold turkey is dangerous to your health, and can cause some other problems. You need to do this under the careful supervision of a physician. Contact a hospital advocacy person if you can't get satisfactory care. I am sorry this happened to you. I used THC for two weeks a few years ago and TOLD my PCP that I tried this. I was not judged, or dropped, or denied care. I had to know for myself if it worked or not. I think if my doctor dumped me, I would have been very hurt. As patients in pain, we have to take an active role in helping ourselves sometimes. I always tell my doctors the truth, and in return trust is granted. I hope you find that compassionate doctor who will not judge you, but grant you the help they vowed to give. I wish you all the best as you go forward. ginnie:hug::grouphug:

Records
 

Hello Pete,

I too am sorry to hear of what you are going through.

It does seem to be common practice for physicians/hospitals to charge a nominal fee for making copies although I have found that if you request this at the facility they don't charge this fee but, almost all do if the request is made by phone or fax.

On that note - I learned long ago how often medical records have inaccuracies so, I actually get copies of all chart notes etc., as soon as they are available. This makes it much easier to ask for mistakes or errors in dictation to be corrected as they arise.. and trust me this happens more often than most people think and more often than not a physician is happy to address these issues if it is caught quickly.

I do hope are able to sort things out soon so that you don't suffer unnecessarily in the interim.

God Bless,
Tessa

Hi again
 

The other post is correct. Errors DO happen on Notes from the physicians. I brought my friend who is female in with me to my "New" Doctor appt. I did this so I wouldn't overlook what was being said to me.. The doctor stated I was a lesbian in the chart notes. I was horrified, and asked immediately that this statement be struck from the records. How dare this doctor write something that has nothing to do with my health!!!!!!!..., it was a Judgement that was NOT correct. Ticked me off, and I did change doctors. I have caught other errors through the years, including blood work results that I never had. Someone else's blood work results were in my notes! I think it is a good idea to keep all medical records and notes. Get yours and keep a copy for yourself. After that experience or two I won't do it any other way. ginnie

My old doctor is doing the same thing. Wants me to pay $50 for my records and I guess my old doctor wrote a page about me having anorexia /bulimia. I know I never said anything so I don't know where she got that. So now my new doctor insists I go see someone about my eating disorder. Ughhhh!! Stuff like that shouldn't be sent. I am seeing a new doctor for a fresh start not a continued lecture from another doctor.

Yes, I obtained copies of my records and have found errors. Some "past" errors seem of little concern until you need them to be accurate for a particular reason. At one office visit, I had a doctor ask me about a medication I had never heard of and was definitely not taking. He had cut and pasted another person's records into mine on the computer. He never fixed the error and now I am stuck with things on my record that do not belong to me. (I changed docs after that fiasco.) I also like to get copies at each visit for a few reasons. It does not cost you anything for a page or two at a time when done by the office personnel and they are usually happy to do it for you. Waiting usually results in copies being made by a third party and billed to you. I have also had docs leave town, die, etc. and then I had no access to my records under any circumstances. No one seems to know where the records went. I have also had physicians that belonged to a group practice, go to another group practice and leave their records with their prior group.

I have also noticed a lot of incorrect info in my records. Mostly from my surgeons records, which really ****** me off (I found them while trying to pursue a lawsuit)

I also requested my Pain doctor make sure he was detailing everything in his notes. He sometimes only included things regarding the RSD in my left arm, but was not including other issues which I wanted to make sure SS saw for my SSDI case.

Some records I have paid for, others I have gotten from my LTD insurance company that they got prior to approving my claim, others I have gotten from attorney's while I was trying to pursue a lawsuit. A lot I don't have, because I can't afford to pay for them.

Hi Ginnie,

I paid for copies of some records and was charged for pages that belonged to someone else since I had to pay before they would mail them. I feel bad for the person whose privacy was breached by the copies having been sent to me, but even worse that some of MY records may have been sent to someone else.

What that doc did to you was awful, awful, awful.

That is why some docs are so reluctant to release your records. They don't want you to know what they wrote about you. I have never had GERD in my life but it is listed as one of my illnesses. I have coronary artery disease and the doc did not believe me when I told him I was experiencing angina so he wrote I had GERD.

Thanks for sharing that story with us. I am horrified that he would do that.