obtaining one's medical information

[Guest guest]

Rob,

Your doctor should not be giving your medical info to databases

without your approval. Get your entire paper medical file. Xerox a

copy of everything in it - I did this - it took forever (slow Xerox)

and the doc wouldn't let it out of his office. Nonetheless, I found

all sorts of errors - this information was a culmination of records

dating back to my first diagnosis...tons of records. Then I spent

quiet time reading each letter, note, exam, etc. I read back to

front. Making notes all the way.

After I had my notes organized, I wrote a letter to my doctor

offering my corrections. Medical errors and mistakes do happen and I

found a number, nothing that affected my health, but this will be an

eyeopener.

As for the databases - ask your doctor which ones he sent your info

to and WHY. Did you sign an authorization? I am suspect of medical

databases right now, and have made it real clear to my current doc

that my records stay in his office in paper format, for me to view at

any time. For the North American CMT Database, last time I looked at

the forms, I think they were patient generated, not doctor generated,

but I will look again.

Gretchen