medical confidentiality questions

[zoemurr]

Totally OT.. but since the Dis friends know everything..

When do you really have to disclose your medical condition? I have had health problems for years that I deal with. I take medication, and have bad days, but for the most part only a few people know, and I would like to keep it that way.

I take a medication that is well known to treat STD's. (It's one of the ones in a zillion commercials). I take it off label for my condition, but I don't really want to be advertising what I take, and I don't really want to explain why.

This has not been a problem for years.. and now 2 things have come up.

1) I am taking a bus trip with my DD next week. They want a medical form from me that states what meds I am on if there is an emergency. I think I would be ok with not filling this one out.. however I don't really want to lie either.

2) I have been working at the same school for 3 years. For next year I received a form that has the same question, I believe also to treat me in an emergency. However, we have no HR dept. and this info would go straight to my director, who is also my co-teacher. Am I obligated to fill this out? I don't want her to think I have an STD, but I also don't want her to know my medical condition as it has not effected my work.

Any ideas? Do I have the right to decline filling these out?

 

[Aristomommy]

Totally OT.. but since the Dis friends know everything..

When do you really have to disclose your medical condition? I have had health problems for years that I deal with. I take medication, and have bad days, but for the most part only a few people know, and I would like to keep it that way.

I take a medication that is well known to treat STD's. (It's one of the ones in a zillion commercials). I take it off label for my condition, but I don't really want to be advertising what I take, and I don't really want to explain why.

This has not been a problem for years.. and now 2 things have come up.

1) I am taking a bus trip with my DD next week. They want a medical form from me that states what meds I am on if there is an emergency. I think I would be ok with not filling this one out.. however I don't really want to lie either.

2) I have been working at the same school for 3 years. For next year I received a form that has the same question, I believe also to treat me in an emergency. However, we have no HR dept. and this info would go straight to my director, who is also my co-teacher. Am I obligated to fill this out? I don't want her to think I have an STD, but I also don't want her to know my medical condition as it has not effected my work.

Any ideas? Do I have the right to decline filling these out?

I would personally wage the pros and cons. If there was a true emergency, you were not able to explain what meds you need, how would not taking this medication affect you until your Dr or family member was contacted? Or would this medication interact with other medications you might receive before someone was notified? If this is not a concern, then I would maybe provide a Dr's number or a family member's number in case of emergency. Nothing that I can think of obligates you to divulge your medical information to your employer. All the forms I or my family have received give you a way to opt out or indicate a medical provider's information in case of emergency. I understand your concerns.

 

[PammieJ]

Aristomommy is right on. You are not required to disclose any protected medical information to your employer or anyone else. The reason they ask you to do this is to release them from any liability, should you become injured or sick, and you are given medication or treatment that might be cause a reaction to medication that you are currently taking. They're covering their butts, so to speak.

You have a very slight risk of becoming sick or being in an accident that might require meds that might interact with your current prescription. Compare this to the known risk of sharing this sensitive information with your boss. Because you don't have the anonymity of an HR department, it just seems too close for comfort for me. Personally, I'd take a chance with not disclosing your medication list. But it's definitely your call. Have fun on your trip, whatever you decide to do!

 

[dis-happy]

I'm pretty sure the second request is illegal.

Personally, I wouldn't declare a thing in either situation. If you're worried get a medical id bracelot which would only be accessed in am emergency.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would find out what medications are contraindicated with the drug you take, and get that put onto a medic alert bracelet.

I mean, if there's an actual emergency on the trip or in the classroom, would they *really* be able to pull that paper out and tell the EMTs? probably not. Would anyone from the trip go to the hospital with you to tell them there? probably not. So it really seems like it's more of a CYA form.

 

[zoemurr]

I think it will still be weird to tell my director that I'm not comfortable filling it out.. but I'll wait and see how it goes. I'm sure she had the best of intentions, but I was a bit surprised by it.

As for the med.. I'd be fine without it, just probably a bit uncomfortable after a few days. No one has ever said it would interfere with any other drug, but I'll ask next time I go to the pharmacy.

@Pammie, thanks for the well wishes. We are going on a trip to NYC for my DD to sing in her chorus and to watch Mary Poppins on Broadway. I never thought we would need to give a medical history for this. It should be fun.. except for the 6hrs each way in the bus.

 

[princessmom29]

I think that saying you are not comfortable filling it out is the only good answer here, other than choosing to disclose the info. It keeps someone from assuming you are nto on any meds and have no health problems in an actual emergency. I still think that it is better to fill it out and make the explainations, in case something were to happen i would want the right infromation to be accessable. In the end it is your choice wether to disclose it or not.

To the PP who asked if it would actually be used, I can assure you that, at least at our school, it would. I carry a file folder with me on all feild trips with info on any child with life threatening allregies or on meds for a chronic condition, and these are high school kids who can tell me what they are taking. It is even more important for small children. We keep them in a specific drawer in the school office and ANY time emergency services is called the from for the person in question is pulled.

 

[ShannonMB]

I personally would fill out the forms, but I would just leave off whatever sensitive information I felt like omitting. It is shady at best for them to ask you these questions, especially your workplace. As someone else said, it is more than sufficient for you to give contact info in case of emergency.

 

[cm8]

I would choose not to disclose, You have every right not to let anyone have access to your medical record who is not a treating physician or has plays a part in your health care. Have fun

 

[stacyalisa]

I personally would fill out the forms, but I would just leave off whatever sensitive information I felt like omitting. It is shady at best for them to ask you these questions, especially your workplace. As someone else said, it is more than sufficient for you to give contact info in case of emergency.

This is exactly what I would do.

 

[ut*disney]

There is a law that was put in place in 1996, but restated recently, pertaining to this very situation. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, more commonly known as HIPAA, provides an individual federal protections pertaining to their personal health information.

Here is a link for you to review:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html

I would not disclose any health information to your employer.

 

[Aristomommy]

Our school district does use the medical forms for all field trips, so it is important to include all info that is pertinent, but I would also caution that many people will have access to a child's info (not adult's). I went on a field trip with DD and received every student's medical and other info that I was responsible for. I didn't go through it, but I noticed all DDs meds and medical conditions listed along with emergency info. One of DDs good friend's has severe allergies and I carried her epipen since her parents were comfortable with my medical background to administer it. Sounds like the OPs situation does not warrant anyone knowing anything about her illness.

 

[bearlyanne]

As a stage manager, I had to request medical forms from my cast and crew. I always would tell them to fill it out and then put them in a sealed individual envelope with their name on it. I would only break into them if there was an emergency; otherwise I would return them when a show ended.

So long story short, maybe you could seal your info and give it to them with them same expectation?

 

[2Kds2K9]

As a stage manager, I had to request medical forms from my cast and crew. I always would tell them to fill it out and then put them in a sealed individual envelope with their name on it. I would only break into them if there was an emergency; otherwise I would return them when a show ended.

So long story short, maybe you could seal your info and give it to them with them same expectation?

We do the same thing for Girl Scouts. We put all the forms in sealed envelopes and return at the end of the outing. They are only opened in case of emergency.

Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[kacaju]

Depending on what you are taking it for can you write the name of the medication and why you are taking it? I take Valtrex for cold sores. I get nasty cold sores in my nose whenever I am stressed or get a cold. it is easier for me to just take it daily then wait until I break out. For me, I would write valtrex-for cold sores.
This would all depend on why you are taing the medication and would you want to disclose why.

 

[GoofyCampers09]

i would just state that you carry your medical info in your purse if there every be an emergency or you could wear a braclet so that if you ever go unconsious someone knows where to look ....As an EMT i always try to ask personal medical ?s in the back of my truck if the stiution warrents it , if your unconsious or incoherent then yes i need to rely on bystanders to tell me whats happened ie are you allergic to anything(bees, certain foods) do have a cardiac or diabetic history! if your alert & orentied then i dont need anyones help....medications now a days are used for wide aray of things & i agree if you dont know anything then u just may assume the wrong idea so keep it personal & go enjoy your trip!!!

 

[princessmom29]

I really just don't get the hesitancy with giving someone potentally life saving medical information??? I understand in to OP's case where the info could be misinterpreted, but why, oh why, would you withhold medical information about your child from their school, or from your employer. I have allergies, and I make sure there is someone in my workplace with that information, should anything happen to me becuase it could mean the difference if I have an attack and am unconscious. I teach, and have a chld in my room currently on an insulin pump. Her sugar dropped about a month ago, and had I not known about the pump I would have had no idea what was wrong with her or that a simple gummy bear or 2 could fix it. Iwould want someone to have access to what meds i am on as well should anything happen to me b/c drug interaction is nothing to paly with. If the wrong drugs are given because of incomplete info, it can be really, really bad. I jsut don't get how that infor for run of the mill ilnesses and drugs could be so potentially damaging that you would want to run that risk. What coukld someone possibly do with it that is so horrible??

 

[zoemurr]

I really just don't get the hesitancy with giving someone potentally life saving medical information??? I understand in to OP's case where the info could be misinterpreted, but why, oh why, would you withhold medical information about your child from their school, or from your employer. I have allergies, and I make sure there is someone in my workplace with that information, should anything happen to me becuase it could mean the difference if I have an attack and am unconscious. I teach, and have a chld in my room currently on an insulin pump. Her sugar dropped about a month ago, and had I not known about the pump I would have had no idea what was wrong with her or that a simple gummy bear or 2 could fix it. Iwould want someone to have access to what meds i am on as well should anything happen to me b/c drug interaction is nothing to paly with. If the wrong drugs are given because of incomplete info, it can be really, really bad. I jsut don't get how that infor for run of the mill ilnesses and drugs could be so potentially damaging that you would want to run that risk. What coukld someone possibly do with it that is so horrible??

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do..
No, I would never withhold info on my child either.

I have fibromyalgia, which is similar to chronic fatigue with many other fun things thrown in. If I talk about it I become highly emotional as it robbed me of a few years of my life, and the 3rd child I wanted to have.

After a few years I have gotten things under control. I have cronic pain, weakness and numbness. I'm usually ok if I don't over do it. I have been at this job (preschool teacher) for 3 years and it has been fine. I work 'till lunch time and have the afternoon to take it easy.

I don't discuss this with anyone, although a few close people know because at first I needed a lot of help. Now it would only make me upset, and allow people to pity me. While I am often uncomfortable, I hide it well and it doesn't affect the way I work. I would be horrified if people started treating me differently because they thought I was sick.

I take valtrex because my dr. believes that onset may be viral. It has helped me in my recovery so I continue to take it. I don't want to explain why, and it is all over the tv as the "herpes" drug.

If it went to an HR dept it might be different, but the only person above me is my co-teacher that has no idea that I struggle on some days.

 

[bumbershoot]

I really just don't get the hesitancy with giving someone potentally life saving medical information??? I understand in to OP's case where the info could be misinterpreted, but why, oh why, would you withhold medical information about your child from their school, or from your employer. I have allergies, and I make sure there is someone in my workplace with that information, should anything happen to me becuase it could mean the difference if I have an attack and am unconscious....What coukld someone possibly do with it that is so horrible??

I think everyone is just responding to this certain case. With this exact drug, and we can all only assume what it is, if someone saw the drug name *without* being told why she takes it, it could be really embarrassing, and could possibly negatively affect her job.

I know I urged her to find out if there are any drugs that are contraindicated for her, and if so, make sure that info is easily accessible. But if there's nothing that the drug could impact, then it's just totally not needed.

As for letting work know...when DH was first diagnosed with diabetes, he told his managers. It was very important, though also a huge relief, as the blood sugar swings explained some big problems he was having. He was falling asleep every time he sat down; he once fell asleep while on a call with a customer. It was getting really really bad. He was also volatile at home and no one knew why (he's generally the quintessential good guy). So finding this out made it necessary for his bosses to understand the problems he had been having, and also they needed to know that he might not be able to stay for long overtime without taking an extra meal break.

But then he switched jobs, and in the meantime got it all WELL under control, and those things just do not happen anymore. So his current bosses don't know a thing about it. He's also better at taking extra, good, food with him (not to mention there's a huge Asian market across the street from him that he can run to if he needs something in addition to what he brings).

So it's all relative. It was necessary to share with his former job, but not for this one.

I have allergies and can go into asthma, but if I got a job I wouldn't let them know about it. I can't see why I would.

And if I were taking a drug with a stigma to it, if there were no contraindications with other drugs, I wouldn't mention it either. Especially without the safety and anonymity of an HR office.

 

[disykat]

Giving information on your child is a totally different thing than an adult giving information that could affect their employment status.

I would give Dr. contact info and leave it at that.