Thread: Hospital forms and non traditional families

Originally Posted by Alana*sMommy

Quick comment about hospital staff reading patient charts.....
My daughter had a procedure a few weeks ago at our local children's hospital. We were "warned" at check-in that we would be asked LOTS of questions, many of them more than once. The nurse, respiratory therapist, anesthesiologist, and physician all asked about allergies, when she last ate/drank, was she exposed to any illnesses, etc. Pretty sure that has become common procedure in most places.

Being asked multiple times about allergies or family history is acceptable. Being asked multiple times, who is *that* woman & why is she in here where only "family" should be, is NOT.

Originally Posted by freddieflounder101

That part doesn't make sense to me. They don't know who the "biological" mother is and I don't think it matters...it matters who the legal parents are. Biology shouldn't enter into it at all (unless you're asking for medical histories). Gay, straight, adopted, biological, it's all parents wanting to do the most they can for their kids.

I was not saying that is how I necessarily feel it should be, but how it is in many other States. In a situation like Stacy said where only imitate family was allowed, in the States where homosexual marriage is banned, two woman would not be allowed. There are many parts of the country where this woman would not have gotten as warm of a reception as she did when she complained about this issue. Again, not saying that it is how is should be, but how it realistically is.

Even removing the idea that she is gay, I still think the medical forms should distinguish biological versus guardian. I work in a genetics lab and we have to be concious of the medical information of step parents, half sibblings, adoptions and egg/sperm donors. Sometimes we get results that don't make sense and then we find out that they gave us the history of someone whos is not biologically related. I even forget with my grandma who is not my biological grandma but she has been my Dad's mom since he was 4!

Originally Posted by Danifo

Even removing the idea that she is gay, I still think the medical forms should distinguish biological versus guardian. I work in a genetics lab and we have to be concious of the medical information of step parents, half sibblings, adoptions and egg/sperm donors. Sometimes we get results that don't make sense and then we find out that they gave us the history of someone whos is not biologically related. I even forget with my grandma who is not my biological grandma but she has been my Dad's mom since he was 4!

I totally get this. Until I was reunited with my biological family my answer to family history for medical purposes was always "I'm adopted". Now my answer is "I only have my maternal side, I know nothing of my father's side". When my dad (adoptive) died of colon cancer my family doctor went to update my chart until I reminded him that I was adopted and so it would not matter to my medical info.

Originally Posted by Spacers

Being asked multiple times about allergies or family history is acceptable. Being asked multiple times, who is *that* woman & why is she in here where only "family" should be, is NOT.

I DIDN'T say that it was.

I was just thinking about last year when DD3 had some oral surgery (done at the hospital under a general) they asked my Dh on 3 separate occasions who he was and if it was okay for him to be in there. With all the HIPPA laws in place now I really think hospitals have to be very clear on who everybody is.

Again, not that I think it is okay for people to ask weird questions about the relationships in non traditional families. And I am sure there is some places in this country where it would not be accepted that there are 2 moms (or dads)