Why won't a doctor give me a copy of the radiology report?

Question

My 12yr old son slipped and hurt his ankle. I took him to Urgent Care where they took xrays and told me it was fractured. They put a splint on it and told me to take him to his PCP for follow up and casting the next day when the swelling went down.

His PCP made us wait for ever, then proceded to tell us to go get an air cast because the receptionist didn't schedule enough time for him to do the cast. Then we had to come back a few days later for a check up. My husband is a personal trainer and has sports medicine training specifically for sports injuries. When I requested a photo copy of the radiology report, to show my husband, the doctor didn't want to give me one. He gave me a hard time and wanted to just "write it down" like anyone could ever read a doctors handwriting anyway. Finally, I threw a fit and he made me wait another 15min to sign a form to get the copy.

What's the big deal? I don't get why the hassle?

By the way, after this, we are going to find a different doctor.

For you first 2, my husband took one look at the report and told me that my son has a bruised bone on the top of his foot and a fracture on the bottom of the bone where the ankle connects to the foot. Reading this report requires no medical history, and my husbands sports medicine training was more than sufficient to understand the terminology of the report.

Answer 1

i totally agree with you. you DON'T need a doctor's degree to read an xray.

i've been a nurse for 7 years now and i knew how to read an xray when i was a nursing assistant. as long as you have history in the field and proper education-you can read anything.

it's your right as a patient (well patient's parent since he'a a minor) to request ANY or ALL parts of your medical record. it's your personal information and as long as you've signed the release form-they cannot refuse to provide with the info you have requested.

i applaude you for switching dr's-it sounds like the office was very unorganized and your son when through way more hassle and pain than he needed to to seek proper care

some doctors are on a power trip so when you ask for medical records (especially things such as xrays) they feel like you are telling them they aren't doing there job and don't want their pride or ego hurt.

it was more work for the medical records clerk than it was for your dr-all he had to do was sign the stupid form

switch doctors and find one that is more concerned with meeting your needs than keeping up with his ego!!

and as for the comment about (HIPPA)-this law is to prevent medical information from being released without a patient's consent that is NOT a minor-since you are responsible for your son-HIPPA does not apply to you.

Answer 2

For one if you went to the ER it should have been casted right then and there... no ifs, ands or buts... they have medicine for the swelling so that they can fix it immediately... no waiting until the next day otherwise the fracture could turn into a deformity... also the hospital has to by law provide you with a copy of all X-rays, MRI & CT scans when processed if requested and for free... all results will be recorded and printed out electronically and will also be available on CD... providing you went to a wired (technologically modern) hospital or clinic with a lab... was this a hospital in the US? it is also true that you must sign a consent form for the release of these medical records... it sounds to me like you had to go to a county hospital since they made you go here and there and wait around... there should not have been any hassle~~~
p.s. do not throw a fit or you could be waiting a lot longer than 15 min.

Answer 3

It simply sounds like the doctor is lazy. You have a right to your records. The new federal privacy act prevents him from giving this information to anyone without your written permission but there shoud be no reason why you should not get a copy for your own records. the doctor is an a** and you're smart to fire him and get a new PCP. Good for you for throwing a fit and you should let him know how you feel about him.. for your satisfaction..

Answer 4

i dont know what the big idea is..but ur allowed to have a copy of any medical records u have..i had a doctor like that once n i got a new doctor.on ur hunt for a new doctor ask the receptionist if u will have problems with getting copies of ur records if u need them.good luck

Answer 5

It's called "defensive medicine." Doctors know such documents could be used in malpractice suits. Nonetheless, you were right to stand your ground. While a doctor's office does have the right to keep originals, they have NO right to keep you from having photocopies.

Answer 6

In this medical world where morphine flows like wine, let me tell you something. There is only one god...and it's not the doctors. It's H.I.P.P.A (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and he might seem like a tool to you, but let me tell you. If you have ever been put on the stand with a copy of your run report and torn to pieces by some ambulance chasing scum sucking lawyer, you'd understand why he is reluctant to give anything away besides his business card.

Answer 7

I think a lot of doctors are scared of releasing information (even if it is to your spouse) because of getting sued since people are sue crazy these days. I would be angry too though.

Answer 8

doctors think we are too stupid to know what we see, our surgeon gave us the lung surgery pictures and we could see where they cut it off and that the tumors are not there anymore. thank heavens for intelligent doctors.

Answer 9

a lot of stupid people in this world
they might get wrong idea's from such info

Answer 10

because its not meant for you and you can't read it in addition to the fact that no doctor could acurately use it without knowledge of your medical history and conditions.