Can I doctor delay discussing test results at will?

Question

After I declined the ammiocentesis, I had the blood quad exams (blood tests for genetical disorders) done on the 20th and the results are back but they will not see me to discuss them until the 10th! They will not give them to me over the phone and they will not give them to me personally
I think this is very insensitive. Any advise (I live in Florida)? Can they do this?

Answer 1

Unfortunately your situation is just a tiny drop in the bucket of problems that are faced daily within the health system. A deluge of lawsuits has made most of the medical community extremely leary of placing themselves in a situation that even remotely possibly would put them in the position of facing a potential lawsuit. Discussing medical issues over the phone is rarely done any more since there is no accurate way to assure that the person on the phone is who they say they are. Another appointment is generally necessary when results must be discussed or some test results may be sent by mail for information purposes only. I understand that it is very important to you to get the results in a timely manner, but there are also numerous patients who are further along in their pregnancies also waiting for an appointment to discuss test results. There is no guarantee, but my guess is that if there were any serious concerns with the results that they would have had you come in for an appointment as soon as possible. Giving you a later appointment makes me lean towards thinking everything is probably just fine. When dealing with pregnancy, there are usually small windows of time available to take care of problems, especially if an abortion is going to be offered as one course of action. You could call and ask them to put you on a waiting list if an appointment opens up sooner than the 10th. It may help to tell them the waiting is causing you a great deal of stress and is there any other alternative to get the results quicker? I have found that trying to work with the office staff usually gets pretty good results.

Answer 2

Do you have a family doctor or other doctor separate from the ones who have the test results?

Your family doctor can request a copy of your file. As can any other doctor you see, including new doctors you see for a second opinion.