QuestionQUESTION: Following my only abortion 3 years ago, I decided to have my follow up care at my current OB/GYN's office. Since, I have wondered if that information would be included in my medical record. I am concerned because I will not want this information disclosed when I decide to have children (ie, being considered a "gravida 2" with my next child). Is there any way I can have that removed?
ANSWER: Hello, Jen,
I do not recommend that you keep that information from your doctor should you begin receiving prenatal care. A prior abortion can cause serious difficulties with the health of a future child. However, in some cases, there are things a doctor can do that will increase the chance that your baby will be born healthy. If he doesn't know about a prior abortion, he cannot take those measures. This is particularly true if you had a surgical abortion. Nobody knows what impact pills will have on a future child. But it is known that a prior surgical abortion can cause multiple miscarriages, tubal pregnancy, early birth resulting in birth defects, problems while giving birth, and other problems. So while I can't say it should be in your record, it will be vitally important to let your doctor KNOW at the time you get prenatal care.
I realize that you don't want the information known, and I don't blame you. But that is what I recommend. Please take care. Let me know if you have any further questions.
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QUESTION: I understand the importance of informing my doctor (which I have, and why I'm worried about my medical record). I also am a RN now and work alongside L&D nurses and know how they will shout out information like the patient's GPTAL and I do not want that to happen in the future. Would I need to discuss that with my doctor beforehand?
AnswerHello, Jen,
With HIPAA and Obamacare, your concern is very, very real. I think it remains to be seen how this can be dealt with. I am not yet aware of a way to expunge information from a person's medical record. My own approach has been to stay away from doctors (because I use alternative care anyway), because what I don't tell them won't be in my records. I can think of a couple of possibilities. You should start with your doctor, asking him to take the information out. If that doesn't work, you might want either to talk to a lawyer about getting an injunction, or to an organization that helps pregnant and abortion-experienced women, where they might know how to do this. It may take a bit of doing. There was a time when doctors took their oaths seriously, and regarded any medical information as "sacred secrets", as it is worded in one version of the Hippocratic Oath. Not any longer. It started with insurance companies demanding information before reimbursing for care, and it snowballed from there.
Here's how to find an organization in your area. Go to this web site:
http://www.optionline.org/
When you find a way to accomplish this, please let me know, because I'm sure you won't be the last person to ask me that question.
In the future, if you go to a doctor who is affiliated with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, you can trust that they will keep such things confidential. They don't accept certain kinds of payment. In particular, they don't accept Medicare, but that won't be a concern when you are of childbearing age. You'll have to talk to individual doctors about this. You can find their web site here:
http://aapsonline.org/
Good luck!
