Keeping records confidential?
Meet the Experts
Lisa Weissmann, M.D. is an attending physician at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to breast cancer care, with an appointment at Harvard Medical School.
Cheryl Pearson-Fields, M.P.H. is a director of health education and research with the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Marylnn: How can I be sure that if I come out to my health provider my personal records will stay confidential? I am not comfortable with the thought of this information falling into the wrong hands (i.e., work).
- Answers —Lisa Weissmann, M.D.: Wow, that's a tough question. It has far-reaching ramifications and is being intensely debated as we look towards protecting patient privacy, particularly in this age of the Internet and computerized charts. Having said that, if you feel comfortable coming out to your health care provider, you should discuss with him or her how you would like that information recorded in your chart. Some euphemisms that health care providers use to protect patient confidentiality are statements such as "sexually active, no contraception needed," which is a clue that the person is a lesbian. What I do in my practice is I will identify whom the person wishes me to include in the conversation, so I may say "support provided by" and list the person, but I don't identify the relationship in any sexual connotation.
- Cheryl Pearson-Fields, M.P.H.: You can also (before disclosing) ask what your provider's policies are on sharing your chart information in a general way, one that doesn't tip your hand about orientation. And if you feel comfortable with those answers, then you may be able to pursue disclosure.
- Lisa Weissmann, M.D.: The problem is in this day and age, even though we may think a person's charts are held confidentially by the physician, the insurance company has full rights to obtain information if they're paying the bill for a diagnosis. And so some physicians will turn over the chart or copy the chart if the patient gives signed consent. One of the most important things a patient can do is to read the fine print really carefully about what they're being asked to disclose about their medical information, because without a signed consent no physician can release any information from the chart unless the patient agrees.
On Wednesday, November 21, 2001, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Lesbians and Breast Cancer. Lisa Weissmann, M.D., Cheryl Pearson-Fields, M.P.H., and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about being gay and having breast cancer.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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