They refused to give me my blood test results, page 1
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ATS Members have flagged this thread 5 times


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 01:24 AM by kawacat
reply to post by Alethea


You definitely have rights to access your own test reults.

I would start with your doctor.


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 01:33 AM by Alethea
reply to post by kawacat


I had already heard the results from dr. via phone that all bloodwork was fine/normal...so it's not like they are guarding some earth shattering secret.

What I object to is being put through hoops. I feel I am entitled to a hard copy from the lab where the tests were done. How do I get my way?

If I have to go through their antics it will take a week or more. When I have asked things to be faxed dr. to dr. they never get there. I want a hard copy; I want it NOW in my hot little hands. It should belong to me, right?





[edit on 6-3-2010 by Alethea]



reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 02:04 AM by kawacat
reply to post by Alethea


Yes, it should belong to you.

But, if I were you, I would just be very grateful that nothing is wrong and leave it at that.

If you want to pursue it, maybe approach your local most powerful politician.


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 03:32 AM by defcon5
Under Hippa you have a right to see anything that is in your medical chart, even the doctors personal notes on you:

Under the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patients have the right to get a copy of their medical records. This has also become a law in several states.
Step 1
Ask to see your records if you are in good terms with your health care provider .
Step 2
If asking doesn't work, put your request in writing. Some hospitals provide forms to fill out. Make sure to inquire.
Step 3
Your health care provider has about 30 days to provide you a copy of your medical records. In some states, this process can be expedited. If there are any errors, the healthcare provider has about 60 days to correct them.
Step 4
If for example your record has any error and your health care provider did not correct these errors, you can write a letter outlining the problem and request your health care provider to include that letter in your medical record. In this case, your health care provider can write a rebuttal which will then be included in the medical record.
Step 5
You can file a complaint with the federal Department of Health and Human Services if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your request. Please keep in mind that patients cannot sure to change their records under the federal privacy rule.

If you are asking the Lab, they cannot turn them over to you because they are not your attending physician and cannot legally diagnose you. For example, I cannot give someone lab results that I collect, the patient has to go to the front office to get them after the Doctor has read and interpreted the results. After the Doc has preformed his diagnosis, a patient is allowed to anything they want right down to a copy of the raw data we collected.


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 06:38 AM by Alethea
Originally posted by defcon5


If you are asking the Lab, they cannot turn them over to you because they are not your attending physician and cannot legally diagnose you. For example, I cannot give someone lab results that I collect, the patient has to go to the front office to get them after the Doctor has read and interpreted the results. After the Doc has preformed his diagnosis, a patient is allowed to anything they want right down to a copy of the raw data we collected.


Thank you, Defcon for the concise outline.
Yes, I was asking the Lab. I did not expect or ask for a diagnosis of labwork. I wanted a copy of the report. This is what they refused to give me. I was not asking any questions concerning the bloodwork at all. Only asked for a copy of report--that's it.

I was told that I must have a "script from physician" giving them permission to give me a copy.

The lab was much closer than dr. office for picking up the hard copy. Also, I had already received diagnosis of lab work.

I can understand your point if a person is asking lab to make diagnosis or "read/interpret report". I did not ask for anyhing like that. Only a copy.

Why should this be denied to me? Why should it require a note of permission from doctor, especially since dr. has already given me results (via phone)?


And to the person who said I should just shut up and be grateful....that's really lame. I don't take being pushed around and made to jump through hoops. Especially when I know I am entitled to have access to my personal information.

And to the person who mentioned medical records...this was lab work for blood test only. I did not request any medical records. This was strictly a lab facility for drawing blood and gathering urine samples.

Thanks to all who took time to give me answers.

Would still like to know if I have any leverage to demand my lab copy?


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 07:47 AM by mysticalzoe
reply to post by Alethea


hmm I have received blood tests through the phone and the current state I am living in has sent me the results through the mail, with a typed up review and a copy of the test. Pap tests, for me, have been through the mail as mine have always been normal. They show the copy, and keep the hard copy in my medical records.

In order for me to see the original copy or bring some of my records to another doctor, I did this once, I had to sign a release form and show ID and I had to pick it up. To see the original results it took a week to get it out of my records and into a manilla envelope. Yes, i opened the envelope because they were my records, and I read what the doctors had to say. The specialist I saw showed me the originals and what they meant. So you can see the original as it is a patient right, but expect to wait a week to see it, and sign a release form, they do this to protect their own butts, as someone could pose as you and ask to see private information.


reply posted on 6-3-2010 @ 02:37 PM by VneZonyDostupa
Originally posted by Alethea
I see your point. However, I went directly to radiology and picked up written results of x-ray without any problem. They even asked if I wanted films too. I by-passed the doctor totally because I picked up results as they had just been logged into computer and had not even been sent to dr. yet!!!


The written report from radiology is prepared by the radiologist assigned to your case (an MD), who also has access to your entire medical history, as well as the information provided by the referring doctor. This is drastically different than a lab getting your blood samples and a request for a CBC, nothing else.

As for the blood lab, they have no business giving any explanations of bloodwork. I did not ask for nor expect an explanations. I only wanted a copy of report. I still do not understand why they do not have to co-operate with me as they have my personal info. And radiology had no problem giving info to me even before dr. got results!



As for the radiology, see my point above (you HAD been seen by a doctor, in the sense that a radiologist (doctor) had examined your films and written a report that goes into your medical record). The reason the lab won't give you the results is a legal and liability issue, more often than not. If you are given the results with no context (which the doctor or nurse practitioner provides when giving you your results in the clinic or over the phone), you are likely to misinterpret a high or low result (which may be normal or expected considering the rest of your medical history). As I stated in my post above, this could result in you firing off a baseless lawsuit which you would lose, but would still cost the clinic and lab in legal fees and higher malpractice premiums.


reply posted on 11-5-2010 @ 08:48 PM by peninside
reply to post by VneZonyDostupa


VneZonyDostupa, you seem to have been completely brainwashed by the insurance companies that want you to think premiums are high because of malpractice. It's insanely difficult to sue a hospital. Before you can proceed, you typically need a certificate of merit that can only be given out by a doctor that you have to pay, then you need hundreds of thousands of dollars for expert testimony. The hospital knows this and uses it to its advantage by picking people over 25 and single, poor, etc. to push procedures on to train students. Because no lawyer could afford to help these people when they have to foot that kind of bill, they only stick to the massive cases that are obviously going to win.

What the law does say is that your records can be refused to you for medical reasons. It's a loophole. For example, if your medical records were a risk to you, a risk to your health, or a risk to other peoples' health. That's just in theory.

The best example of this is psychiatrist. They can put in your chart that you're completely insane and refuse to disclose that to you because you're going to get angry.

I don't really buy that. I think you're more at risk of a wrong diagnosis or a failure to diagnose. It's far better for you to have your diagnosis, in hand, even if you don't understand it. You can't blame anyone but yourself if you decide to play doctor on yourself because of it.

Hospitals will often blacklist you too. Getting your records helps reveal this pattern of abuse as well.

I know people who have copies of their blood work sent to their house, from the lab. They sign a release too. Why do they have a release if they can't give it out?? There may be another exception however, for HIV or Drug status, but where I am, there are two check boxes explicitly stating that you want that data to be released too.

My bet is they're being ridiculous. Contact your state attorney general and make a complaint.
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