Medical Records...

meghatronic · 13 Mar 2011 at 11:11

Jolteh said:
A single diagnosis of depression is no big deal though. It's never gonna affect your job prospects.

It can actually. Many jobs would be wary, even if a decade ago.

bitslice · 13 Mar 2011 at 11:24

Energize said:
Because some employers discriminate, it's really disgraceful that employers are even allowed to request such information, this country has terrible discrimination laws.

There is also a really tragic side to this.

People with alcoholism sometimes don't go to the Doctors because it will go on their medical records and may be seen by an employer.

End result, they die from drinking because they wouldn't seek help

Don't try and pick holes in that, it's a fact.
Also any life insurance becomes null, so if you are the partner of a drinker then you are on your own financially when they die.

To what extent people with depression avoid seeking help I don't know, but I bet some people don't want such a thing being seen by employers.

The whole thing stinks, you can't now discriminate on sex with regards to car insurance, so medical illness like depression shouldn't come into life insurance. For one thing it's personal, I wouldn't want some pencil pusher having access to all my details, or for some gobby cow in HR to know my history.

Deadbeat · 13 Mar 2011 at 12:30

NW_SKINHEAD said:
Excuse me but why have you misquoted me? What makes you think I would have any interest in pursuing a claim over a misdiagnosis?

Because I have a tendency to be facetious and purile

Raymond Lin · 13 Mar 2011 at 12:34

Jolteh said:
It can be removed.

Your medical record is just a file on your GP's server, they can be amended with a few clicks.

That's not exactly what we are talking about are we? Of course it can be removed in terms of the computer or piece of paper, press the delete button, tear up the page, use a eraser, put some tipex on it. But the reality is that, legally wise, you can't.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:07

Jolteh said:
It can be removed.

Well yes it can I suppose.
I have access to everybody's Medical Records in our City and surrounding areas and if I wanted I could just throw them in the bin or put them through the shredder.
However it would be against the law, gross misconduct, a very heavy fine and I could go to jail depending on how much I'd 'removed'.
If you have altered Medical Records in any way you deserve to be reported to the authorities because it's not like Facebook raping.
In short what is in the Medical Records stays in the Medical Records and you have to go through a lot of red tape to legally get it removed but I could also give you a fiver and you could shred it.
Of course somewhere up the road this could come back and bite you because daily I have Solicitors complaining about missing records, it could just be on a date between a certain time and when I can't find it we have all Clinicians (and others) involved signing a Statement Of Truth.
That one missing entry could mean a ruling against the Trust.

Raymond Lin · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:33

Besides, for OP's question.

If asked "have you ever been suffered from depression?"

I would tick No. Because it was a misdiagnosis and you never had depression.

Dr.EM · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:37

bitslice said:
To what extent people with depression avoid seeking help I don't know, but I bet some people don't want such a thing being seen by employers.

Well, that's why I asked really. I am not exactly compelled to 'seek help' anyhow as I don't think there is any, not really, but the fact it could cause more trouble down the line does compound the situation.

triggerthat · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:41

I signed some paperwork saying I had depression. They still employed me. It just means I go to Ocupational Health to make sure I am doing well.

I didn't realise that there are jobs which say no to current or past depressives. I thought disability discrimination act prevented this?

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:44

Castiel said:
It only needs be declared if it was diagnosed, if it was later found to be a misdiagnosis then it is not relevant to either Employment or Insurance.

This is the case. It was a misdiagnosis so that's not a problem for employment. Don't worry about it.

soundb0y · 13 Mar 2011 at 13:58

Where do you work dmpoole? I spend all day chasing med legal depts. for records.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Mar 2011 at 14:02

soundb0y said:
Where do you work dmpoole? I spend all day chasing med legal depts. for records.

University Hospital Of North Staffordshire but I can't say I've ever had a Pre Action Disclosure from Bristol.

Castiel · 13 Mar 2011 at 14:07

triggerthat said:
I signed some paperwork saying I had depression. They still employed me. It just means I go to Ocupational Health to make sure I am doing well.

I didn't realise that there are jobs which say no to current or past depressives. I thought disability discrimination act prevented this?

C and D class driving licences require you to declare depression, and can lead to removal of said licences and thus the jobs that require them.

I think the reasons are obvious why you dont want a manic depressive driving a bus with 70 people on it.

soundb0y · 13 Mar 2011 at 14:08

I don't work in Bristol my location is outdated. Im working at PMG in Ludlow.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Mar 2011 at 14:20

soundb0y said:
I don't work in Bristol my location is outdated. Im working at PMG in Ludlow.

So Solicitors hire you to do the work.
I haven't seen your name but a similar company is Premier Medical Services.

soundb0y · 13 Mar 2011 at 14:23

Yeah that's right.

I haven't heard of that company but premex are similar I believe.

billyboyd · 13 Mar 2011 at 16:10

When i was 19 years old i made a huge mistake of telling my doctor i drank too much. I am now 42 and i cringe every time i go to the doctors as right at the top of the computer screen in big bold letters under the title significant past is alcohol abuse.

Looking back i was just a normal teen i suppose, didn't have any responsibility back then so i just blew what bit of money i got in the pub.
Once i met the wife, got a house e.t.c i packed it all in and hardly touch a drop now.

It really pees me off to think the problems with my back went ignored for a couple of years, yet i mention i drank to much when i actually went to the doctors over something unrelated and bam !!

I would really like to get that off my medical records.

dazzerd · 13 Mar 2011 at 18:07

MrMoonX said:
employers cant see your medical records, you can be asked to give consent for them to apply to your doctor for a report, not your entire records, bit of mis information going on here

Correct.

Last time I saw a job app. you only have to declare a medical problem if you believe it is relevant to the job you are going for. The majority of employers do not require nor can have access to your records in any circumstances; for the very reason that they will discriminate against people.

I once had a medical problem which meant I was off work for a significant amount of time; my employer wanted to know what the problem was; I refused to tell them and my doctor wrote on the doctors' note "debilitare" which basically means non of your business!. I still have the job by the way.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Mar 2011 at 18:33

MrMoonX said:
employers cant see your medical records, you can be asked to give consent for them to apply to your doctor for a report, not your entire records, bit of mis information going on here

I always wondered what happened because I know 100% what the implications of 'seeing your medical records' involves.
So basically a Doctor writes a synopsis letter with the persons consent?

Castiel · 13 Mar 2011 at 18:41

dmpoole said:
I always wondered what happened because I know 100% what the implications of 'seeing your medical records' involves.
So basically a Doctor writes a synopsis letter with the persons consent?

We require on occasion confirmation of diagnoses and/or evidence that a pre-existing condition is either not relevant or is managed sufficiently so that the employee is still within the legal framework of current legislation.

We do not receive the full medical records of anyone. We receive only conformation of the information we request as per the information the employee gives us on his application and/or periodic declaration of relevant conditions.

Employers do not "see" your medical records.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Mar 2011 at 19:27

Castiel said:
We do not receive the full medical records of anyone.

Ministries departments in Trusts would be overwhelmed and I know it can take months sometimes to get a persons records together.

Castiel said:
We receive only conformation of the information we request as per the information the employee gives us on his application and/or periodic declaration of relevant conditions.

So basically when I put information on the NHS Occupational Health form because it is asked in a certain way and I don't want to tell fibs, that is the only information they require from a GP?
So in my case the GP letter would read:
1) Knee operations in 1985 but never came back complaining
2) Depression in 1988 but no problems since then
3) Asthma but hasn't ordered his inhalers for 5 years

I always wanted to know what employers ask for and what they get (with permission).