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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Freedom of Information

I am writing this to make people aware of the "possible" power of freedom of information. For those unaware, when I originally tried to obtain records to find out information on my donor, on 3 separate occasions I was told:
“The records are lost and we don’t know where they are”
“The records are destroyed”
“There are no records”
So I had 3 different stories. Which story was I supposed to believe?
Now technically these records are my mother’s treatment records and the procedure while carried out in a clinic, occurred in a public hospital. Under Freedom of Information (FOI) here we are entitled to obtain our own medical records. So I asked my mother to apply for her treatment records and delivery/postnatal records.
And guess what? Her treatment records with the donor code miraculously turned up along with the huge delivery/postnatal record tome (I have written about the problems of record keeping previously).
So here’s the gist. Even if a clinic tells you that records were destroyed over the phone or in person, do not accept it as fact until you (or should I say the relevant “legal” person) has applied for them in writing and through the official avenues.
With this example and the many others that I have heard of, how is any member of the triad; patients, “donors”, or most importantly offspring going to believe the word of the clinic and have trust in them. Not likely…………….

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Damian,

For adoptees the most common answers are they were destroyed in fire or flood.

Which of course is very convienent for the adoption agency to state...

I was told there was no file on me and from the state when I requested my non-id and told I must have been adopted from an agency or some other state etc.

Despite having been clear in my request that I held in my hands my unsealed adoption files from the court, that clearly stated I was adopted from that state. In the end I did not bother but I should have pushed to get my own records.

They lie because it is easier to make you go away.

damianhadams said...

Hi Adopted
I'd love a dollar for every time I've heard someone report that whether they be adopted or donated.
All of these clinics and agencies must have a hard time getting insurance because they are always burning or flooding (insert sarcasm).
I agree that it is an easy fob off for them.