this is what happened

I called admitting to find out the time of my surgery which was scheduled for feb.1. they told me i was not on the schedule and to call harriet the office manager. i called her , she called back and told me dr. would not be doing the surgery and she is not at liberty to tell me why. I get a letter stating dr. patient relationship is broken. I do not understand what he is refering to so i call harriet she tells me she can't tell me and to go to dr. braithwaite. i tell her i can't do this because of insurance. believe me he was my first choice because he has a phenomenal reputation and that is the kind of dr. i want but i had to settle for this self promoting quack. So anyway I'm getting bored of my own story just trying to help others so they don't make the same mistakes.

just one other thing i forgot to mention dr. gabriel did not adequately prepare me for surgery. You are not suppossed to drink 6 weeks prior to. I saw this on the pre-op paperwork 11/2 weeks before my surgery during an office visit. I told him i had alot of parties that weekend and would be drinking alcohol, He did not tell me not to . He said start pre-op diet 1 week prior to surgery which was the following Mon.

Go pick up copies of your doctors notes. You are entitled to them. The office people might charge you a copying fee and they might say they need a day or so to get them ready for you.

But it could be something out of the doctors control such as your insurance won't cover his procedures anymore, or he has issues with the state board, or any other number of things that affect his ability to treat you but weren't caused specifically by interacting with you.

I tried to pick up these notes, they will not give them. My insurance covers everything but the copays. My approval is good for 6 months. Yes you are right there are issues with the state boards they are investigating complaints.

You have to be provided copies of your records if you request them. IT IS THE LAW....they do not give originals and they are allowed to charge a small fee but if you ask for copies they must provide them. If they truly have refused you need to contact the medical board and let them know his office is breaking the law. Now, I'm not saying walk in screaming and demanding them right that second. It may take a day or two to get the copies made, and, as I said they may charge you for them but you are entitled to copies if you request them. After all, they are your records....Good luck.

I checked out the "Patients Bill of Rights" and it says that it is for patients that are hospitalized. Does this include office visits?

http://www.health.state.ny.us/professionals/patients/patient_rights/docs/english.pdf

#15 is what Christie is referring to.

btrieger, a patients bill of rights is not law. What governs compulsion of release of medical records is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 45 C.F.R. Parts 160-164, which is Federal law.

I tried to pick up these notes, they will not give them. My insurance covers everything but the copays. My approval is good for 6 months. Yes you are right there are issues with the state boards they are investigating complaints.

Google HIPAA release, print and fill it out then mail it to your doctors office certified, return receipt requested.

If they are truly denying you access to your records then it is because they aren't expecting your to know the law. If they do not mail them to you within 30 days, then you can file a federal complaint against them.

Yup, what minimeme said, but holy cow girl for knowing the exact part of the law to quote. Remind me never to make you mad.

Here this might help For Consumers

Thanks for all your help. I'll have to file a complaint.