Quick history here. I am an RN as well as a patient of a GI doc. Well, he has been treating me for almost 3 yrs and I am worse now than I was when I started "treatment". I have Ulcerative Colitis, bad but not life threatning (yet). So, after some complications from my last round of meds I developed an actual life threatning complication (pancreatitis w/ some strange liver involvement and splenomegaly).So, I had been c/o severe abdominal pain for over aweek, and this guy just wanted to put me on steroids. Thank g-d I didn't (can you imagine trying to mask the pain of pancreatitis...!?!) Anyhow, if he had LISTENED to my symptoms in th first place it would have spare me 2 ER visits and a helluva medical bill(s). By the way he just never saw me in his office or ran any labs (which in retrospect I should have demanded) for more than one year.
I am NOT suing or anything, I just had it w/ him and am going for a second opinion. I asked for a copy or fax of my comnplete file. The office faxed me a release blah, blah...They then faxed me practically NADA. A couple of labs from 3 yrs ago, no progress notes, no records of any treatment, history or medications. I call back and the office manager says "We don't release progress notes, those belong to the doctor." Well, I just said that doesn't sound right to me and I'd call back. O.K, I did my homework. I am in California where according to the Cal Medial Board, I have a LEGAL right to have a copy of my complete record within 15 days of asking in writing(the consent does this). If they don't comply, the board will make them give them over. I even sent a fax offering to pay for copy fees.
What should I do next? I don't want to lose my cool, but I want my copy so I can get on with it. What do you think?
