Doc refusing to release forms?

[yogachick79]

Good morning, I am new to the forum but not to MDC or the subject of not vaxing.

We are having a major issue with our health clinic and it may cause our son to be expelled from his preschool! I have written and submitted our religious exemption form for all of his vaccinations to the school and am awaiting their decision. However, because we don't have any records of shots (duh), our new clinic will not release his school physical form which the school also needs.

How do I approach this with their office? I've tried the "it's MY form and I paid for the exam" approach and the doctor won't budge. I've asked that she just put a giant permanent marker X through the vax part if she's simply concerned that we'll forge the information. Nothing is working and they won't return my calls at this point. If I don't have this form to them Monday morning before we walk in to the preschool building, he cannot return

Do you think it would help to offer her office a documented copy of our letter that was given to the school?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

What is her reason for not releasing the letter? Does she give you one? I would definetly try offering to send them a copy of the religious exemption, SIGNED if they are worried about you forging the exam card.

What about her stating right on the exam card that he has had no vaxxes and then sign it? This all seems very strange to me, but its good to know what I might be up against in the years to come......Sorry I have to learn at your expense though. This stinks!

[SunshineJ]

I don't believe they can legally withold medical records from you! I'd call around and find an attorney willing to write them a nasty letter for $25 and try that route. Or call the local entity that regulates such things (health dept?) and ask their advice. **Better yet contant your health insurance company and let them know that your dr is not being cooperative and providing the services you/they paid for. That usually works miracles pretty fast! Let the school know what is going on as well. If you don't think they'll do it by Monday, then take your child to one of the walk in clinics at like Walgreens and get another physical done to get the form filled out. Sucks to pay twice but it may be the only way.

[Emmeline II]

I'd call the insurance and complain about the Dr. withholding services paid for. You may still need to go to a clinic if you are in a time crunch.

You could always try walking into the office and say VERY loudly, "I paid for a school physical and I want the form that I paid for!"

You are entitled to written notice if you are being dismissed from a practice; otherwise you could sue for abandonment.

[Marnica]

Id tell them they will behearing from your lawyer...what they are doing is not legal. They cannot with hold medical records from you and a school physical form is a medical record

[Purple Cat]

I was in a similiar situation. I received a call from one of our EI providers cancelling our appt. Then, I received a call from our EI service coordinator telling me that she talked to our pediatrician's office and that hte pediatrician refused to authorize any more services because my children were not vaccinated. (We don't vaccinate for religious reasons.)

I called the clinic and spoke to the nurse. I told her I was hearing this third-hand, but I needed to verify whether the pediatrician was refusing to authorize therapy because my children were not vaccinated. I told her I needed to know if it was true because that was PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT. The nurse went in to the files, saw that the children had previously received services, and had another pediatrician immediately authroize therapy so the children could continue to receive the services. If she hadn't, I was sending a letter immediately to the Illinois Dept. of Professional Responsibility.

Similarly, refusing to relase a form verifying a physical is PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT, reportable to the Illinois Dept. of Prof. Regulation. I would report the nurse, the pediatrician, and anyone else involved because for all of them it would be grossly illegal and violations of their legal professional and ethical obligations.

Sometimes, I think that a threat to sue, especially when damages are arguably small (as opposed to damages from actually causing someone permanent paralysis or death) isn 't necessarily as effective as a professional having to deal with possibly losing their license or facing professional sanctions.

I personally would walk into the clinic and hand the office a coyp of your religious exemption. I also would ask them to sign a statement that they were refusing to release the record because of your failure to vaccinate because you have been informed that it is professional misconduct.

Oh, I also later learned that it wasn't the pediatrician or nurse who took the position that failure to vaccinate means no further authorizations for therapy. IT WAS THE FRICKING RECEPTIONIST WHO MADE UP HER OWN VERSION OF THE WAY SHE WANTED THE WORLD TO BE -- AND TOLD THE EI COORDINATOR AND ENDED UP GETTING THERAPISTS CANCELLING THEIR APPT. WITH MY CHILD!!!!

I'm in Evanston. I would love to know what clinic you're talking about. . . . my bet is its the same receptionist.

HTH