Getting information from the hospital

[Alpo]

As a general rule, hospitals won't tell you anything unless you are family. Unless you are related to the patient.

 

I looked up next of kin one time. In order, it was spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, uncle/aunt.

 

And I noticed that neither step parent nor fiance was on that list.

 

In the online story I am reading, Bill had a heart attack. They take him to the hospital, and Donna is trying to find out how he is. But they won't tell her anything because she's not related. So she tells them that she is related - she is his fiancee.

 

She lied, but that's irrelevant. Would they consider a fiancee a relative so they can give you information?

 

The movie WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Basically the same thing. The guy got knocked off the subway platform and Sandra Bullock jumped down and pulled him out of the way so he didn't get run over by the train. But he's unconscious in the hospital, and they won't tell her anything. Until she tells them that he is her fiance. Then they tell her all kinds of stuff.

 

That was a movie. This story I'm reading is a story.

 

In real life, would they have told her anything?

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

524-If I am unconscious or not around can my health care provider still share or discuss my health information | HHS.gov

[Chantry]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

As a general rule, hospitals won't tell you anything unless you are family. Unless you are related to the patient.

 

I looked up next of kin one time. In order, it was spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, uncle/aunt.

 

And I noticed that neither step parent nor fiance was on that list.

 

In the online story I am reading, Bill had a heart attack. They take him to the hospital, and Donna is trying to find out how he is. But they won't tell her anything because she's not related. So she tells them that she is related - she is his fiancee.

 

She lied, but that's irrelevant. Would they consider a fiancee a relative so they can give you information?

 

The movie WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Basically the same thing. The guy got knocked off the subway platform and Sandra Bullock jumped down and pulled him out of the way so he didn't get run over by the train. But he's unconscious in the hospital, and they won't tell her anything. Until she tells them that he is her fiance. Then they tell her all kinds of stuff.

 

That was a movie. This story I'm reading is a story.

 

In real life, would they have told her anything?

 

Maybe.  The hospital might ask for DOB or something else that only a person close to the patient might know.  This is based on me calling to check on a relative.

[Alpo]

You know date of birth of relatives? Wow. I know my parents' and my brothers' and my daughter. I know my ex-wife's and my step kids'. If I think about it for a moment I can give it for my grandchildren.

 

I have, depending on whether you're supposed to still count ex-steps, either one niece and one nephew or two nieces and four nephews. A couple of years ago I asked my brother's son what his birthday was. Wrote it down. Asked him what his sister's was, and wrote it down. But my ex-wife's brother's and sister's kids - I have absolutely no idea. I'm not even sure within 10 years how old they are. Probably all my aunts and uncles are dead, but I've got cousins on both sides of the country. No idea about date of birth.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

A sweet old lady telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital 

Long

She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?" The operator said, "I can, what's the name and room number?"

The old laday in her weak voice said, "Norma Findlay, Room 302."

The operator replied, "Let me place you on hold while I check with her nurse."

After a few minutes the operator returned to the phone and said, "Oh, I have good news, her nurse just told me that Norma is doing very well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back as normal and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged on Tuesday."

The old lady said, "Thank you. That's wonderful! I was so worried! God bless you!"

The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"

The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in 302. No one tells me anything.