Why would the ER ask about your ancestry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just asked about my kid’s ancestry after they inquired about where he was born.

Kid was born in the US (so was I snd so was my husband).

All of us have very American names, do not speak with an accent, and do not appear to be anything other than American.

I know why your obgyn asks about ethnicity, but I have no idea why they would specifically inquire about ethnicity at the ER when you are there for a sports injury requiring an X-ray.

Any thoughts?

What exactly is an “American” name?

Are you embarrassed to share your heritage?

One of my family members was mis-diagnosed because the clinicians did not understand that persons of color have different results to certain diagnostic tests.

Genetic background, like sex, absolutely matters in many medical contexts.

The first question was where were you born. That has absolutely nothing to do with ethnicity. Quite frankly, neither does ancestry.

They didn’t ask if we were Caucasian…because that was abundantly apparent.

It’s new, and it’s inappropriate.

Where you were born could impact your health, like if your family is from a country known to have a lot of TB cases. You could've been exposed as a child.

It’s a brand new question.

And it would be very surprising for Jennifer Smith or John Jones to have been born in a country where TB is a concern.

Regardless, when all you need is an X-ray for a suspected broken bone, there’s no need to know where I was born.

They should not assume anything, and also not profile.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it is part of a TB screen? TB is rampant now - it is one reason you are seeing more ERs require masking upon arrival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are white, so sickle cell isn’t relevant.

We are here for a very obvious sports injury requiring a simple X-ray, so ancestry is irrelevant.

While I’ve seen questions regarding ethnicity on medical forms at a doctor’s office, those questions are more directly tied to race and language.

They asked where my kid was born and what our ancestry is. We have never been asked these questions before in this ER.

And yes, it’s a medstar ER.

Are is question in writing ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are white, so sickle cell isn’t relevant.

We are here for a very obvious sports injury requiring a simple X-ray, so ancestry is irrelevant.

While I’ve seen questions regarding ethnicity on medical forms at a doctor’s office, those questions are more directly tied to race and language.

They asked where my kid was born and what our ancestry is. We have never been asked these questions before in this ER.

And yes, it’s a medstar ER.

Are is question in writing ?

No, the questions were not in writing. The first person who speaks with people checking in at the er asks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are white, so sickle cell isn’t relevant.

We are here for a very obvious sports injury requiring a simple X-ray, so ancestry is irrelevant.

While I’ve seen questions regarding ethnicity on medical forms at a doctor’s office, those questions are more directly tied to race and language.

They asked where my kid was born and what our ancestry is. We have never been asked these questions before in this ER.

And yes, it’s a medstar ER.

Are is question in writing ?

No, the questions were not in writing. The first person who speaks with people checking in at the er asks.

This is MAGA nonsense. ICE is sitting in ER entries waiting for people they can fill their quotas with in some places.

You should complain to the hospital—loudly. Ask for an explanation of why this question is being asked, if not for this purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASK. Since you're posting from the ER. Also tell them you were not asked previously, see what they say. There will be a reasonable explanation.

And then update the thread.

The response was, “It’s required by the intake system.”

This isn’t an answer. Why was it added as an item to the intake system? By whom? When?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just asked about my kid’s ancestry after they inquired about where he was born.

Kid was born in the US (so was I snd so was my husband).

All of us have very American names, do not speak with an accent, and do not appear to be anything other than American.

I know why your obgyn asks about ethnicity, but I have no idea why they would specifically inquire about ethnicity at the ER when you are there for a sports injury requiring an X-ray.

Any thoughts?

What exactly is an “American” name?

Are you embarrassed to share your heritage?

One of my family members was mis-diagnosed because the clinicians did not understand that persons of color have different results to certain diagnostic tests.

Genetic background, like sex, absolutely matters in many medical contexts.

The first question was where were you born. That has absolutely nothing to do with ethnicity. Quite frankly, neither does ancestry.

They didn’t ask if we were Caucasian…because that was abundantly apparent.

It’s new, and it’s inappropriate.

Where you were born could impact your health, like if your family is from a country known to have a lot of TB cases. You could've been exposed as a child.

It’s a brand new question.

And it would be very surprising for Jennifer Smith or John Jones to have been born in a country where TB is a concern.

Regardless, when all you need is an X-ray for a suspected broken bone, there’s no need to know where I was born.

This is such a bizarre comment. You would have zero idea of the country I was born in based on my name. 100% white bread American children are born all over the world every single day.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps they’re participating in some sort of multi center study looking at ancestry. There are certain studies that wouldn’t require informed consent (or they’d be covered in something you’ve already signed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps they’re participating in some sort of multi center study looking at ancestry. There are certain studies that wouldn’t require informed consent (or they’d be covered in something you’ve already signed).

Absolute poppycock. A question for this purpose would not be asked at the check-in desk.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is bizarre and hasn’t happened to me. Related, my son needed an xray for a sports related injury and at the urgent care, they insisted on taking his temperature and blood pressure which I tried to decline because the kid wasn’t sick. They wouldn’t let me. But your situation is even more bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, this is bizarre and hasn’t happened to me. Related, my son needed an xray for a sports related injury and at the urgent care, they insisted on taking his temperature and blood pressure which I tried to decline because the kid wasn’t sick. They wouldn’t let me. But your situation is even more bizarre.

by regulation.

Depending on which state you are in, temperature and BP are required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps they’re participating in some sort of multi center study looking at ancestry. There are certain studies that wouldn’t require informed consent (or they’d be covered in something you’ve already signed).

Absolute poppycock. A question for this purpose would not be asked at the check-in desk.

Of course it could be. They’re entering into the EHR.