Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This morning I was at a radiology center waiting to be called back for an MRI. When I arrived I noticed an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was with an older man (but not nearly as old as her) who had just gotten out of a nursing home shuttle. The elderly woman was still being checked in when I sat down after doing my check in process.

Once I sat down I began to hear the employee behind the counter asking the elderly woman some medical history questions. The man who was with her clearly did not know her well, so I assume he was a volunteer or something who was helping get this woman to this appointment. The elderly woman could not hear well at all so the employee had to stand up to look over the counter at her in the wheelchair and speak very loudly. The questions she was asking included, "how old were you when you started your period?", "how old were you when you began menopause?", "when did you get your hysterectomy", "how old were you when your first child was born?", "when were you first diagnosed with breast cancer?", etc. The employee repeated these questions 4-5 times each and even suggested some answers/age ranges. The elderly woman in the wheelchair was giggling nervously and apologetically while shaking her head quietly repeating "I am 93 years old". The man was doing great trying to help her but also was like a deer in headlights.

It was an uncomfortable situation for all involved - employee, helper man, patient, people in the waiting room, etc., and nobody's dignity was respected. I feel like they could have taken her to anther room, or just put "NA" in the answers or even better - the facility or family member or what have you who scheduled the appointment could have answered these questions online beforehand like I always do before my mamo. This certainly doesn't seem like best practices for the facility, but I am also not totally familiar with medical center protocol and also wonder if there were some HIPAA issues there. Thoughts?

My thoughts is you have thought way too much about this, everyone was doing the best they could, and it was insanely inappropriate of you to have posted about it here.

The horrific medical establishment must be exposed for what it is. Instead of trying to cover it all up, do better, yes, YOU.

[Anonymous]

Even if she’s got another 10 years to go, what sort of treatments would they do on a 93 year old? Chemo? Radiation?

Funny enough, I know a woman who beat breast cancer in her early 90s. She’s 96 now, living a life I hope to at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

My aunt had cancer surgery at 94, is still alive at 103. Why do you get to decide who gets to live or how long?

Sometimes in light of other dire diagnoses, something may not actually help, but apparently you don't even feel this woman deserves medical care.

Alive and living are not the same thing.
I pray that I do not live to 103!

My aunt is alive and living. Full life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here - to be clear, I think she was getting a mammogram. I was the one waiting for the MRI. But again, I shouldn’t even know that information but I could infer it by the questions. I also wasn’t clear in my OP that the woman couldn’t remember the answers to these questions. She clearly had some memory loss as well as being hard of hearing.

I also think I might call the center. I was thinking about it and I see some of you have suggested it.

Do they do mammos on 93 year old women? Guidelines say to stop at 75.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot about HIPAA and that was handled completely inappropriately. So much so I would have probably intervened, asked them to stop and asked to see the office manager. Egregious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

Well, if she was found to have breast cancer, then they would have the information they need to determine treatment — whether that involves chemo, something more basic, or simply palliative care. It just gives the doctor information n so they (doctor and patient) can make decisions.

Like I said: treating almost anything on a 93 year old is a waste of resources.

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot about HIPAA and that was handled completely inappropriately. So much so I would have probably intervened, asked them to stop and asked to see the office manager. Egregious.

Sure, but it wasn't a HIPAA violation.

Not everything that is inappropriate is a HIPAA violation. It's a targeted regulation of limited scope, and it cannot apply to all situations.

Or would you like to explain exactly how it was? Start with covering entities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - to be clear, I think she was getting a mammogram. I was the one waiting for the MRI. But again, I shouldn’t even know that information but I could infer it by the questions. I also wasn’t clear in my OP that the woman couldn’t remember the answers to these questions. She clearly had some memory loss as well as being hard of hearing.

I also think I might call the center. I was thinking about it and I see some of you have suggested it.

Do they do mammos on 93 year old women? Guidelines say to stop at 75.

Good point.
Is OP Trolling