The medical assistant at my doctor's office asked me to review my personal information before my appointment today.

I struck through the line that said, "Religion: Latter Day Saint (Mormon)," in addition to a few other small changes. She agreed that she could make sure that it was removed.

It felt so good. One step at a time...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2018 12:24PM by Lowpriest.

Don't know if it'll happen to you, but when you ask the clerk to change it to "rabid atheist", that usually gets an eyebrow lifted...

...militant atheist, but I have not earned it yet. Soon...

I actually put "apathetic atheist" on one.
That made the office assistant chuckle ;)

A missionary recently asked me what my faith is since I'm not Catholic anymore.

I told him that I was an apatheist (h/t to somebody here who shared the term).

He had a confused look on his face as he searched his mental Rolodex.

"Religion bores me," I helpfully explained.

I love you guys, can I suggest “atheist wankers?”

about "religious preference." Without even thinking, I said, "None." And my sweet TBM DH was standing right there. I felt kind of guilty, but it was the truth and we both knew it.

Why does a doctor need to know anyone's religion ?

(I'm assuming that was rhetorical, Dave, but I'll answer anyway)

In case of death (or near-death), people who are religious often want someone from their religion to come in and do whatever "end of life" things religions do. Such as "last rites" for Catholics and such. If the doctor/hospital doesn't know your religious preference, they can't arrange for that.

Still, the question being there are all is an assumption that "most people" will want such a thing. Which may or may not be the case. It could just as well not be there, and anyone who wants such a thing would need to specifically request it.

So they force you opt out rather than making you opt in.

Exactly.

I have my pastor’s contact not so much for the religious rituals (anybody can say a prayer or make the Sign of the Cross on my forehead), but because my church’s clergy are highly trained in grief counseling. They are not pushy about religion, and will help my LDS children understand a natural grieving process that doesn’t involved minimizing the loss. Best wishes, Dave.

Try giving repeated blood transfusions to the premature infant of a Jehovah Witness couple. You need to know so you can get a court order early
Gatorman

Not what I thought this thread might be about :)

Yeah, we know what you rabbits are always thinking about...:)

Definitely NOT clickbait. You should have seen the look on my TBM wife’s face when she saw Lutheran.

Silly rabbit, clicks are for kids.

Winner! :)

Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids.

There's a long, horrible, "Shaggy Dog" story that goes with that punchline. Is horrible redundant when used with Shaggy Dog?

I’m glad the medical assistant didn’t respond by saying it was a local ecclesiastical matter and send a copy of the chart to you bishop.

It didn't occur to me until just now that she might be LDS. Even in a city our size word could get back.

I feel like a criminal trying to get caught. It's like a cry for help...

HIPPA laws in the US— (probably similar in Canada and Commonwealth countries) medical records are highly confidential and violation will bring down the wrath of the law.

Even in Utah? ;-)

Even in Utah, Toto.

It's hard on the people gathering the data.

As a nurse, I've asked loads of personal questions that I didn't really feel I needed to ask, but I didn't create the form or the software.

They want us to give culturally sensitive care, but I feel uncomfortable trying to get people to sum up their culture with a few words.

Even as a Mormon, I would ask, do you want me to list a religious preference?

It took me too long to figure out that if I didn't want to ask a question, 99 times out of 100, I'd get away with leaving it blank.

I agree with Dave, it would be great if those folks who need religious accommodation would let us know.

And it is a game of thrones not leaving...

I don't like being ambushed by rabid religious counselors demanding to pray for me when I'm sick in the hospital. If we don't make preferences clear, religious strangers can assume whatever suits them.