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Author
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Topic: how do I access my medical records??
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Meredith
Junior Member
Member # 550
Rate Member
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posted 30 May 2006 07:55 PM
Hi all,
I am mumma to my 3 beautiful bubbas 7,5 and 2 y/o...all born via unnecessary c/s.
We would like to have another baby in a ciuple of yours and would dearly love a VBAC. I am wanting to do as much planning as possible and wish to obtain copies of my records from the obst. that I had for all three of my births. I was wondering how I go about accessing these records.
Thanks so much,
Meredith xx
Posts: 2 | From: Melbourne | Registered: Feb 2006
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<jen>
unregistered
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posted 01 June 2006 11:03 AM
Hey, went through the same drama with my last birth! I too had unnessessary sections, and found my hospital very cagey on showing them to me. In QLD, I had to go to the medical records section and fill out an aplicatition for a copy of my records. They then screened them (wonder why?) before contacting me about 3 weeks later. I also had to pay for copying and some pages were also ommited from my file
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<Heather>
unregistered
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posted 18 June 2006 02:05 PM
I obtained all my medical records from my obstetrician and the hospital where I had my three caesars. I put my request in writing and was clear I wanted COMPLETE records and was prepared to pay resonable photocopying costs. As I understand it they screen your records first to see if there is perhaps anything they do not want you to see (eg letters between doctors) but you should state in your letter if all records are not supplied you wish to know why or that you wish a covering letter stating these are COMPLETE records.
Good Luck
Heather
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JenBen
Member
Member # 520
Rate Member
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posted 18 June 2006 06:41 PM
Hi
you could also access your records under the Freedom of Information act, I phoned up the information number in the phone book (Freedom of Info bureau - I think) and obtained advice on how to go about getting them.
cheers Jennie
Posts: 52 | From: perth | Registered: Sep 2005
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<Lexy>
unregistered
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posted 03 July 2006 04:44 PM
Hi,
You have a right to access information on your own file.Completing a Freedom of information request is definately the way to go when looking to do this. Contact the Clinical Information Service at your local hospital and they will be able to help you out.
There are certain classes of sensitive information that maynot be accessed through your FOI. For example if there have been child protection concerns or a report has been made about you to DOCS the identity of the reporter cannot be revealed. Sometimes a senior Doctor is required to sit with you when you view your file to ensure that you aviod misunderstanding confusing medical jargon. I don't know about private doctors, but accessing information through the public health system is usually fair and information is generally only taken out if required to by law or if it could cause a risk to someone else.
Good luck!
x Lexy
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Mirl
Junior Member
Member # 571
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posted 03 July 2006 08:23 PM
Hello everyone, I am new on this fantastic site. I am looking for any recommendations on midwives / obs who are sincerely supportive of VBACS.. I have had two c/s. 1st placenta preavia and second i think they decided it was failure to progress. My second pregnancy went to 41 weeks plus 6 days overdue. Is there any real medical reason for inducement because of this? What is the real medical risk for going 2 weeks or more overdue?
This was a hospital that many say is pro VBAC. It is the major womens hospital here in Perth. But nothing in my situation was natural. I had to have a baloon - which I found traumatic. Then they had to burst the bag in the morning. Then they gave me the drug to start contractions via drip. I was discouraged from moving from the bed so they could get a clearer reading form the external fetal monitor and when I did move, I had poles come with me etc etc. So much for being supportive of VBAC!
Anyway, now I am having my third. There is no problem with the pregnancy. I want to try for another VBAC. The doctor initially said no. Then she said "Well if you really wanted to, we will support you in that, though there is a higher chance of losing the whole uterus". (Great support) At last appointment, she tried to book me in for C/S at 38 weeks.
I know if I stay with this hospital I will end up with a c/s. I am fed up of fighting them. (previous two births were horrible stories). I know it is hospital policy to just get the mums in and the babies our asap. A production line.
I have am about to have an apointment with a doula. What are the pros and cons of a doula or a midwife as a support person? I feel I want both but the hospital I think will only allow 2 support people including hubby.
I tried changing hospitals. One will not even consider a VBA3C and another said they will have to discuss it and then were really doubtful when I said I was 34 weeks pregnant.
What can I do in these last few weeks to give myself the best chance of a natural delivery?
Posts: 1 | Registered: Jul 2006
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Shelley
Junior Member
Member # 393
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posted 04 July 2006 08:24 PM
Hi Mirl. I sent you a private email message tonight. If you didn't get it, could you ring me again please? I have some more information for you.
thanks
Shelley
Posts: 6 | From: Perth, Australia | Registered: Sep 2003
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