How do you get your elderly parents doctors to talk to you about your parents health?
My elderly mother is in the hospital but the doctors will not talk to me or my sister about what is going on with our mother. She is unable to walk and has been in the hospital off and on for over a month.
That may have to do with doctor patient privilege. If your mother is unable to make decisions try getting a court order for her care.
Thank HIPPAA for this. Your mother needs to sign off with her permission to talk to someone else about her condition. That’s the law.
Because of privacy laws, doctors are reluctant to talk to anyone other that the patient about their health. A simple way to remedy this is to have your mother sign a wavier allowing her doctor to speak to you, or anyone else she chooses. The form can be picked up at the doctor’s office.
Go to the hospital business office and ask for their blank Release of Information form. Have your mother sign it (two originals), then ask the Dr. for the info. He is prevented under federal law (HIPAA) from talking with you without the release.
** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. **
I think you have rights as siblings…you need to know what is going on with your Mum, in case in the future, she cannot speak for herself, at least if you know what is going on now, if it so happens that your Mum cannot speak for herself, then you or your sister can speak for her and tell the medical staff what her history is…fight for your right to know what is happening to your Mum.
YOU CAN GET AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE, THIS GIVES THE DOCTORS PERMISSION TO TALK TO YOU EVEN WHEN YOUR PARENTS ARE STILL ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES, AND ALSO WHEN THEY ARE IN THE HOSPITAL OR BECAME INCAPABLE OF MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
my mother in-laws doctor speaks with my husband (her son) regarding her health. my husband has made a point to go to appointments with her and he has made it clear that she has difficulty understand/remembering things the doctor tells her or things she needs to tell the doctor. the doctor calls him to let us know when she needs a test done or give results. let the doctor know there is a communication problem or you need to understand her health issues better, at your mother request, in order to care for her fully.