quote:

ORIGINAL: greybeardted

I don't know whether this has been covered before, but what do you tell your GP (doctor) if he/she notices the bruises and other marks from recent 'punishment/torture' sessions ? It worries me if they think I am really beating up my wife.Do I tell him we are into bdsm ?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Emperor1956

FR:  It is always so much fun to read a thread on CM with loads of really shitty advice.  Especially from a few of the famous CM "experts" -- well if SO and SO says "TELL YOUR MD EVERYTHING" she must be right.  Yah.   I think it is so funky and groovy that you all are upfront with your doctors -- indeed you get right in their faces it seems and challenge them with how kinky you are.  So it won't bother you to learn that:

1.  Any competent physician will have to make a choice about whether to chart your statements and note the bruises.   You have no real say in how much he or she charts - physicians are legally responsible to chart relevant medical history.  And is your D/s behavior relevant?  Well, that's a difficult one.   But generally, doctors are taught to chart everything a patient brings to the encounter, and I'd think most would find sexual behavior noteworthy.   So your doctor makes a few notes about your spanking sessions and voila -- we have a near permanent record of your spanko behavior.  

Now that medical chart will live on your entire life -- and sometimes after your life.  Sure, there is the HIPAA statute and state confidentiality laws that "protect" your medical records.  Uh huh.  I bet you want your kinky life documented and don't mind relying on a fairly-difficult-to-enforce law to stop folks from misusing your medical records.  Its written down, now, people.  Its permanent.  ALL of it.  That you are into kink (in what detail you provide).  WHO you are kinky with, if you discussed that.  Lots of information that you might otherwise choose to keep from folks.  And yes, people do access medical records illegally and do use the information wrongfully.  And the legal recourse is shutting the old barn door long after Flicka has vanished.

2.  Of course a whole bunch of people can access your record without any risk of violation.  For instance, nearly EVERY EMPLOYEE of your physician may have access to your medical chart -- not just your doctor, but her nurses, medical assistants, billing clerks, office manager(s), consultants, etc.   And should you someday go into the hospital, then your chart -- with the diary of "How I got my ass beaten" can become fair game for literally hundreds of folks.  (For what its worth, I could read the medical charts of about 100 patients per day, seven days a week, in various Chicago-area hospitals if I chose to  (I don't.  I think it would be unethical.  But my job -- and I'm not a doctor -- gives me a legal right to do so).    OH...did I mention insurers?  A couple of dozen folks there with nearly unfettered access.  Your employer?  Maybe, depending on the nature of the work and what information you give.  Quality control reviewers?  State agents?  And if you or your spouse are in the military, the relevant CO.  Of course you hip and in-your-face folks won't mind any of those folks reading your chart, will you?

3.  Oh, a brief aside -- should you some day have ANYTHING happen to you that requires review of your medical history for legal purposes  (litigation from a car accident ?   An employment dispute in which your alleged disability or work-related injury is focused upon?  A will contest?   A criminal proceeding where your health is at issue? etc.) you of course won't mind that your medical records will be at minimum disclosed to the lawyers and parties in the suit, and may be disclosed in the course of the legal proceedings to the jury, or may find themselves part of a permanent, easily accessible court file.  And you won't mind that your kink could become an issue in the case, right?   Because you are hip and in your face about loving how kinky you are, right?

4.  Finally, as leatherist pointed out, every state has laws mandating physicians report "abuse" of various types -- child, elder, and in some instances suspected spousal abuse.   Now two things -- the pressure in the system is on the doctor to disclose.  Failure to disclose if discovered can result in discipline or loss of license.  MOREOVER, reporting in good faith results in immunity from retaliation for the doctor, so if he or she thinks you are abused, and can defend it, you might become a social welfare case for the state.  That means, if you still don't get it, that your doctor is encouraged to report "abuse" and protected from your anger if he or she does so.

And of course, you hip and groovy types won't mind being ground down by the fairly inept and very powerful forces of "family and children" welfare, having your ums taken from you (clearly you are an unfit parent) and possibly having that person who beat you subject to prosecution because they were the "agent" of the "abuse".   Yah, its extreme, and I would hope that it wouldn't every go that far, but in fact it has.  And all because you couldn't keep your mouth shut about the beating you got last night before you went to the doctor.

If it isn't directly medically relevant, your physician doesn't WANT to know and doesn't NEED to know.  Shut up.

E.

Edited to add:  The original poster was a gentleman from the UK.  I don't know how much of my advice applies there, as my thread was based on USA law.  But I bet the same general principles govern the law of most modern countries.  Still, when dealing with legal stuff, remember that this post isn't legal advice, I'm not your lawyer, and I don't want to know about your spanko behavior, even if I don't write it down.

quote:

Some people have a 'personal relationship' with their primary health provider. They may have a very long relationship with them. They might like to tell them everything. Others, like me, don't. i have moved more than 30 times in my life and have lived in several different states and overseas. i've been seen by military doctors, community health clinics, private practice doctors, and the V.A. medical system doctors. i couldn't tell you the name of any of them, including the ones that i see now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: slavegirljoy

Fast Reply:
As a literate proffessional woman in a big city, your chances of choosing a medical proffessional who trusts your judgement is very high on the scale.  Im picking you didnt just take a guess at who you called for your consultations, you would have followed recommendations from people you trust.  Its good to be in a position to do so, I recommend it completely.

Some folk live in the Bible Belt or similar provinces/cities/towns etc and simply can't trust the medical system to protect their privacy.

I advocate distrust unless absolutely necessary.  But please don't quote me, this is just my opinion.

f

(in reply to slavegirljoy)

quote:

ORIGINAL: daddysprop247

unless one can be sure that your doctor is lifestyle aware and friendly or very open-minded, i wouldn't advise being overly open about one's lifestyle or sexual practices. from personal experience i know the drama and misery that can happen when you go to the dr. for some other cause and they only want to focus on your bruises and old (punishment related) injuries.

what works best for me is to lie, lie, lie. maybe make up a hobby, like martial arts, kickboxing, or some very physical sport. make up some simple (believeable) accident. the most important thing is the way you carry yourself and your attitude...don't seem nervous or uncomfortable, like a victim. wear a stupid grin, seem perky and upbeat, casually explain any obvious marks or bruises, and keep it moving. another thing is i try to avoid seeing the same medical doctor for a long period of time. since i've been in the lifestyle, i haven't seen any GP or gyn more than twice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alumbrado




You do realize that a doctor who sees injuries that don't match the description of their cause, from someone faking an upbeat attitude, who has switched doctors repeatedly, and each time has claimed to have 'walked into a door', or 'fallen off a bike' is going to be reaching for the phone while you are still passing the front desk don't you?

quote:

ORIGINAL: slavegirljoy
A woman (or man) has to go to the doctor or emergency room seeking treatment for injuries from being slapped around, punched, kicked, etc., in order to get it reported and investigated.  

joy
Owned servant of Master David

quote:

ORIGINAL: daddysprop247

quote:

ORIGINAL: slavegirljoy
A woman (or man) has to go to the doctor or emergency room seeking treatment for injuries from being slapped around, punched, kicked, etc., in order to get it reported and investigated.  

joy
Owned servant of Master David

that's actually not true. if a doctor notices unrelated bruises or injuries on your body during the course of examining or treating you for whatever cause, they have the right to report it and alert police.