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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
I posted about this awhile back and then I thought the problem had gone away. The agency I work for sent me a big packet of papers to fill out, including a form to be completed by my doctor. The form asks for a list of all medications I'm taking and the doctor's opinion of my physical and mental health.
Now, if I was an airline pilot (if I was a rich man, zubba zubba zubba...) or even a bus driver, I could understand the need for my employer to have this information. But I don't do anything like that. So the fact that I am under psychiatric care and taking psychiatric medication
is none of their damn business.I did not return the medical form. Recently my employer informed me that if the form was not completed and in their hot little hands by July 14th, they would dock my pay $5 an hour until the form was turned in.
I don't think this is right. The agency does not pay for my medical insurance. I'm really perturbed about this. Of course, maybe they will fire me after they find out I'm a loon, and then we're talking lawsuit.
I know, I know, paranoid thinking.
-Gracie
Posted by Dinah on July 10, 2002, at 20:27:18
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
It does sound very intrusive. As long as you're doing your job, why should it matter? Not to mention all the legal problems with disability discrimination it could cause for them on the whole.
Do they explain their request? Is your industry somehow specifically exempt from the anti-discrimination rules? Do they have the right to ask, and how do they plan to use the information? (Sorry, I don't recall what line of work you are in.)
Posted by shar on July 10, 2002, at 21:55:00
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
Does the medical form filled out by your dr. relate to them collecting emergency info about you in case you suddenly collapsed on the job...or something equally dramatic? Does it go into the HR database? Or is it kept in a separate confidential file?
I agree completely, it is none of their business at all unless you can discern a reason for their request.
This is especially true if they don't pay your health insurance...why do they need a dr's report?
When I applied at a temp agency, their form asked all sorts of medical questions, gave them permission to contact my dr., gave them permission to do a credit check and police record check. For a temp agency!
I x'd it all out and said if the company they sent me to needed any of that info they could bring it up at that time. I don't recommend this, because I didn't hear from them again.
Shar
Posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 23:04:03
In reply to Re: It's none of their business!!, posted by shar on July 10, 2002, at 21:55:00
Those are some pretty good questions and I think I will call the agency to ask them for the answers.
Thanks-
Gracie
Posted by oracle on July 10, 2002, at 23:10:28
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
Is this for health/disability insurance ?
Posted by JohnDoenut on July 10, 2002, at 23:37:25
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
I would talk to a lawyer and see if something can be done about it that is you finding out and know what your legal rights are and if you have a leg to stand on then let them know in a nice way that you know this and you want your money. If they dont pay you then find another job and then sue them! Or threaten to anyway and see if that works.
J
Posted by LostBoyinNC1 on July 11, 2002, at 0:46:53
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
> I posted about this awhile back and then I thought the problem had gone away. The agency I work for sent me a big packet of papers to fill out, including a form to be completed by my doctor. The form asks for a list of all medications I'm taking and the doctor's opinion of my physical and mental health.
Are you in the USA?
>
> Now, if I was an airline pilot (if I was a rich man, zubba zubba zubba...) or even a bus driver, I could understand the need for my employer to have this information. But I don't do anything like that. So the fact that I am under psychiatric care and taking psychiatric medication
> is none of their damn business.No its not any of their business.
>
> I did not return the medical form. Recently my employer informed me that if the form was not completed and in their hot little hands by July 14th, they would dock my pay $5 an hour until the form was turned in.Thats most likely illegal. You need to contact an attorney and sue them for just threatening you with that. People have to learn...
>
> I don't think this is right. The agency does not pay for my medical insurance. I'm really perturbed about this. Of course, maybe they will fire me after they find out I'm a loon, and then we're talking lawsuit.
> I know, I know, paranoid thinking.Paranoid thinking? No...I dont blame you. As soon as people find out you are a "mental patient" and see a psychiatrist and take medications...you lose all or most of your credibility. I personally wish I had never gone to a psychiatrist, particularly in the beginning of my depression.
On the other hand, I personally dont hide the fact I have severe depression and take meds. But I do admit it has come back to haunt me a few times when people know. They treat you differently.
I say sue away and clean their clock. Maybe they will go out of business after you win your lawsuit and you collect. Fuck them...this is the United States of America and the individual person is not supposed to be treated like you describe. The rights of the individual is more important than any collective business or group.
Like Johnny Cochrane says, when you get screwed...sue.
Posted by Bookgurl99 on July 11, 2002, at 8:26:27
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
Gracie,
were you singled out or are they asking this of everyone?
i find that some companies enjoy micro-managing their employees, almost to the point of interfering with your personal life. they collect this info bec. people don't know their rights.
me? i've lied on forms like this. i have also found that i should lie in the e.r. if i need to be given a medication, then i will ask about ssri-med interactions. but to say i'm treated for anxiety, forget it. my organic symptoms fly out the window; i have the nerve to be a woman with bad insurance and 'anxiety.'
Posted by Gracie2 on July 11, 2002, at 11:48:19
In reply to Re: It's none of their business!!, posted by Bookgurl99 on July 11, 2002, at 8:26:27
I do live in the U.S. and have no health or disability insurance through the medical staffing agency that I work for. They pay us well but provide no benefits at all.There might be an easy way around this. I know one of the nurses at my doctor's office because we have worked together in the past. I told her about my situation and she said the doctor would probably be willing to omit the psychiatric medications on my form. Still, he is supposed to give his opinion of my mental health and he knows I was hospitalized in February after a suicide attempt. How can I ask him to lie about a thing like that? And wouldn't it be illegal if he did so? The only thing I can think of is to have my psychiatrist fill out this part of the form and ask him to confirm that I am stable at this time.
And doesn't that sound nice? "Stable at this time." That would go over like a lead balloon.The most attractive thing about my job is that you can work only when and where you want to. Also, because they don't provide medical insurance, I have been able to "hide" the three times I was hospitalized over the last couple of years (I have medical coverage through my husband's employer). Aside from being unavailable during those incidents, I have been a good employee for this agency during the last two years. However, if they become aware of my psychiatric history, I think they would regard me as a loose cannon. They would probably not fire me officially...they would just stop calling.
-Gracie
Posted by Phil on July 11, 2002, at 12:27:24
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
Posted by Bookgurl99 on July 11, 2002, at 16:01:37
In reply to Re: It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 11, 2002, at 11:48:19
This kind of thing happens all the time to people with physical disabilities too -- I know a woman who was fired for no cause from a paper mill bec. she had several heart attacks. After 25 years in the company, the company was more interested in saving insurance money than in keeping her on -- out the door she was.
I would guard private information about your health carefully.
I'm in training for a new job and had to miss today to see the doctor RE: my memory symptoms. I am hiding them as well as I can at work.
Posted by terra miller on July 12, 2002, at 0:00:06
In reply to Re: It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 11, 2002, at 11:48:19
don't get in a bind that you can't live with.
i know you want to keep your job (so would i in your shoes) but i'd hate to see you do something you don't feel good about just so they'll keep calling you. this feels abusive (on their part) to me. no matter what choice you make, make sure you know why you are doing it. make sure you are still able to separate yourself from them in a way so that no matter how they treat you, you know you are still a good person. if you can make choices that you can live with and you can live with yourself, that's what matters.
terra
Posted by Gracie2 on July 12, 2002, at 17:44:56
In reply to Re: It's none of their business!! » Gracie2, posted by terra miller on July 12, 2002, at 0:00:06
Posted by coral on July 13, 2002, at 15:05:45
In reply to It's none of their business!!, posted by Gracie2 on July 10, 2002, at 18:38:38
" . . . they would dock my pay $5 an hour until the form was turned in." This is illegal in the United States. Federal statutes prohibit it. IF they do this, file with the labor board. You'll see a prompt reaction (in most states), but it will probably limit (eliminate?) their calling you again. However, that also opens up another avenue of recourse. A company can't refuse to employ you based on your actions that are within your legal rights, i.e. contacting the labor board. Now, on the other hand, the reason (I believe) they're asking is that as a temp employee (and they're your bona fide employer), should something happen, they could be held liable. Questions I would suggest asking are 1) Is this request made of all employees? 2) What is their stated reason for their request. If it turns out that they do NOT require this from all employees, you have recourse. And, even if they are requesting this information from all employees, it violates a person's legal right to medical privacy.
Posted by Gracie2 on July 13, 2002, at 17:11:57
In reply to Re: docking your pay, posted by coral on July 13, 2002, at 15:05:45
Yes, I'm sure they're requiring this information from all employees. They mailed out a standard printed form with our paychecks notifying us of the July 14th deadline. However, when I called the agency Friday to talk to someone about my situation, they told me that the person I need to speak to would not be in until Monday (the 15th).So I don't know how far they're going to push this. I find it very interesting that docking your pay for something like this is illegal and I plan to bring it up. I also think that this is an invasion of my right to privacy. Even in a court of law, I don't believe a psychiatrist can be forced to testify against a patient. In fact, I think those two little shits, the Menendez brothers, almost got away with murder even though they had confessed to their psychiatrist.
Now, if I had AIDS, would my employer have the right to know? I'll have to watch that Tom Hanks movie again...what is it, Philadelphia Story or something?
-Gracie
This is the end of the thread.
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