WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for October, 1998: Re: Patients with previous elective abortion

Re: Patients with previous elective abortion

From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Wed, 28 Oct 1998 18:35:00 -0600 (CST)

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Reply: William D. McIntosh, MD: "Re: Patients with previous elective abortion"

Okay Dr. McIntosh -- I hear what you are saying about being truthful with my doctor.

It is reassuring to me to hear that a previous abortion is not uncommon. I've always been a little afraid that I was some sort of freak as far as the doctors are concerned -- that they really didn't have many patients with that kind of past. This is a very private thing that no one ever talks about, so its easy to feel like you are the only person you know that has had this experience even though the statistics tell you that there are lots of other women out there.

I am a little perplexed though why my obstetrical history has any significance for my son beyond the delivery room. Why would a pediatrician even be interested in previous pregnancies of the mother?

When you see this in a new patient record, does it set off any alarms for you as far as possible problems/complications to watch for? Why is this particular piece of history potentially important? Can it actually affect things during labor and delivery?

Thanks for all your help and information!

At Wed, 28 Oct 1998, William D. McIntosh, MD wrote: >
>At Wed, 28 Oct 1998, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>

[clipped] >>
>>Because of this, I'm not sure I will tell the labor nurse this in the
>>future. I don't know why it would be relevant to my care in the
>>delivery room.
>>
>This is such a common feature of a woman's medical record as to pass
>without comment. I see this in new patient records daily. I recognize
>your feelings in this matter, and your concerns, but I BEG OF YOU,
>PLEASE RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO PROVIDE ONLY THOSE FEATURES OF YOUR
>MEDICAL HISTORY THAT YOU THINK ARE PERTINENT. You never know what is
>important, and what is not. 80% of all medical diagnosis are made by
>the history alone. If the history is incomplete, you cannot expect to
>get accurate results.
>
>This is also a standard part of a pediatrician's data base. Patient
>confidentiality is a critical part of all health care workers canon of
>ethics. There is nothing that you can tell them that they have not
>heard a hundred times before. Please, please, do not hamstring your
>doctor by withholding information.
>
>--
>William D. McIntosh, MD
>Clarksville, TN
>
>This is for educational purposes only. It is not intended
> to replace consultation and examination by your physician
> or other health care provider.
>

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In reply to: William D. McIntosh, MD: "Re: Patients with previous elective abortion"
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