[sxg]

It absolutely 100% is at least the doctor’s job to know this. If you come back with depression again, the doctor needs to know what medications were used last time to treat you this time. They need to know if you had allergic reactions, no response, or other details regarding your medication history. The doctor may also be able to use a history of depression as a supporting factor for a new diagnosis. Your history of depression may be the thing that tips your doctor toward getting an MRI of the brain to rule out a brain tumor, for example.

[mikecsh]

I agree with this completely; not being able to understand a patient's medical history often makes it much harder to treat them effectively. Especially in an emergency setting.

That said concerns about the sensitivity of information are absolutely valid and should be at the forefront of EMR systems.

In my experience (UK) access to records is reasonably well restricted to relevant staff. Access is audited in efforts to identify unauthorised access and this is taken extremely seriously; for example opening records for patients not under your direct care with no valid reason.

Further, for particularly sensitive information such as some psychiatric histories, or medical photography of sensitive areas, this is kept behind a secure area within the EMR systems, not generally accessible. Opening it requires signing a declaration that you have either discussed it with the patient and gained consent, or that you do not have consent and you are opening it in the patients best interests in an emergent situation as they are unable to consent (e.g. history of depression with paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose brought in unconscious by ambulance.

[limeblack]

I have friends disqualified from legitimate jobs after taking Psych drugs from decades ago. Somehow I think there needs to be a line. Doctors have known the way around the system for quite a while.[0]

EDIT: left original link tried to clarify.

[0]: "I drive 300 miles to seek care and always pay in cash." http://www.idealmedicalcare.org/75-med-students-antidepressa...

[biotech]

This is a serious issue: doctors have a huge disincentive to receive psychiatric care in the US.

It is also completely off-topic.

[dublin]

Anyone who would ever consent to psychiatric care or treatment of any kind (especially pharma) should have their head examined! ;-) Seriously, the risks of seeking such care far outweigh the potential benefits in virtually every circumstance. NEVER forget that your EMR is forever - it will outlive you, and could well become a curse upon all your progeny.

[katbyte]

I dissagree. If I have some sensitive medical history and I go in for stitches or some other minor thing with an random doctor I might not want to share all my medical history. It’s my history and I should have the right to control who sees it.

[ambicapter]

You are not a medical professional and the list of medical procedures or remedies that interact poorly with each other is long and full of unexpected things.

[fao_]

While this is true, knowledge of other treatments can in a number of cases actually harm the patient as well through malpractice.

See: https://journals.tdl.org/jrwg/index.php/jrwg/article/view/97

https://www.dailydot.com/irl/trans-broken-arm-syndrome-healt...

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/07/09/feature-the-dangers-of...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-lgbt-health/briti...

Sure this is a minority, but it still harms people.

[drb91]

Your profession should not dictate your rights to your data.

[ambicapter]

No one is stopping you from accessing your data. The question is to whether you should be able to stop your doctor (or your emergency doctor) from accessing your medical data. Sounds like a bad idea.

[int_19h]

It might well be, but shouldn't it be up to you to decide that? It's your private data.

[freedomben]

Agreed. It's your private data and it's also your body! If you end up getting worse treatment due to not sharing data, it's on you. As an adult and the owner of my body, that's my right to decide for myself.

[Spooky23]

The real question that matters most in the ER is “What is your date of birth?”

[leetcrew]

just because something is a bad idea doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to do it.

[davidw]

I'd rather opt out of a few sensitive things than not have an ER doctor in another state not have easy access to critical information about me.

[xfitm3]

I'm ok with my doctor knowing my complete history, but I do not want my insurance company or any third party to have access to these records.

[Gibbon1]

A huge problem for people with a mental health dx in their history is doctors reflexivity dismiss complaints as a 'mental issue'.

[bobowzki]

As an MD, thank you for this comment.

[Gibbon1]

Beware, people with mental illness also suffer from ordinary ailments.

[bobowzki]

Obviously. I'm not a psychiatrist :-)