Greg Laden is a blogger, writer and independent scholar who occassionally teaches. He has a PhD from Harvard in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, as well as a Masters Degree in the same subjects. He is a biological anthropologist, but for many years before going to graduate school to study human evolution, he did archaeology in North America. He thinks of himself as a biologist who focuses on humans (past and present) and who uses archaeology as one of the tools of the trade. Greg blogs regularly on ScienceBlogs at http://www.scienceblogs.com/gregladen/.
Dr. Joseph J. Salvo attended Phillips Andover Academy, received his A.B. degree from Harvard University and his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. Dr. Salvo joined the GE Global Research Center in 1988. His early work focused on the development of genetically modified bacteria and fungus, for the production of novel high performance polymers. In the mid 1990's he turned his group's efforts towards developing large-scale internet-based sensing arrays to manage and oversee
business systems. Most recently, he and his team have developed a number of complex decision engines that deliver customer value through system transparency and knowledge-based computational algorithms. Commercial business implementations of his work are currently active in Europe, and Asia as well as North and South America.
Dr. Peter Tu received his undergraduate degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and his doctorate from Oxford University England.
In 1997, he joined the Visualization and Computer Vision Group at the GE Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY. He has developed algorithms for the FBI Automatic Fingerprint Identification System. He is the principle investigator for the ReFace program, which has the goal of automatically computing the appearance of a person’s face from skeletal remains. Dr. Tu has also developed a number of algorithms for the precise measurement of specular and high curvature objects. His current focus is the development of intelligent video algorithms for surveillance applications.
This is the second of daily questions we will be posting on the Collective Imagination blog throughout the month of March, to draw attention to some of the emerging issues in modern health care and foster an interactive discussion around them.
Every day, respond to the question (or another commenter's answer) and you will be eligible to win a custom ScienceBlogs USB drive. We'll announce the previous day's winner in each daily question post.
Yesterday, we asked whether you use the Internet to find information or advice on your health, and to tell us why. We had 37 great responses, with the general consensus seeming to be "Yes, but only from the most reliable sources" - and much more so for information than advice.
Our (randomly selected) winner of a USB drive was....catgirl! Catgirl, please email [email protected] sometime today to claim your prize.
But if you're not catgirl, don't worry - we've got a whole month of questions coming up, which means plenty of opportunities to get your own. Starting with today's question:
Have you ever lied to your doctor? Why?
Tell us below in the comments!
For more information about health care and technology, check out GE's healthymagination.
Medicine & Health
Technology
Comments
I haven't lied to my doctor(s). It's not a good idea. If you lie about your condition, you limit the doctor's ability to help you. I'd like to lie about my weight sometimes but they put you on the scale, so what's the point? Anyway, my answer to today's question is that I have never lied to my doctor.
Posted by: Ann Morris | March 2, 2010 10:52 AM | Reply
Emphatically NO! Regardless of any embarrassment I may feel it is imperative to be honest if the goal is to achieve and maintain good health. There is no way for a doctor to treat you properly and safely if you lie.
Posted by: Annette Saccoccio | March 2, 2010 10:59 AM | Reply
After having a heart attack and triple bypass in 2002, a stent inserted in 2005 and a cardiac arrest that put me in the hospital in January of 2010, it would be pretty stupid of me to lie to my doctor. I am here due to medicine and its technologies.
Why would anyone lie to his/her doctor? Looking for approval of a lifestyle? Your doctor does not care about that.
Posted by: NewEnglandBob | March 2, 2010 11:03 AM | Reply
I've been tempted to, but I don't. They know people lie anyway- however much you say you exercise- halve that, however much you drink/smoke, double that.
It does no good to lie, despite your embarrassment or guilt, and only makes their job harder.
Posted by: anna | March 2, 2010 11:06 AM | Reply
No, I'm lucky (and young) enough that I have never yet had to visit the doctor for anything other than the routine stuff.
I can understand that some people may want to lie about the possible origin of problems (ie, infection from illegal drug taking, self harm, some sexual issues). That said, withholding anything which may be helpful in a diagnosis is obviously a very bad idea. Where you're not willing to discuss the cause of something it may be best just to say "I don't want to discuss that", at least in that case the Dr can say whether that information is likely to be useful and will be aware that it is a sensitive issue.
It is also reported to be common to lie to the doctor when a victim of an abusive relationship.
This question should also draw attention to the importance of medical staff maintaining confidentiality and of the doctor acting to make the patient comfortable with them.
Posted by: Prosthetic Head | March 2, 2010 11:13 AM | Reply
I've technically lied to my Doctor, but only retrospectively. As soon as we joined university we had to fill in a health slip asking information about lifestyle etc. for the NHS and for the university nurse. I was teetotal back then (such good intentions...) and so put down my alcohol units per week as 'zero'.
About a month later I started drinking. Not heavily, but I would now place my weekly units more around four. I've never reported the change, not sure who I would report it too, or if it really matters.
But other than that it's always been the truth.
Posted by: Lab Rat | March 2, 2010 11:21 AM | Reply
Once that I can remember. My bp was trending upwards and my doctor asked me to keep a record of my bp at home before returning the next month. I fudged the data, making it seem like my blood pressure was up lesd frequently than it really was, because I was afraid he might not continue prescribing my adhd medication if my bp continued to be elevated. But that was a long time ago. The truth eventually came out.
Posted by: SouthernFriedSkeptic | March 2, 2010 11:35 AM | Reply
Wow. I'm trying to imagine why I would ever want to lie to my doctor. If I ever thought I had a reason to, I would switch doctors . . . and wonder if I should report what's going on, 'cause the only reasons I can think of would not reflect well on that doctor.
Posted by: Don | March 2, 2010 11:37 AM | Reply
Yeah, though mostly in the "minimize" or "sin of omission" sort of lie (fabrication is too much work). Predominantly, this occurred in the context of things doctors are required to report (i.e. on suicide, my answer to "do you have a plan?" has always been no. I have had a plan).
Posted by: anon4this | March 2, 2010 12:11 PM | Reply
Lied, no, omitted, yes. In an age of health care insurance pressure, certain things should not be in your doctor's file if you want to get a different insurance at some point.
Posted by: Mu | March 2, 2010 12:32 PM | Reply
No! They have a hard enough time getting things out of the ordinary right the first time. Lying would only make it more likely that, if I had a non-routine issue, they'd screw it up.
Posted by: Moses | March 2, 2010 12:33 PM | Reply
I agree with Don,(in his march 2 post).
Another thought process always jumps into my head when I hear the word DOCTOR, and I feel compelled to share with you. I was a registered respiratory therapist for 14 years. In those 14 years I learned a lot about health care and the professionals in it. I was in a few hundred codes, doing the all important compressions and squeezing the bag, closing the eyes sometimes. So as God is my witness, I have deep seated feelings about the trade and the pros in it. I know them. I know the down side of them, and have gotten away from them....
I had a heart attack in 2003 and stayed at home to die. That`s what I think of the professionals of health care. The CDC reports that THE PROS kill over 300,000 patients per year,"WRONGFUL DEATHS", if you are squeamish about the word kill. I know the "euthanasia queens" the "Cash- register-medicine practitioners" the "quacks", and the "licensed personnel there for the pay check".
When I go to the doctor I tell them what they need to hear, and often they ignore half of it and fail ti diagnose or misdiagnose, SOOOO, there ya go. Does that answer your question. Now lets see who`s the quickest to fault me for my honesty, and TMI.
Posted by: Rodney | March 2, 2010 12:36 PM | Reply
I think this will nominate me for the asshole of the day award, but I would be willing to bet that what I do is more common that you think- esp among younger and poorer people with less choice (if any) of health care situations (USA).
So yes, I've lied to doctors and hospitals for a variety of reasons, and they're not because I mind sharing. I know doc's need all the info if they are to help me, but occasionally other factors outweigh this.
The two most common are:
To hide something (not current)from the insurance company so I don't get dropped or denied payment/coverage (which happens a LOT).
Second, is to be treated like a normal person: in my early 20's I did lots of drugs, but even when you've grown out of this (I'm 33) and long since quit (a decade ago), many doctors will STILL treat you like a scum of the earth intractable addict, and change how they medicate you for ever after. And if it gets in your file- watch out!!! I'm sure some docs are just being careful, but I am not willing to take a chance that I'll get lesser treatments because they fear I "might" use drugs because of it. (example: no pain pills for serious injuries, no Ritalin for ADHD, even when its the only thing that works, etc.)
Lying is exclusively for doctors I have to see for something once and don't trust, or don't have a relationship with. My regular docs have all the info, and I have no problem giving them all the gory details. Most people now realize that once you say something that goes in your medical file, there is potential for problems ever after. (Insurance companies mine records for reasons to NOT PAY, I don't need to help them. Doctors know this, and if they know you well enough, they do HELP!)
Other reasons I've seen, but haven't done:
Lie about having insurance to get better treatment. I understand this one- I went to the same hospital 2x for the exact same thing, once with and once without insurance. The difference was unbelievable!!!
People also lie to avoid astronomical bills, but this is less medical than fraudulent. When you don't have insurance, you get creative out of necessity. When a 2 hour visit to the ER costs $9,000 (not including the DR's bills! True story), you tend to try whatever you can to avoid the fall out.
I don't like lying, no one does, we all know it is counter-productive! If I had coverage that couldn't be canceled/denied on a whim, that allowed me to keep the same docs for years, and didn't bankrupt me in the process, I would not lie, nor would any of the others I've mentioned here. I think its interesting to see responses from countries with universal health care, compared to the USA.
Posted by: Staceyjw | March 2, 2010 12:49 PM | Reply
I'm a strange one here i guess, or others are lying... maybe by omission?
Yes i have lied to my doctor, but not over health reasons.
I live in a city and it's "booming". When i came here there were too few gp/doctors. Most of the practicess were full. One relatively close by was open, but only to people living in the neighbourhood. I lived at the time just across a "line" which "marked" the neighbourhood. I said it was close and they accepted me. Later i moved and i now live in the region.
Posted by: plien | March 2, 2010 12:50 PM | Reply
Staceyjw
You rock! There ARE all of the reasons you just gave. Insurance companies are out of control, in THEIR dishonesty, that is, their "money whore math". Lying isn`t the answer, but it will sometimes work as a stop-gap to a cash hemorrhage.
Posted by: Rodney | March 2, 2010 1:57 PM | Reply
Yep, while underage I never reported alcohol or drug use, and still omit any drug use today.
Posted by: Kyle | March 2, 2010 2:04 PM | Reply
Absolutely! I have lied to doctors. I chuckle a bit at those who are so shocked at even the idea of lying to a health practitioner. As someone who's gone through many health care plans and been denied coverage for specific conditions, I can not impress enough upon people how easy it is to be denied good coverage. That will change your life (and your attitudes about lying) right quick.
Pre-existing conditions can be used against you and your children, doctors/nurses can write something on your chart that may later be "coded" in a way that automatically flags you for insurance issues - and there's simply no recourse once it's done (at least here in the US).
Until that changes, I carefully dole out specific, pertinent information. I know that may frustrate honest doctors, but I'd take a guess that most of those doctors have never been sick without insurance coverage.
Posted by: GeneQueen | March 2, 2010 2:51 PM | Reply
Occasionally. Medical professionals are mandated by law to report apparent abuse, and it's much easier to fib about my bruises then to convince them that I seriously love really rough sex.
Caveat - I've never had to seek medical attention due to sexplay injuries, and if I were too I certainly would not lie about it then.
Posted by: PennyBright | March 2, 2010 3:19 PM | Reply
I have no health insurance so I hadn't thought of that as a reason for lying to my doctor; but it makes total sense and even seems prudent. To answer the question: Yes--by ommission. I suffer social anxiety which makes it difficult to talk about myself; especially personal things (like health! Duh!). Yes, NewEnglandBod, I'm afraid he would disapprove. But, as Anna said, they probably "adjust" patient responses anyway.
Posted by: WJason | March 2, 2010 3:31 PM | Reply
I think doctors can sometimes be naive about the possibility that their patients can be lying to them. After all, they only get a brief time with a patient, so hard to size them up.
I have blood pressure that is marginally in the high range, so my doctor had me keep records of it for a couple of weeks like SouthernFriedSkeptic who posted above. When I went back, he asked "Why is there so much variation in the readings?" I said I wasn't sure, but quite likely some of his patients were fudging their numbers to make the data look smoother. He looked at me like I must be completely mad to think of such a thing, but of course I know that such an effect is perfectly plausible. Scientist have to fight the urge to tidy up their data like that all the time.
Posted by: CherryBomb | March 2, 2010 3:50 PM | Reply
As a confounding factor in this study people who lie to their doctor are less likely to either answer this study or tell the truth to this study.Keep that in mind!
Posted by: julia | March 2, 2010 5:13 PM | Reply
Yes, I have lied to doctors, and probably will in the future. Like GeneQueen, I have to kind of chuckle at those who are shocked at the notion.
There are so many reasons to lie to doctors. Some of them are related to insurance/other cost concerns. Some of them are related to issues of required reporting (like in the cases of suicidal ideation and injuries from sex above). Some are about illegal activity (drugs or underage drinking, for instance).
In a perfect world where I was guaranteed care and was able to establish a relationship with a primary doctor whom I trusted, I would not need to lie for any of these reasons.
I lie because I do not live in that perfect world.
I'm a college student and I moved twice during high school. The closest thing to a relationship with a doctor I've had since childhood was with a nurse practitioner at the practice my parents go to, but as I attend school 600 miles away and don't even spend summers at home, I saw her a total of 3 times. For my last two years of high school (spent on a university campus) and for all of my four years of college, most of my medical care has come from university heath services or a nearby urgent care clinic (for when the university health services is closed). Every time I need a doctor, I see a different one. Some are wonderful, some are awful. When I'm sick, my goal is to get the care I need. Unless I'm really at a lost for what is wrong with me, what I need is usually a verification of a simple illness/injury, and the accompanying care/medication. If they ask me questions where my answers might lead away from that simple problem, I might lie. If I trusted them more, I'd be more willing to talk and let them know the whole story. But campus docs are usually rushed and make it pretty clear they aren't up for settling in for a chat, so we're probably both happier that because I lied.
As an aside, one thing I really WISH I could lie about to doctors at times is my history of depression. I can't, because I'm not stupid enough to lie about the drugs I'm taking, which pretty quickly make my history pretty clear. But it's really, really not fun to have your complaints dismissed as "stress" or something equally vague because of that history. This would be far less likely if I had a doctor that knew me and my history. But just as I don't put a lot of trust in a doctor I've only seen once, doctors I'm meeting for the first time don't trust their patients much... especially ones with a history of mental illness.
Posted by: Keely | March 2, 2010 6:12 PM | Reply
Yes.
The first time I took Advil (ibuprofen, and as indicated on the bottle) for routine menstrual cramps, I couldn't understand why I was so nauseous and why I was vomiting so much. I was frightened and I called my mother from the dorm phone. She asked me if I thought I might be pregnant, if I thought I had eaten something that disagreed with me, if I was using those tampons linked to toxic shock syndrome (this was around the time of the big scare), and, finally, what medicines I had been taking. She told me she had also had problems with Advil. I had no idea Advil could rip you apart inside like that. I stopped, and I drank a lot of water, and the symptoms went away, and I was fine with a hot water bottle and plenty of hot tea.
After that episode, I had a doctor who didn't believe I had had such a bad reaction to Advil, and he apparently decided to prove something by prescribing Motrin for me (I wasn't aware it was the same thing). I was even sicker, and angrier, too, after I called the pharmacist to ask him if Motrin was related to ibuprofen, and he laughed.
After that, I just tell doctors I'm allergic to the crap.
Posted by: speedwell | March 2, 2010 7:52 PM | Reply
No, and I wish that lying to doctors wasn't so common, particularly at the college level. If my docors ask me about any history of drug use, alcohol use, or sexual activity, I'm honest about it. I'm not shocked that people lie to doctors for the reasons GeneQueen mentioned, but withholding relevant medical information because you're worried about confidentiality is idiotic. Not only is it idiotic, but it hurts the rest of us who are honest.
If I'm on campus and call EMS on a Saturday night with vomiting and severe chest pain, as my friend did, it's likely that no matter how vehemently I protest that I haven't been drinking, they'll assume I have. And if you're female and college age, it's likely that the ER docs will assume you're sexually active no matter what you tell them. I don't mind that they make assumptions, I understand why it's necessary, but it's incredibly frustrating to go to a clinic to get a prescription for your contact dermatitis, and leave with an penicillin shot because the doc refuses to believe that you don't have syphilis. My roommate went to the ER with swine flu turned pneumonia, and they made her take a pregnancy test despite her insistence that she's never had sex.
So no, I don't lie to my doctor. And I wish that people didn't lie to their doctors so often that they're forced to assume the worst.
Posted by: Erin R | March 2, 2010 8:02 PM | Reply
Yes,
I lie when I think it's prudent. I have mental health problems and am pretty weak-willed. It's easier to lie than to fight.
I don't think I would ever lie about anything physical because I'd be afraid of the consequences, but I almost always lie when asked about my depression or anxiety. I've been in and out of therapy and on and off anti-depressants for about 15 years and have never found it worthwhile. Life still sucks, but at least it doesn't have those awful things in it too.
Posted by: Chiral | March 2, 2010 10:19 PM | Reply
I would like to see a blog post by Pal MD about this question.
I would also like to see a list of the most common lies to dr's OTHER THAN the very important lies related to maintaining health insurance (and it is rather a shame that such things are necessary).
I've heard that one of the most common lies is "I have no idea how the lightbuld got there...."
Posted by: Greg Laden | March 2, 2010 10:39 PM | Reply
I misunderstood a question and gave the wrong answer, and then was too embarrassed to correct the mistake. It was a gynecologist appointment, and I hate telling basically complete strangers about that history. I didn't think it would change my risks much, so I didn't think it was important enough to correct.
Posted by: k | March 2, 2010 11:23 PM | Reply
I live in Canada so I'm covered by health care. It's not in my best interests to lie to my doctor and if I didn't trust my doctor I would find another. I have worked in health care so I'm aware that doctors are human and I make sure that I respect mine.
Posted by: cass_m | March 3, 2010 12:26 AM | Reply
Yes. I'm gay. When I was younger, in the 90s, I just didn't mention that fact. The time one time I did, the doctor freaked out, said some plainly idiotic things about HIV & AIDS (I was an HIV educator at the time) that I didn't care for, so I just kept it to myself.
Only mentioned my sexual orientation to one other doctor, during my second go around in grad-school, about five years ago. He was gay, so I didn't see a problem, though I made sure he didn't write anything down.
I haven't had insurance since a year after leaving grad school. All of those things I got treated for when I had employer mandated health insurance became all of the things I was denied coverage for when I tried to apply on my own. Thankfully, being gay never showed up on that list.
Posted by: Jody | March 3, 2010 1:25 AM | Reply
My lot lie to me all the time.
"of course doctor, I never miss my tablets" (no tablets picked up from the chemist since May 2008)
"Alcohol? Me? ooh no hardly ever"
"Cigarettes? Oh only 1 a day"
They lie to me to please me.
Posted by: Kerry | March 3, 2010 3:38 AM | Reply
I have yet to find myself in the position where I feel the need to lie to a doctor (and it's A, not MY, I don't have my own unless you count the one that happens to be related to me). However, given that the two times I have had reason to visit a GP, I was admonished for being on the pill for other than strictly reproductive reasons (I have terrible menstrual cramps), next time I'll probably leave that out. Not that I can't justify it, I just don't think I should have to.
Posted by: Melliferax | March 3, 2010 4:05 AM | Reply
I'm fighting deperssion; whenever a psychiatrist or other doctor asks me if I've been thinking about suicide, I say no even if I have been, because I don't want to be hospitalized. It would be different if I had a long-time relationship with a doctor I could trust to judge if I really needed to be in the hospital; but like so many other people who've responded from the US, I've seen too many practitioners to count over the years.
Posted by: T.T. | March 3, 2010 4:16 AM | Reply
I would like to lie. Unfortunately, the autism that I'd like to lie about prevents me from doing so: I get in an office and faithfully fill out forms, answer any questions, completely honest, because it's a new situation and I end up on a sort of clever-monkey autopilot. And then later, I regret it (seriously, if you've never tried to go to the doctor while disabled in some way, you cannot understand the urge to lie--everything that might ever be wrong with you is suddenly just a symptom of your disability, no matter how tangentially related). I've been depressed and anxious in the past, second to the autism stuff, and was on an anti-anxiety med for a few years to help with it. I've had that single bout of teenage depression blamed for everything from my autism spectrum disorder symptoms (thanks, shitty psychiatrist!) to my frequent migraines (a neurologist who should have known better). It has prevented me from joining the peace corps, as well.
I keep telling myself that in the future I'll withhold this episode in my teens and my ASD diagnosis, but I keep forgetting in the face of those blank forms. I know I'm uninsurable anyway outside of group coverage, because of the migraines, so at least I don't have to withhold from my GP.
Posted by: Autist | March 3, 2010 4:17 AM | Reply
Well, yes, not in medical issues though. However in Germany, the doctor of my mother's choosing had an annoying habit to do small talk and I would just say things are well even though they were pretty shitty at that time. And about money-related issues, "I am privately insured" sounds better than "There is a huge SNAFU for my parents and their insurance companies to sort out, but my mother has told me to say that sentence to you."
When I moved to the UK, I unintentionally lied about symptoms once by using the wrong term, but since I was rather verbose, the doctor understood me despite that.
Posted by: NgeliMwenu | March 3, 2010 6:03 AM | Reply
I always used to answer honestly about my alcohol intake (usually 1 drink with dinner each night, 2 on weekends) but then I had a couple of GP friends tell me that (as a poster above stated) they always assume at least double what the person puts on her forms, which has since given me pause when I fill in that question on forms. As others have said, I wouldn't worry if I had one regular doctor who actually knew me, but the only doctor I have any kind of relationship with is my allergist. When faced with that sort of presumption that I will misrepresent my behavior it becomes very difficult for me to know how to make sure my doctor is working from an accurate understanding of my health.
Posted by: nefernika | March 3, 2010 6:43 AM | Reply
Lied to - no
Omitted - yes
But always on the basis that Doctors have ill people to treat, and I am just wasting their time.
Posted by: Mike Phillips | March 3, 2010 7:21 AM | Reply
I do not remember ever lying to the doctor. But I can see the situation where it would be appropriate to change slightly the information your doctor wants to get from you.
But again, if such situation occurs, you should probably consider changing the doctor. After all, it is always better to choose doctor you can trust.
Posted by: Marina | March 3, 2010 7:29 AM | Reply
I learned the hard way never to admit to suicidal thoughts. It winds up being a huge distraction from whatever reason I am there.(I have chronic pain, of course I have them all the time. Doesn't mean I would follow through on them.)
Insurance and prior drug use are also good reasons, though I have never lied for those reasons. I have insurance through work (so far) and never used drugs recreationally.
Maybe I need to start being more careful what I say to my doctor, in case I ever lose my insurance.
Posted by: george.w | March 3, 2010 8:05 AM | Reply
I've only lied to a doctor one time. When I was 15, my doctor asked if I was sexually active. I lied and said I wasn't because I was afraid she would tell my mom. She must have known I was lying or maybe it's because I was taking BC pills (for a different reason), so she scheduled me for yearly pap smears anyway. I'm really thankful for that because she did actually find a high-risk strain of hpv. It cleared up on its own a few years later rather than turning cancerous, but I'm still glad she found it because I might not have been so lucky. She was a really great doctor and I wish I lived close enough to continue seeing her.
Other than that, I actually haven't lied about anything that I can remember. I don't exercise enough, but I'm completely honest about that to my doctor.
There have been times when I've omitted things, but not by my choice. The doctors have a limited time to see me, which I didn't realize for awhile. Now I know to present every symptom when I make the appointment, so they can schedule me for enough time.
Posted by: catgirl | March 3, 2010 9:11 AM | Reply
Yes. Let's see - when I was 10, I liked to my opthamologist and said I'd done my eye exercises. When I was 13 I lied to my orthodontist and said I wore my retainer. When I was 16, I lied to my pediatrician and said I wasn't having sex - because I didn't know for sure whether he'd tell my parents. When I was 29, I lied to a doctor who'd made several major medical errors on my infant son, resulting in heavy duty health consequences and multiple unnecessary procedures and extended hospitalization and said I respected her judgement so that she'd support my request to transfer my kid to a new caregiver. When I was 35, I lied to my doctor and said my husband and I hadn't had sex yet after childbirth, because well, I didn't want to share.
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon Astyk | March 3, 2010 9:54 AM | Reply
I think I've only lied to my doctor a couple of times, both about the same thing. A few times I went straight through birth control packs to skip my period because of a camping trip and I lied about the date of my last period so I wouldn't get yelled at for skipping. It's totally safe and many female doctors do it, but they still give you trouble for not "using as directed". Now I'm on the stuff that goes all year without a period and everyone's happy.
However if I were worried about an insurance issue and not getting coverage, I would lie if I felt I needed to in order to keep/obtain coverage.
I did have a doctor refuse to believe me when I told her I wasn't sexually active as a teenage. She basically held me hostage in the room trying to get me to admit it. Needless to say it made me feel like even more of a freak than I already did at 17!
Posted by: Tracey | March 3, 2010 11:05 AM | Reply
Staceyjw really hit the nail on the head. I still ask what information will be available to insurance companies before answering any question, if the answer could plausibly screw me later on for coverage.
This speaks very sadly for the state of health-care in the US. But at least by raising the question, I often indicate the answer without having to tell him, so there is nothing to put in my file. Of course, before even having the level of trust to ask these information-sharing types of questions, I found a doctor, through trial and error, that I could actually trust.
Posted by: Sam N | March 3, 2010 11:24 AM | Reply
All the time about lots. Including my drug and alcohol intake. I think they can be so judgmental about that sort of thing. Although I do try to be sober when I show up for my appointments.
Posted by: lawguy | March 3, 2010 12:36 PM | Reply
I don't recall ever lying outright. I may have lied when I was younger about alcohol and drug use. I certainly avoided answering information about that. A few years ago I had a physical and I filled out a bunch of information on my diet and when I thought about it later I concluded that I made myself out to be a more healthy eater than I am. Knowing how terribly inaccurate self reports are, I felt guilty that knowing this, I still didn't present an accurate picture of my health. Later I received a report from my doctor that said I was in excellent health and I thought, "little do you know." I'm sure this is common. Wanting to be healthy, and thought of as healthy, and a person who cares about his health, I might be more likely to skew the truth a bit. I love Coke and junk food. I've eaten a box of Oreos in one shot. I can booze it up sometimes. I've smoked pounds of pot. I've dabbled with other drugs. I also exercise and eat healthy. But taking all this into account when talking to my doctor or filling out a form, it's hard to figure out the details to present a truly honest picture. Hey, I know I'm not the only one.
Posted by: 4mattb | March 3, 2010 1:56 PM | Reply
Technically, yes. Since I turned 18 I've been a cigar smoker. Not on a daily basis or even weekly, but I probably smoke a box (around 30) a year. Whenever a doctor or dentist* or other health care professional asks me if I smoke, I dutifully answer, "no," because there is no way in hell that is getting added to my insurance profile. Technically when they ask me that question, they're asking if I smoke cigarettes, not cigars so I'm not especially conflicted on the issue.
*In an ironic twist I've actually smoked a cigar with my dentist on several occasions.
Posted by: B | March 3, 2010 4:13 PM | Reply
I've lied frequently. About medication taking and mental health issues. Mostly because I suffer from white coat syndrome, and avoid doctors as much as i can anyway.
Posted by: anon anon | March 3, 2010 5:14 PM | Reply
Oh yes. Keeping insurance is a big one, I can't get insurance at all if I'm kicked off my employer's group plan. I still pay a small fortune even with the group plan, because of the endless list of crap they decide not to cover. Some things, you need to never have in your medical records. I've been turned down for insurance coverage because spouse and I went to marriage counseling eight years ago. We went for two months, and were deemed healthy after working out a few communications issues, and this rendered us ineligible for insurance because it constituted a previous history of mental health disorders.
Sexual activity. This was a while ago, before there was such a thing as HIPAA and confidentiality, when it was more the norm for doctors to discuss your medical file with anyone they personally thought should know--your parents, your brother, your high school principal, your best friend's parents during their golf game, etc. Anything you told the small town doctor about your sex life, especially if you were underage, became a never-ending source of humor and derision for the local gossip and rumor mill.
Drug use. I still don't think it's ever wise to admit this unless you are ready for rehab. I am 100% sure that they do see a million junkies per day coming through the emergency room and quoting the PDR on dilaudid, but both my spouse (heavily tattooed working-class guy) and I have had serious injuries dismissed as drug-seeking behavior. Heaven forfend we admit to the occasional puff of marijuana.
It's not about approval/disapproval of "lifestyle," it's about getting treated like a human being that feels pain. One of my colleagues, a middle-class woman about my age, had the exact same injury my spouse did: She got a full week in the hospital, general anesthesia, plenty of analgesics to take home, several weeks of physical therapy, and lots of follow-up care. Spouse got local anesthesia for the surgery, two grudging days in the hospital with pills to be taken on the spot and nothing to take home, and absolutely no follow-up care or physical therapy. He still has neurological damage from the injury and its non-treatment. We have the same insurance as the colleague, but she presented to the ER doctors wearing LL Bean with hair nicely coiffed, and spouse showed up wearing a grungy t-shirt and jeans. Same ER, same neighborhood!
Posted by: Anon today | March 3, 2010 5:45 PM | Reply
I spent years lying to my doctors. I grew up Mormon and lived (as can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy) in Utah. I also grew up hearing doctors preaching over the pulpit (Mormonism has a lay ministry) that their Mormon patients fared significantly better than their non-mormon patients. Then there was that incident of a friend with breast cancer whose doctor insisted on praying with her before surgery. There was a much worse incident involving my second pregnancy that I don't feel like sharing here--ok, basically the incredibly stupid nurse somehow decided that I didn't want my baby (deliberate planned pregnancy) in some way I have yet to figure out.
Needless to say, I tell any given doctor and nurse only the minimal amount of information to treat my condition, and lie my head off about everything else to appear more medically acceptable (i.e., Mormon). I strongly suggest this strategy to anyone living in Utah unless you actually know your doctor's specific religious beliefs. Dying or getting substandard care so your doctor can brag about how his Mormon patients do better than his non-mormon patients is not my idea of a good time.
Posted by: marmot | March 4, 2010 1:35 AM | Reply