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Troubling new consent procedure
So this morning I went in for my mammogram. And the hospital had a new consent procedure I found VERY troubling. Instead of a paper form, where I could cross out sections I did not agree to, etc. they had an electronic consent form machine. It looked just like the credit card machines at retail stores where you sign your name with the special pen.
The clerk hands me the special pen and says "Sign here" - and the screen says:
"I have read and agree to the consent and privacy information" and has space for the signature.
I told her that I have NOT read the consent form, and do not wish to sign that I have unless I have read it. She has to go get her supervisor. Supervisor hems and haws, calls someone else, and finally calls someone on the phone, who tells her where to find the consent form.
It's laminated and chained to the underside of the counter. I look it over, and there is a provision that your films may be read by a student. I am NOT ok with that. I ask how I can delete that from my consent. They have no idea.
The woman essentially tells me that I must sign as is or not get a mammo. I tell her to call the hospital administration, or at least tell me where it is so I can discuss it with them. She calls and is told to have me write "no students" over my signature in the box. I do, but I am VERY unhappy with this new procedure, and wondering how in the world that info will get into my chart so it can be honored.
Took 45 minutes to do that - the mammo itself took less than 20.
And I stopped by L&D on my way out, and sure enough, the electronic consent boxes are on the counter there, too.
This hospital is part of the dominant health system here - they own more than half the hospitals in the state, they own the insurance company, and they employ 90% of the doctors with priviledges in thos hospitals. It's positively incestuous. A couple years ago, they made a policy that all patients must sign MANDATORY arbitration agreements (meaning they couldn't ever sue their doctors or hospitals) or all treatment not required by EMTALA would be refused. After a HUGE public outcry, the state legislature banned that practice. But it seems they are up to no good again with this consent procedure that does not even show the form to patients.
I so wish we had other insurance, but dh's company is small (less than 150 employees, and most of them part-time, so probably only 50-75 who get benefits) and so there is no option.
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No way! While I trust that amazing medical advances have been made and so on and so forth, that doesn't mean that I trust them with moral decisions (oh, he%% no!) or other personal rights, etc! Thanks for posting this! I'm keeping my eye out!!!!! 
A lot of people would not have wanted to bother and just signed it to get it over with
