My optometrist is withholding information from me... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

HotHotHeat · 05-29-2009, 03:37 PM

So I've been back and forth to my eye clinic the past couple weeks to get fitted for my first pair of contacts. The upfront cost for the fitting was $60. It included a lesson on how they work and a 'trial' pair, aka, one pair of month long lenses. Today I went back for my follow up appointment and got the OK from the doctor that these were the right contacts for my eyes. All is fine. Now my plan was to find out which contacts these in fact were (they never told me during my initial appointment) so that I can place my order from clearlycontacts.ca, as they are much, much cheaper than these eye clinics. I am then informed that they 'don't give out that information'. Hello and welcome to WTF land.

Can they do this? As a patient, do I not have the right to know this information?

Jayems · 05-29-2009, 03:38 PM

They should be on your trial contact lens box. Also, I'm on my 3rd trial pair with a 4th unused ones waiting to try on. I found some unwearable. I'd try some alternative lenses. At least ask for another trial pair and keep the box.

jolinar of malkshor · 05-29-2009, 03:39 PM

This is nothing new, you should always ask if they release the prescription before you do the exam, they make the money off of the glasses and contacts.

Bertuzzied · 05-29-2009, 03:40 PM

My ex-optometrist was like this too. Well i only went to him once. Wouldn't give me my prescription. I just went back on a busy day and asked the receptionist for it.

There is reason why you don't buy drugs from your doctor and you goto a pharmacy.

HotHotHeat · 05-29-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

They should be on your trial contact lens box. Also, I'm on my 3rd trial pair with a 4th unused ones waiting to try on. I found some unwearable. I'd try some alternative lenses. At least ask for another trial pair and keep the box.

Ya, they made a point to throw out the box so I didn't know the specifics of them. I asked for another trial pair so I could see what another lens felt like, she said these ones were my best option and it was 'time to order'.

Bertuzzied · 05-29-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Ya, they made a point to throw out the box so I didn't know the specifics of them. I asked for another trial pair so I could see what another lens felt like, she said these ones were my best option and it was 'time to order'.

You should order 1 pair and then tell them to F off.

JimmytheT · 05-29-2009, 03:42 PM

As far as I understand the Freedom of Information Act and the Personal Information and Privacy Act, any entity that refuses to provide information regarding your person is breaking the law.

I work at a bank, and if someone comes and asks me for their financial information they may have given me, I cannot withhold it from them. I believe the same goes for medical info.

Just go threaten them with FOIP / PIPA, and that might get them to loosen up.

Jayems · 05-29-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Ya, they made a point to throw out the box so I didn't know the specifics of them. I asked for another trial pair so I could see what another lens felt like, she said these ones were my best option and it was 'time to order'.

Hmm.. s. Try asking for another pair, then mention you can't change them out right away and prefer to do it at home. The case the lenses are inside of have the prescription written on that too so even if they throw out the box, they have to give you casing.

Peanut · 05-29-2009, 03:44 PM

What doctor is it at least so we can avoid him/her?? (or are you not allowed to post stuff like that?)

That seems pretty low that they're deliberately keeping it from you (throwing out the box, etc), but I personally haven't tried to do anything like that with my optometrist. My perscription is a bit wacky, so I just stick with them to avoid problems.

troutman · 05-29-2009, 03:46 PM

I would think the contents of your medical file are your property.

On the other hand, if someone comes to my office with a will they drafted themselves, expecting me to "notarize" it, I tell them to take a hike.

Azure · 05-29-2009, 03:51 PM

I would suggest switching optometrist.

Hesla, a resident CP member....is one. Give him a shout.

fredr123 · 05-29-2009, 04:11 PM

This is a fairly recent (January 2008) policy statement from the Alberta College of Optometrists regarding prescriptions and contact lens specifications: http://www.collegeofoptometrists.ab....dvisory/14.pdf

You may also find some answers in the Health Information Act: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?pag...=9780779739493

killer_carlson · 05-29-2009, 05:43 PM

it wouldn't be a FOIP or PIPA request, it would be a request under HIA.

You are entitled to the information. Put in a written request pursuant to HIA.

HotHotHeat · 05-29-2009, 06:21 PM

Lots of useful info in these responses, thanks guys and girls! I'm going to go in on Monday and ask nicely one more time, if they don't budge I'll start citing this info from fredr123. I think they know what's what, they just want my order (money). I'll update next week!

Tower · 05-30-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

So I've been back and forth to my eye clinic the past couple weeks to get fitted for my first pair of contacts. The upfront cost for the fitting was $60. It included a lesson on how they work and a 'trial' pair, aka, one pair of month long lenses. Today I went back for my follow up appointment and got the OK from the doctor that these were the right contacts for my eyes. All is fine. Now my plan was to find out which contacts these in fact were (they never told me during my initial appointment) so that I can place my order from clearlycontacts.ca, as they are much, much cheaper than these eye clinics. I am then informed that they 'don't give out that information'. Hello and welcome to WTF land.

Can they do this? As a patient, do I not have the right to know this information?

You can send him a NOTICE stating that, as his doctor, keeping information about your health DOES HARM to you. Also quote Fotze's info in the notice. A doctor does make his oath that he/she shall "do no harm". Thus keeping this information makes him commercially liable. Also request your information in 7 days. If he does not respond then send him notice of dishonor for not complying. After that charge him for default. Then charge him for the cost of a visit to a new doctor. Keep copies of letters sent (via registered mail) and also 2 witnesses signed on all docs after the first notice.

Tower · 05-30-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I would think the contents of your medical file are your property.

On the other hand, if someone comes to my office with a will they drafted themselves, expecting me to "notarize" it, I tell them to take a hike.

Then you are NOT doing your proper job as a Notary to make it public record which is all they want you to do.

onetwo_threefour · 05-30-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I would think the contents of your medical file are your property.

On the other hand, if someone comes to my office with a will they drafted themselves, expecting me to "notarize" it, I tell them to take a hike.

Really I just tell them to leave it with me for 2 hours so I can spend the time to thouroughly review it and provide adequate legal advice as to its
effect and mention that the fee for notarizing will be $500, then I see what they say.

onetwo_threefour · 05-30-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

Then you are NOT doing your proper job as a Notary to make it public record which is all they want you to do.

Actually you are dead wrong. As a lawyer, if my signature and seal goes on a document, presumptively I have given legal advice as to the nature and effect of that document. To do so is not a trivial undertaking. In my last post I should have said 'a minimum of $500' because it could well be more.

Sylvanfan · 05-30-2009, 10:25 AM

Did you go to an optometrist, or did you just go to an optician? A few years ago I had went to an optician not knowing it wasn't an optometrist. I'll never do that again as they over did my left eye and it gave me head aches to the point where I couldn't wear the contacts to work. I went to an optometrist a couple of months later and they had over done both my eyes. This was 7 years ago and my current prescription is still less than what the optician had given me. But since it was an optician it wasn't an official prescription so they couldn't give that out.

Hanna Sniper · 05-30-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

I would suggest switching optometrist.

Hesla, a resident CP member....is one. Give him a shout.

I would second the Hesla recommendation

I would consider being honest with your optometrist and letting him know your full intentions from the beginning, I'm sure he'll work with you... if not then find someone that will. But, one thing to watch for when buying contacts direct like this is that you still see the optometrist regularly. Time can pass very quickly and one of the pitfulls of buying direct is that your checkups fall further and further away.