Comments on: Searching for Hospital Records

By: donna huffer

donna huffer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:54:27 +0000

I have been trying to locate records from Galinger Hospital in DC.It changed its name to washington General and then just closed all together.Haven’t been able to locate any records.My sister died there either in 42-43-44.They also took care of the remains.my parents lived out of state.Both my parents are deceased.Mom last Sept.at the age of 90.Would love to find info on my baby sister if there is any to find.I was the baby and I am 62 now and hoped to close this issue before my mom passed but did not get closer on it .Any suggestions as to how I can find any info on this?I had given up on it but their have been other people looking for the same info on Ancestry.
Thank you
Donna Huffer

By: Lisa Ziegler

Lisa Ziegler — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:58:51 +0000

I do find it odd you can’t access deceased peoples medical records but you can get their social security numbers

By: Karen Newhoff

Karen Newhoff — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:57:20 +0000

I’m have similar problems with Wartburg Farm School in Mt Vernon NY. Callled, wrote, emailed numerous times and can’t get info about my father and his sister from the early 30′s

By: Steve Luxenberg

Steve Luxenberg — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:22:40 +0000

Hi all… This is Steve Luxenberg, author of Annie’s Ghosts, mentioned in Juliana’s introduction on this topic. Andy, in comment #3, said: “This is absurd! The dead have no legal right to privacy — or at least they shouldn’t have. It may surprise many people that in the medical records arena, recent privacy laws HAVE conferred rights on the dead. Even family members of the long deceased face obstacles to getting access to medical records, particularly mental health records. The trend toward greater privacy (even as technology makes privacy more difficult) has come at the expense of history and other forms of legitimate access. I’ve written about this conflict in my blog at steveluxenberg.com, for those who are interested.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:57:37 +0000

About 20 years ago, I received copies of medical records of some relatives from Fergus Falls State Hospital in MN, just before some of the records were “archived”, probably by shredding. This was for folks hospitalized around 1900. They even sent me the pictures from the patient files! and the files answered some interesting questions.

I guess times have changed.

By: uzay

uzay — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:10:23 +0000

This is absurd!

The dead have no legal right to privacy – or at least they shouldn’t have.

By: Dyanne Henderson

Dyanne Henderson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:08:53 +0000

I have asked you not to contact me anymore. Take me off of your list. I had the 14 day trial and I don’t want your service. I can’t afford you. You say you offer a free service but you don’t. Don’t contact me again. Dyanne Henderson

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:30:41 +0000

Interesting. Trying to help a friend find her former husbands family for her son. This might open a door way for me. Thanks.

By: Cheryl Whittle

Cheryl Whittle — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:39:59 +0000

As far as adoption laws go, they are very strict in some states. I have done several searches for people who have requested my assistance. I have had “NO” success in the states of Missouri even though the people trying to find out information are grandchildren.
I believe this is sad, since so many people want to know more about their ancestors and possible health problems they may be subject to; but again you are told you must have a court order, and it must be pretty hard to get and very time consuming. Again, best wishes on your searches.

By: Cheryl Whittle

Cheryl Whittle — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:34:53 +0000

I was looking for information on my great grandfather and my grandmother related to stays in Central State Hospital in Williamsburg, VA; as well as Western State Hospital in the western part of Virginia for another great grandfather.
I was able to send a letter to them showing my relationship and a copy of my direct lineage to the patient; and a copy of the patient’s death certificate. I was able to receive some records from these sites some years ago.
The first thing I did was to contact the medical records department, explain what I was looking for and ask them what they needed from me.
It is my understanding that anything before the HIPPA rules went into effect should not be covered under the strict rules we comply with now. However, as time has passed since I was told that, it is possible that most places are abiding by these rules on all records in order to protect themselves from any liability for which they may be held responsible.
Best wishes on your search!