Within the last few years, hospitals and some doctor’s offices have adopted a new way of signing paperwork.  During registration at a hospital, you are handed an electronic signature pad and told to sign, after a very brief description of what you are agreeing to.

I used to do this without hesitation.  It’s a normal, acceptable practice.  And if every hospital is doing it, or it’s simply a “keeping up with the times” measure, then it must be ok, right?

Last time I had a mammogram, the clerk told me I needed to sign 3 different times. Maybe for the first time since this procedure was enacted, I questioned its validity and the ethics of having someone sign for something they can’t read.  I asked the clerk for a copy with my signature on it.  “Can’t,” she said. The system just wouldn’t allow that.

I let it alone and did what most of us do when directed by medical personnel to do something; I blew it off. Said to myself, “Oh well. Everybody does it.”

After I left and really thought about it, I realized that was a mistake.  We, as patients, should never be asked to sign for anything we can’t read. Although we may be given a short summary of what is on the form, it’s the little print that will likely get us into trouble. Whether we choose to read them or not is our decision, but we should always be given the option.

I went to the ER this week as directed by my doctor (and that’s a whole ‘nother story).  At the registration desk, they told me to sign for something I didn’t recognize.  When I asked for a copy to read, I was told it couldn’t be provided, so I refused.  Once I was in the room and awaiting the doctor, the registration clerk came in and again asked me to sign for “permission to treat.”  I again asked for a copy. “Well, I can’t give you that.”  It was obvious no one had challenged her on this before. She looked at me like I had three heads.  After she spent at least 5 minutes explaining why it just couldn’t be done, she left in a huff with her computer on wheels, saying she’d have to see what could be done.

The clerk came back with papers in hand.  She handed each to me and I read them thoroughly, much to her dismay. Although she had asked me several questions, there were a few things I was not aware of and never would have been had I not asked for the forms.  Most would not be important to everyone, but they were to me:

The financial acknowledgment was connected to the consent for treatment.

When I asked about not signing the financial acknowledgment (I had already told them I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay my part of the charges; another form says treatment is not refused based on the ability to pay), she whined, “But the consent form is attached to the financial information,” indicating to me that care would, indeed, be withheld if I didn’t sign the form regarding payment.

That same acknowledgment/consent allows the hospital to contact the patient by any means and at all numbers/addresses for any “lawful” reason. 

Had I not known about this, I wouldn’t have been able to have them remove the numbers I didn’t want them to call. This was important because I have two numbers and I absolutely do NOT want them calling my cell.

Several pieces of literature that I was to sign acknowledgment of receipt for things which were never offered to me.   

I have a huge gripe about this one.  I was not offered a HIPAA pamphlet, information on the hospital’s privacy policies and, most importantly, information on this hospital’s policy on advanced directives.  Yet, had I signed blindly, I would be saying I had and agreed to the content of the above.

This happens every day in hospitals and offices across the country.  It will continue to happen unless patients stand up and refuse to sign anything they haven’t read.  Chances are, people aren’t going to do that, though. Most submit to all sorts of things when they’re sick or confronted with institutional authority.

The rest of us will continue to be seen as non-conforming and difficult.