{ title: 'The Brewster standard. (Brewster, N.Y.) 1869-current, December 30, 1982, Page 6, Image 6', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031640/1982-12-30/ed-1/seq-6/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031640/1982-12-30/ed-1/seq-6.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031640/1982-12-30/ed-1/seq-6/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031640/1982-12-30/ed-1/seq-6/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Brewster Public Library
wmmmmmmm State Assembly discussing law to permit patients to see records BY MARJORIE L. NICHOLS KEITH Cooperative Extension Agent Putnam County Should you be allowed complete access to your personal medical records? Right now, if you asked your doctor or hospital to provide you with those records, your request would be denied or granted at the discretion of that doctor or institution. Your right to access is not guaranteed by law. But while you may not be allowed to see those records, other people could be, including prospective .mployers, insurance companies, credit companies, and federal auditors. It's a delicate situation, and one that has encouraged some legislators and consumer advocates to question its justice. The New York State Assembly Health Committee is currently discussing one proposed law which would amend the public health law and the mental hygiene law in relation to access to patient information. If passed, the law would require health professionals and institutions to allow patients to inspect their health (physical and mental) records, obtain copies of those records, and make necessary corrections if . the records contain wrong information. The law would also require that any medical record information released to a third person be noted and filed in that record, so that the patient could know who has had access to his or her medical file. L Medical associations, for the most part, would prefer not to enact such legislation. They may feel that 'the physician generally knows what is best for the patient. A patient's lack of knowledge about medicine could cause confusion, or make a patient misread his or her own medical records. Releasing duplicate records could add to the already high cost of health care, and there's also the possibility that easy access to medical records could lead to more medical malpractice suits, should a patient disagree with what a doctor has done, or supsect error or misjudgment on the basis of those medical records. On the other hand, consumer groups don't feel that it is right to withhold from the patient information that is accessible to other people. Why should the patient be the last to know? And, because patients may not be able to examine their medical records, they have no opportunity to correct any mistakes the records may contain. Information in records could be inaccurate, or even damaging to a patient, who is not able to set the record straight. Because some employers and insurance companies do examine medical records to gather information about potential employees or clients, this could be an important issue for an ex-patient seeking work or insurance. Currently, patients may not even have to sign a release form to make that information available to third parties. Whether this law will save or cost consumer health dollars depends on how wisely consumers use the law, if it is passed. By making medical records available, the law could reduce the expense of duplicating expensive diagnostic tests if a patient moves or changes physicians. On the other hand, unfamiliar and confusing medical information could make patients anxious enough to seek additional and perhaps unnecessary medical attention. F Every consumer right carries a responsibility. A right to access to medical records means that the patient must know when and how. Jo use those records. Passing legislation could lead to greater uniformity in the area of patients' rights to medical records. Currently, who has access and under what circumstances is very vague, often depending only on the cooperation of individual physicians. To express your concerns regarding this matter contact your legislative representative in Albany. MS. AND MBS. BRIAN J. McGRATH New IRS tax packages are on the way Kathleen Bruen wed in Brewster ceremony New Year'a greetings in the form of new tax packages from the Internal Revenue Service will begin arriving today for about 800,000 Northeastern New Yorkers. Delivery should be completed by mid-January. IRS District Director John B. Langer said the 1982 tax forms will have a new look for just about everyone. \The biggest changes are for short forms users,\ Mr. Langer I 'said. \This year there are 2 short forms: the 1040A, which almost half of our taxpayers used last Jear, and the new 1040EZ, a very streamlined form for single people with no dependents. Both are included in the short form package, along with substantially revised instructions. I expect that many students and young people just starting their careers will find the 1040EZ to be an 'easy' form to complete.\ Those who file Form 1040 will find a few new lines to ac- commodate tax law changes, but the overall layout is the same as last year. Schedule A (Itemized Deductions), however, has been completedly revamped in an effort to reduce math errors, he said. \If you need additional forms, use the handy order blank at the back of your tax package or call the toll-free IRS Forms number, 800-225-0717,\ Mr. Langer ad- vised. \The IRS is providing public libraries with a special package of forms that can be photocopied as needed. Some libraries will also stock quantities of the most commonly used forms.\ Many banks and post offices have tax forms for the public. Local IRS offices will have a very limited stock of the more common forms available after Jan. 15. Only the Albany office will have a full range of forms on hand. Assistors will be present only in the Albany and Poughkeepsie IRS offices, beginning Jan. 17. This year's tax help program will be directed to working with groups of taxpayers rather than giving one-on-one assistance. Toll-free telephone help will also be available throughout the 21- county district area. \The tax package you receive in the mail has 2 useful items not available elsewhere,\ Mr. Langer noted. \One is the peel-off address label to be used on the tax form you send to IRS. The other is a coded envelope with a special box to be checked if you're getting a refund. Both items will help to speed the processing of your return and get your refund to you faster.\ Kathleen J. Bruen was married on Sept. 18 to Brian J. McGrath. The wedding took place in St. Lawrence O'Toole Roman Catholic Church in Brewster. The bride is the daughter of County Executive and Mrs. David D. Bruen of Birch Hill Rd., Brewster. Her husband is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald McGrath of Lily Pond Lane, Katonah. Special music for the service was sung by Marilyn Bruen, mother of the bride. Bonnie Bruen King was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Diana Stevens, Margaret Trunkctt, Mary, Marilyn, Susan and Karen Bruen, and Theresa Klan. Kevin McGrath was best man. Ushering were Donald and Thomas McGrath, David and James Bruen, James P. King, James E. King and Anthony Pasquale. Mrs. McGrath is a graduate of Bentley College and is employed at Ernst and Whinney. Her husband, a graduate of Broward College, is employed by Albert Appraisal Co. Following a wedding reception at the Gipsy Trail Club in Kent, the couple went on a honeymoon trip to Bermuda. They are residing at 313 North Brewster Rd., Brewster. Deanna Gerardi engaged to wed Mr. and Mrs. Dom Gerardi of Avery Rd., Carmel, announce the engagement of their daughter, Deanna L. Gerardi, to James M. Plunkett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Plunkett of Fairfield, Ct, Miss Gerardi was graduated from Carmel High School in 1981 and is a community relations representative for McDonald's. Mr. Plunkett, a 1978 graduate of Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield, is a carpet mechanic at Chitwood Carpet Service. No date has been set for the wedding. New deadline for basketball The deadline for the youth basketball program sponsored by the Putnam Valley Parks and I Recreation Department has been . extended till Jan. 7. AH those [•interested in participating must bring in completed applications to lie Recreation Office no later [than Jan. 7. Registration fee is I $10. A basketball clinic will take place on Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Putnam Valley Elementary School. Grades 3-4 must be present from 11:30 to 12:30. Grades 5-9 should attend from 12:30 to 3:30. We are still in need of coaches, and referees for the program. Anyone interested may call Gary Spinelli at 526-3292. TO ATTEND STUDENT WINTER CONFERENCE-These Carmel High School students have been selected to attend the New York State Secondard School Student Organization Winter Conference. The conference will take place Jan. 6-9 at the State University of New York at Albany. Left to right arc Courtenac Keene, CHS sophomore class treasurer; Amy Lampensbergcr, Karen Comalcs, CHS Student Organization vice president, and Cathv Tighe, coordinator of the Student Action Committee. Photo by EGO
