Paternal Grandparents

minimoneysaver

My daughter is ill, recently the hospital and doctors have been asking me about her paternal side of the family and any illnesses. Problem is, I've emailed the grandparents and the father and neither will get in touch. Do I have any legal rights?:(

meritaten

Are you asking if there is any legal way of forcing this information from the father and his parents? I would ask a Family Law Solicitor hun. But, I rather expect the answer is NO. your medical records are confidential and I must say I have never heard of anyone being compelled by a court to reveal them. Not to say it hasnt happened - but a solicitor would be able to find out.

Perhaps a written letter rather than email would have more success? write to each of the grandparents individually? Stress that the knowledge may be valuable to the doctors treating your child?

I dont know what else to suggest - you have to be careful you dont come over as 'harassing' them.

I wish you luck and hope your daughter is better soon.

londonsurrey

Have you done any genealogy research? Is the type of information that it turns up the type that may be of some help?

minimoneysaver

Thanks Meritaten. I rather thought that it may be the case. It's a disgraceful situation. How they can put their stubborness over the health of their only grandchild is beyond me. I've informed them why I need to know.

londonsurrey

I agree with you that the wellbeing of the child is paramount.
But do you know that they've actually read the emails? I had a family member harassing me for years (had to take them to court eventually). Amongst other things, they kept on writing me letters. Two bin bags full taken to court. I didn't open any of them, but they couldn't believe that when I said I was severing contact, I meant it and they were convinced that as long as they kept writing me letters telling me what a disappointment I was and that I was doomed, I would keep reading them.

Bluemeanie_2

No you do not have any rights to know this information legally - of course morally is another discussion.

Hope she is better soon. x

RAS

londonsurrey wrote: »

Have you done any genealogy research? Is the type of information that it turns up the type that may be of some help?

I agree that one option may be to get the death certificates of your exs grand parents. That might identify familial risks.

MrsManda

As Londonsurrey said you don't know whether they have read the emails so if you have an address for them it may be a better option to write a letter.

It also be helpful to tell them the name of the doctor who asked for the information and his contact details so they could contact him directly as it may simply be that they're willing to help but don't want to tell you the details of their medical history. Or ask the doctor to write to them himself.

I hope your daughter gets better soon.

londonsurrey

Another thing about genealogy research is that it could turn up modern day relatives, who might be a bit more communicative.

minimoneysaver

That's a good point. I've never done any geneaology, I'll have a look into it. x

RAS

Hi

Families that have medical issues are not always happy to talk; it may be that your parents in law had a tough time getting children and that they find it very hard to think about and have never told your ex. This raises all sorts of spectres.

It may be that one of them knows that there were problems further back in the family history and does not what to contemplate the idea that they are a carrier.

One family I know had huge misfortune; an autosomnal (Sp) heredity disease affected all three children in one generation and three of the four grandchildren born to one of the siblings. Their cousin refuses to be tested despite being at the same risk. The cousin just cannot cope with it.