> Sorry for the misspelling; I should know it since it was part of the
> friggin
> health insurance licensing exam! Of course my mom can get her own medical
> information. But she didn't understand what they told her or what kind of
> test they were going to do on her. She asked if she could get breakfast
> the
> morning after she was admitted and they said not until after her test.
> But
> when I spoke to her she couldn't tell me what kind of test. Since she
> hadn't filled out the HIPAA forms neither my brother or I had no way of
> finding out what was going on.
>

You or your Mom can always ask for a social worker or a patient
representative to come and explain things to her or to you all as a family
the details of what forms need to be signed to give other people the right
to ask about their condition. You as a family can also ask a family law
attorney to write up a general or a medical power of attorney for you and
your brother as long as your mom is in agreement.

At 38 with a variety of health concerns I have both a general power of
attorney for my spouse and my parents as well as medical power of attorney
for all three of them as well as for my oldest sister. The last time I had a
bad turn with bradycardia and then arrest it reminded me how glad I was to
have thought ahead because it was in the middle of the night and there was
no way I could communicate with them at all. People who think they are too
young or too healthy should think ahead to the worst possible scenario.

If you take your Mom to the doctor and go in with her, you can address this
with the physician during the visit. Usually there is a form letter Medical
POA available.

My medications often effect my appetite, my taste buds, my hunger levels.
Since you certainly can't guess very accurately it's best to contact the
physican and go from there. I wish you much luck.

Cindi