Robin Harritt <ninguém@não.hoje.agradecimentos> wrote


.. I doubt from what I have seen here that you posses the required gumption to get together a family history of the kind that would help a genetic counsillor. But your son / daughter might one day be able to, given the chance.

Actually, though, what kind of family history would help a genetic
counsellor?

It seems to me that we talk about "medical history" over here as
though it exists in some kind of complete and accessible form keyed to
a person's birth-parents' names...

But even if one did have those names, what family medical history
would it give you? Would doctors hand over medical files for one's
b-father, b-mother, and b-sibs, ones' b-aunts and b-uncles? How much
would one really find out?

I mentioned, on another thread I think, that my own medical history
exists mainly in my memory, and unless they think to ask, my kids
won't know it. Still less would they know the medical history of my
parents or aunts or uncles. I can't even recall the names of all my
aunts and uncles, much less what their various ailments and genetic
proclivities were.

I can see genetic counselling being important if one has a salient
genetic disease -- thalassemia or hemophilia or something like that.

The key points would probably be what most people were aware of and
recall: what someone died of, whether they were disabled by a disease
(and even then, they might not be entirely clear what disease Uncle
Joe or Aunt Betty had or their infant whose name I don't recall now
died of). Getting detailed medical histories, to my mind, is not easy
for anyone.

Rupa

>Subject: Re: Marilyn Churley's Adoption BillFrom: rkbose@pacific.net.sg (Rupa Bose)Date: 11/28/2004
Actually, though, what kind of family history would help a geneticcounsellor?It seems to me that we talk about "medical history" over here asthough it exists in some kind of complete and accessible form keyed toa person's birth-parents' names...But even if one did have those names, what family medical historywould it give you?

I have found death certificates to be very informative. Also old city
directories which list occupation (end of job possible retirement due to poor
health), and old newspapers, especially small town. Kathy
I can see genetic counselling being important if one has a salientgenetic disease -- thalassemia or hemophilia or something like that.

Many more:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/rgdc/disease.htm

The key points would probably be what most people were aware of andrecall: what someone died of, whether they were disabled by a disease(and even then, they might not be entirely clear what disease UncleJoe or Aunt Betty had or their infant whose name I don't recall nowdied of). Getting detailed medical histories, to my mind, is not easyfor anyone.Rupa

Many do not realize the importance until they are hit. Kathy J

>Robin Harritt <ninguém@não.hoje.agradecimentos> wrote. I doubt from what I have seen here that you posses the required gumption to get together a family history of the kind that would help a genetic counsillor. But your son / daughter might one day be able to, given the chance.Actually, though, what kind of family history would help a geneticcounsellor?It seems to me that we talk about "medical history" over here asthough it exists in some kind of complete and accessible form keyed toa person's birth-parents' names...But even if one did have those names, what family medical historywould it give you? Would doctors hand over medical files for one'sb-father, b-mother, and b-sibs, ones' b-aunts and b-uncles? How muchwould one really find out?I mentioned, on another thread I think, that my own medical historyexists mainly in my memory, and unless they think to ask, my kidswon't know it. Still less would they know the medical history of myparents or aunts or uncles. I can't even recall the names of all myaunts and uncles, much less what their various ailments and geneticproclivities were.I can see genetic counselling being important if one has a salientgenetic disease -- thalassemia or hemophilia or something like that.The key points would probably be what most people were aware of andrecall: what someone died of, whether they were disabled by a disease(and even then, they might not be entirely clear what disease UncleJoe or Aunt Betty had or their infant whose name I don't recall nowdied of). Getting detailed medical histories, to my mind, is not easyfor anyone.Rupa

Some months ago, I attended a retreat at which I was asked to complete an
exercise in which I had to estimate how long I had to live. I started with the
ages at death of my garndparents, my father and his two brothers, and my
mother's two brothers. The five males in the generation before me died at an
average age of less than 70. Since I'm 53, it was a sobering thought and one
that re-awakened some dreams I intend to fulfill before I'm dirt.

More recently, I was contacted by a distant cousin who was just beginning to
examine the family tree. I pulled out my files and came across copies of the
death certificates and articles I've collected over the years. These, together
with my knowledge of the causes of death of the generation before me and the
medical conditions of my mother and my aging siblings give me additional pause
and reason to put some things in order.

I'm probably out of the ordinary in the degree of information I have and I
doubt most people would go to the trouble to collect it. But there's no reason
why they shouldn't have the ability to do so if they choose. Much is there in
the public record, if you choose to go look for it. All you need are the
names.

J.



Reply to jmhjmd at aol.

Rupa Bose wrote:
Robin Harritt <ninguém@não.hoje.agradecimentos> wrote . I doubt from what I have seen here that you posses the required gumption to get together a family history of the kind that would help a genetic counsillor. But your son / daughter might one day be able to, given the chance. Actually, though, what kind of family history would help a geneticcounsellor?It seems to me that we talk about "medical history" over here asthough it exists in some kind of complete and accessible form keyed toa person's birth-parents' names...But even if one did have those names, what family medical historywould it give you? Would doctors hand over medical files for one'sb-father, b-mother, and b-sibs, ones' b-aunts and b-uncles? How muchwould one really find out?I mentioned, on another thread I think, that my own medical historyexists mainly in my memory, and unless they think to ask, my kidswon't know it. Still less would they know the medical history of myparents or aunts or uncles. I can't even recall the names of all myaunts and uncles, much less what their various ailments and geneticproclivities were.I can see genetic counselling being important if one has a salientgenetic disease -- thalassemia or hemophilia or something like that.The key points would probably be what most people were aware of andrecall: what someone died of, whether they were disabled by a disease(and even then, they might not be entirely clear what disease UncleJoe or Aunt Betty had or their infant whose name I don't recall nowdied of). Getting detailed medical histories, to my mind, is not easyfor anyone.Rupa


Do you not have death certificates with the cause of death on them?
When I registered my adad's death seven years ago the cause of death
form had a history of his heart condition (the final cause of death) and
other heath factors that contributed to it back to the 1950s, such as
hypertension. That appears in a very brief form on the death
certificate. Death certificates were first issued in England in 1837.
Elsewhere in this thread I have given an example of how medical history
is important from my own experience. I told my GP of the history of
heart disease that I had found and was given an almost immediate
appointment for a hospital check, that's a bit unusual in the National
Health Service's system here in Britain. I wasn't able to find death
certificates for everyone in my birth family, so family anecdote has
also been very important as was talking to the living brothers and
sisters on my mother's side, both for me and for them.


Robin

> Do you not have death certificates with the cause of death on them? When I registered my adad's death seven years ago the cause of death form had a history of his heart condition (the final cause of death) and other heath factors that contributed to it back to the 1950s, such as hypertension. That appears in a very brief form on the death certificate. Death certificates were first issued in England in 1837. Elsewhere in this thread I have given an example of how medical history is important from my own experience. I told my GP of the history of heart disease that I had found and was given an almost immediate appointment for a hospital check, that's a bit unusual in the National Health Service's system here in Britain. I wasn't able to find death certificates for everyone in my birth family, so family anecdote has also been very important as was talking to the living brothers and sisters on my mother's side, both for me and for them. Robin

Ah. No one in my family died in the US, so the certs I have are from
India. They state a brief cause of death, and don't have any history.
Actually, the formal certficate I don't think even lists cause of
death, but to issue that they need a doctor's cert that does, and I
have some of those. I didn't realize that other countries have
detailed certs with all the medical history.

Rupa

jmdjmh@aol.compostible (J.) wrote Some months ago, I attended a retreat at which I was asked to complete an exercise in which I had to estimate how long I had to live. I started with the ages at death of my garndparents, my father and his two brothers, and my mother's two brothers. The five males in the generation before me died at an average age of less than 70. Since I'm 53, it was a sobering thought and one that re-awakened some dreams I intend to fulfill before I'm dirt.

I think it's a great idea to go for the dreams.
But I haven't found this method worked real well in my family. By that
reckoning, there were members of my family who died about a decade too
early. And others who lived a decade too long...


Much is there in the public record, if you choose to go look for it. All you need are the names.

I hadn't realized that.
Do most non-adoptees on this ng have that kind of depth in their
medical histories? I know by hearsay what my direct forebears for 2
generations died of, and that's pretty much it.

Rupa

Rupa Bose wrote:
Do you not have death certificates with the cause of death on them?When I registered my adad's death seven years ago the cause of deathform had a history of his heart condition (the final cause of death) andother heath factors that contributed to it back to the 1950s, such ashypertension. That appears in a very brief form on the deathcertificate. Death certificates were first issued in England in 1837.Elsewhere in this thread I have given an example of how medical historyis important from my own experience. I told my GP of the history ofheart disease that I had found and was given an almost immediateappointment for a hospital check, that's a bit unusual in the NationalHealth Service's system here in Britain. I wasn't able to find deathcertificates for everyone in my birth family, so family anecdote hasalso been very important as was talking to the living brothers andsisters on my mother's side, both for me and for them.RobinAh. No one in my family died in the US, so the certs I have are fromIndia. They state a brief cause of death, and don't have any history.Actually, the formal certficate I don't think even lists cause ofdeath, but to issue that they need a doctor's cert that does, and Ihave some of those. I didn't realize that other countries havedetailed certs with all the medical history.Rupa



Certificates themselves don't give a detailed history, the doctors
report that I had to give to the Registrar and which she read back to me
was quite detailed. I don't how or if anyone would be allowed access to
that report or how long it is kept.

My a-mom's death certificate from 1960 which I happen to have handy
because I need to get access to some of my adoption records, says under
Cause of Death:

1a Malignant cachexia
b Carcinoma of both breasts
c With dissemination

That is quite enough to make it clear that she died of breast cancer.
Important for any other woman in her family adopted out or not to know
that. And to know if any other member of the family died of breast
cancer. Woman who have two or more other woman in their family who have
had breast cancer are at a considerably higher statistical risk of
having the disease than the population in general. Some women in that
position do chose to have preventative mastectomy, they would certainly
want to have more frequent scans.

Breast cancer is one example of a situation where it is vitaly important
to know family medical history. Long QT syndrome would be another, there
are many many more.


Robin