That's interesting because as I noted in my post, it was something that we always noted in the PICU..not just in Boston where I spent most of my career, but also in San Francisco where I worked in '89/'90..
I too have a copy of my medical records(all Harvard/Boston) and I've seen my doc's(especially consultants)indicate my race..
I also have my mom's medical records who was treated in upstate NY for cardiac and a myriad of chronic problems and her race is indicated in the H&P of several hospitalization and clinic appointments..
I believe you..I wonder if it's a regional/state/hospital thing?..I was actually quite surprised to read parts of this thread that indicated issues of indicating race/ethnicity because it had been in my experience, noted automatically..
In my experience it's not just important for genetic variants in the differential diagnosis(ie. sickle cell for African Americans and polycythemia for Eastern Europeans) but it was also helpful in getting a social sense of the child..for example, belief systems re: health care is different among different ethnic/racial groups..I remember learning the hard way that I insulted an Asian family by removing a vomit-saturated cotton string necklace from a child undergoing bone marrow transplantation whose immune system was severely compromised...I removed it to avoid bacterial infection..but the parents were upset and crying, didn't speak English and I had to get a translator to find out what the problem was..thereafter, I made a point of asking and also respecting that families' long held beliefs were more important than this very experimental procedure at the time..this is a conversation(very stimulating and interesting) that can go on and many books have been written about it..
I believe it's all about intention..if a clinician is noting race/ethnicity/class in an attempt to explore further and tailor and give the best care, than imho, it's very OK if not essential..If the intention is to pigeon hole people, make gross generalizations without exploring for individual differences being affirmed or dis-validated then I think it's wrong..
On a personal note..I am the daughter of E.European immigrants..when I was a young teen, I experienced intermittant abdominal pain..my parents in good faith, applied vinegar/garlic poultices to my abdomen..well, they didn't work and one night around 3am I woke up shrieking in pain(it was to be diagnosed as appendicitis) and they immediately took me to the ER..my folks spoke minimal english and I gave my history...I'll never forget the disgust with which the nurses and doctors looked at my folks for their 'treatments'..and for waiting so long..yet, I knew my mom had stayed up with me on prior nights believing it was a passing pain and that her treatement would help...that they were not neglectful...from that moment, I vowed to not look down upon people for not necessarily conforming/knowing the American standards of care..I suppose this influenced the importance I placed on knowing a child's race/ethnicity/social/educational background...as did many of my colleagues since we worked in a multi-racial and ethnic city..it's essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment in a humane manner...imho..
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