Discussing patients in personal statement

[Dunkmaster]

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I was just working on my personal statement, when the thought occurred to me: what is the best way to discuss experiences with specific patients without any confidentiality issues? I want to explain some circumstances behind some patients and their afflictions, but I definitely don't want to make any ethical or legal issues in my primary application.

Use an obvious pseudonym? I'd like my patients to have names in my statement because it seems so impersonal otherwise...

I dunno, what do you guys think?

As of right now, my personal statement contains the name (first nickname only), affliction, and cause of affliction, duration of hospital stay etc... I'd like to keep as much of it as possible.

Thanks.

 

[nick_carraway]

The rule of thumb seems to be that as long as someone who knows the patient cannot identify him/her based on your description, then you're golden.

If you use a pseudonym, make sure it's clear. Otherwise readers may assume that Tim Babbuya is really the guy's name.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

If you use a pseudonym, make sure it's clear. Otherwise readers may assume that Tim Babbuya is really the guy's name.

Exactly. I made up a name and every pro adcom proofreader assumed it was the real name and yelled at me to change it. I changed it to "a young boy" and it flowed nicely without the yelling at me. 😀

 

[Brent8927]

Exactly. I made up a name and every pro adcom proofreader assumed it was the real name and yelled at me to change it. I changed it to "a young boy" and it flowed nicely without the yelling at me. 😀

Funny... I used a pseudonym as well and everyone (my interviewers) knew/assumed I had used one! I didn't mention I used a pseudonym--my program director actually told me to take out the acknowledgement and said any adcom member would know.

But, OP, just because it worked out fine for me doesn't mean it'll work out fine for everyone else, and perhaps it's a good idea to be safe and be clear you're using a pseudonym.

I agree that not using a name makes an essay seem impersonal.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I'm grappling with the same issue, OP. Sometimes people just use the first initial of the person (e.g., Dave become D.). I haven't decided which way to go...

 

[pietachok]

When you first introduce the person, say: "A young patient/girl/boy, who I will call Dick/Jane." It will be clear it's a pseudonym without the awkward statement as such.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I just used "the patient" and "he" and "the gentleman"

 

[dw2158]

I'm grappling with the same issue, OP. Sometimes people just use the first initial of the person (e.g., Dave become D.). I haven't decided which way to go...

that's what i did. it's the option that uses the fewest characters 😉

 

[Captain Fantastic]

"Mr. T" was the name of a patient in my personal statement. I've seen physicians use this type of pseudonym during case presentations.

 

[Mattabet]

"Mr. T" was the name of a patient in my personal statement. I've seen physicians use this type of pseudonym during case presentations.

🙂 I love that this pseudonym could potentially be libelous...

"During my time volunteering in the Emergency Department, I had the opportunity to meet a fascinating gentleman who had been a famous actor in the 1980's, who had done some commercial work since. He had a sexually transmitted disease, and told me that he 'pitied the fool' that had done this to him. I'll call him 'Mr. T'."

 

[Law2Doc]

When you first introduce the person, say: "A young patient/girl/boy, who I will call Dick/Jane." It will be clear it's a pseudonym without the awkward statement as such.

I actually personally think this approach works best and is fine under the privacy act. Just don't use names or other identifiers.

 

[mvenus929]

besides changing the name explicitly you might want to change up the details, e.g. gender, age...medicine is a REALLY small world. HIPAA isn't just about not giving out names...if you describe something in detail it's pretty easy to figure things out. Regardless you should be able to get your point across w/out going into excessive detail.

This is why you give very broad identifying details. "An older woman," "a young girl", etc, rather than 'a 65-year old woman'. If your experience is in a clinic, or a hospital, that typically sees this population, then it tends to be difficult to identify the patient. Don't mention when, exactly, they were in the hospital. Probably not a good idea to mention a patient with a disease your hospital/clinic/whatever has only seen a handful of in a really long time.

The patients I described in my personal statement were pretty typical patients... a woman that the ER had to stick several times to start an IV and a guy who had been admitted more than once in a period of about a month. I can remember the specific patients, but no one would be able to identify them based on what I said.

 

[rockaction]

🙂 I love that this pseudonym could potentially be libelous...

"During my time volunteering in the Emergency Department, I had the opportunity to meet a fascinating gentleman who had been a famous actor in the 1980's, who had done some commercial work since. He had a sexually transmitted disease, and told me that he 'pitied the fool' that had done this to him. I'll call him 'Mr. T'."

the people in this computer lab are looking at me funny for the sudden outburst of laughter

 

[Forthegood]

I always say the name then in parenthesis tell that it is made up.

example... "One of the moments that changed my views on medicine was an encounter I had with a Mr. Forthegood (not his real name). Mr. FTG was a patient in the ER that morning, and was quickly diagnosed with anal glaucoma. Unfortunately, he was unable to see himself attending work that morning..."

 

[kwikemartman]

its pretty common for doctors to use initials in case reports

Mr. X had such and such

or, patient MX presented symptoms of whatever...

I think this would be appropriate in a PS, and would use less characters too, if that is an issue for you

 

[Forthegood]

In my actual PS and secondary, I just referred to a patient in a case as the patient.

 

[bkz]

In my actual PS and secondary, I just referred to a patient in a case as the patient.

WRONG, that's way too easy 😛