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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Blood types not listed on birth records
Question: I just found out that there are no medical records or birth records showing the blood type of either of my two children. Can that be? I called my children's pediatrician and was told they don't have any record of their blood types and also that they didn't think Kapiolani Medical Center would have the information because my kids are now in their 20s. I tried to call the state Department of Health records office, but can never get through because the lines are always busy. Is this true that the blood type is not listed anywhere on their records?
Answer: Blood type is not recorded on Hawaii birth certificates.
"Hawaii follows national standards for information included on U.S. certificates of live birth documents," explained Janice Okubo, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.
We found a copy of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth online. For the baby, the document requires only a name; time of birth; sex; date of birth; facility name (or address if not in a facility); city, town or location of birth; and county of birth.
It also is not standard practice "anywhere" to draw a baby's blood to find out the blood type, said Claire Tong, spokeswoman for Hawaii Pacific Health, which encompasses Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Expectant mothers/parents can talk to their pediatricians and request that the pediatrician submit a written request for the blood type to be determined, she said.
"But, in standard practice, blood drawn for (determining) blood type has to have a medical indication" -- some reason or rationale for doing so, Tong said. She also said determining blood type likely is not something that necessarily would be covered by health insurers, unless there was a specific medical indication.
We checked with the Hawaii Medical Services Association, which verified that policy.
Under HMSA, "a blood test ordered solely to determine blood type is not covered," said spokesman Cliff Cisco. "A blood test ordered by a physician in the course of diagnosing a medical condition is covered."
Q: Could you find out why we are required to remove plastic caps from bottles before turning them in for recycling? It seems to be counter productive to be throwing the plastic caps into the trash when we are trying to recycle plastics.
A: Basically, because not every product is commercially recyclable, plastic caps among them. They are made from a different type of plastic from recyclable plastic containers.
If they were mixed in with recyclable plastics, they would cause contamination and render everything non-recyclable.
AUWE
To the pedestrian who crossed an intersection against the light recently and caused me to jam on my brakes, You were talking on a cell phone. I don't think you even realized that you were crossing on a red light. Please be alert.
--- No Name
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