@devsgurf: Sometimes you may see several different doctors. Specialists may not always be terribly informed about your entire health history. A psychiatrist, for instance, may not typically be concerned if you have kidney or liver dysfunction.

Of course, in a perfect world, they'd be very careful and require full medical records - and read them.

On my street there are nine nail salons. The operators rent the chairs from the owners at a such a rate that their only income is from tips. There are more nail salons than any other type of business. After a year or so, finally, the nail places are starting to close down.

A person's medical history is important as well as medical knowleadge, espically for the person themselves. If they have a medical issue they should be smart enough to know what activites might put them at risk. But in todays lawsuit happy society, businesses have to cover their tail because the US simpley has too many Lawyers and consumer advocates who feel that people are just plain too dumb to take care of themselves. Consequentaily we have to fill out forms for everything. I whole heartedly appluad Emily for using the appropiate N/A because obviously she is smart enough to know her own bodily system. Are you?

To be perfectly honest, I often do this. I am a very well controlled Type II diabetic. I mean, I have sugars that are better than most non-diabetics. I never mention it to most people because otherwise I get lectures on how I shouldn't get pedicures at normal salons, or that I shouldn't eat X or drink Y. I've even been told I shouldn't get massages. :/ I could see some very brittle diabetic with neuropathy not noticing damage, but not someone in my condition. I am better educated on my disease than they are, heck better than some of the diabetic educators, so I should know what I can and can't do. Especially, if I were turned away from a nail salon from someone who is just following some protocol they only understand because of rote learning to pass some exam.

@devsgurf: Yeah, you would think, but some patients don't disclose things from doctor to doctor. I was at the nephrologist the other day, and one of the staffers was on the phone with a GI doctor's office - talking about how the patient in question was noncompliant and never showed up for her GI appointments, yet came to the nephrologist and complained about belly issues all the time. She had told the nephrologist she was going to the GI doc. So who knows what she could have withheld from either doctor.

This sounds similar to a virtual school we were looking at for our children (we move a lot).

The school wouldn't enroll the kids until we provided them medical histories, financial information, etc. Why does on online school need this stuff? Granted, they may get money from the government and therefore desire some of this information, but they don't need their medical histories.

It's not like the virtual school has a virtual school nurse to give out virtual aspirin for a virtual headache.

@devsgurf: Your doctor might not know because you might go to several doctors for several different conditions, and you might not have told every doctor about every other doctor. It's the patient's responcability to let every doctor they see know about every other doctor, what they are being treated for and what meds they are taking.

@BytheSea:

acne/anti-aging medications don't mix well with waxing. the skin becomes much more delicate.

@Rectilinear Propagation:

That is true. Makes me think of all the drug commericals where you're warned to tell your dr if you have hiv or kidney failure. umm..shouldn't my doctor know that already?

Think about it: when you sign up your kids for little league you have to fill out a sheet like this. When they enroll in school, every year they have to fill out a med history form. When you go to a personal trainer or join a gym, same thing.

You're right that they have "no right" to ask for such information. But you have "no right" to be served by them. Either play by their rules or take your business else where--it's a free country.

But instead of filling out personal info and medical history, they should instead just hang a sign on the wall that says "Do not use our services if you have any of the following medical conditions: diabetes, bleeding/clotting problems...." etc.
@Julia789: This FTW. At worst the only thing they should have people signing is a disclosure stating this so they can prove their clients read the warning.

So diabetes has a lot to do with nail salons. A cuticle pusher or nail clipper can cause a massive infection. Diabetics should know this, of course, but some ignore the warnings. So I would say the salon has a right to be worried.

But instead of filling out personal info and medical history, they should instead just hang a sign on the wall that says "Do not use our services if you have any of the following medical conditions: diabetes, bleeding/clotting problems...." etc.

My guess is that the medical forms are not only to cover their butts, but also to gain info for mailing promos and coupons.

EW really? *Awesome.* What kind of conditions?

I found an Licensed Practical Nurse on myspace who works there, so they are apparently doing more than manicures.

@katiat325: The OP did not disclose any info, she just wrote "n/a".

why did the OP even bother to go through with it? yes, it's new, but I'd rather go somewhere else where I don't have to divulge my medical history. when i go to a nail salon, I expect to wait a while, read a girly magazine, and then get to have my nails done...not fill out needless paperwork for something that costs $15

On the other side of the spectrum the Chinese massage kiosk at the mall will work you over no questions asked as long as you have a $20 in your hand.

@agnamus: That may be true, but I think the bigger problem here is that a nail salon has no right to ask for that information in the first place. HIPAA was created for medical professionals because they are the only ones who should be privvy to that information. They take an oath not to divulge your medical information to anyone without your permission. I doubt anyone working at a nail salon cares, therefore they should not be asking for that info.

Id like to know about the medical history of the salon. The last time I got a pedicure, I got a wart infection on my foot that took 3 months of painful treatments from a podiatrist to clear up.

I can understand conditions like hep or TB (a stylist once warned me chop shop pedicures are a hotbed for TB but who knows) that can be transferred from one client to the next, but isn't the client with a chronic condition supposed to know if they can have a manicure or not? I have filled out paperwork for waxing as certain medications leave you prone to losing a good deal of skin in a wax, but a manicure or pedicure seems extreme.

As good Consumerists, shouldn't we be doing our own nails at home anyway?

When I got edema in my arm (from losing lymph nodes) I stopped getting manicures. Just common sense if you know any small nicks or cuts can cause you major health problems.

To save you the trouble, no, they wouldn't be covered under the business associate rule either.

You should also avoid using sharp objects to remove skin in any manner. These include, but are not limited to, razor blades, knives, and nail clippers. Speak to your healthcare professional about anything that you feel needs to be removed, such as warts, corns, or calluses. In some patients manicures and pedicures are allowable, but always check with your doctor. He or she may not feel either of these are safe in your case. Even though they may seem harmless, the removal of skin and cuticle material is an integral part of both a manicure and a pedicure. That can lead to an injury that could have been avoided.

Diabetes? What does that have to do with nail polish?

Sounds very fishy to me. The North Carolina Attorney General's office may even want to hear about this one...