REASONS YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR HOSPITAL RECORDS - OR - WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER TELL A PAPER-PUSHER THAT YOU’RE ADOPTED


Excuses 101 - 200

Lori Pringle
101. (In the voice of the blonde girl on Mad TV) Records, well I just happen to have them right here in front of me, yes I sure do! But, y'know WHAT? UH UH! Bye bye now!
102. Well, actually, we're not allowed to release that information to adoptees under any circumstances. (Terret's Syndrome -) Five thousand dollars.
103. Sure, we'll give you your birth records. I know you live 3000 miles away, but you'll have to come here in person, and bring your original long form birth certificate, three pieces of photo-id, legal proof of any name changes, and a cheque for $50.
104. - Sorry, but our heater broke down last winter when it was minus 80 degrees outside. We had to burn all our old paperwork to keep warm.
105. I'm sorry, but our file clerk is away on a five year sabbatical in Africa. And since she's a member of the union, I can't take any work away from her. Sorry.
106. Oh, well, I'll just read your records to you right now. Ahem... "(Insert Birth date here). Bastard." No, REALLY. That's all it says!
107. Okay, here's what your records say... JUST KIDDING! I wasn't really going to tell you!
108. I'm sorry. But if you wanted your records so damn badly, you should have taken them with you when you left the hospital.
109. We're not allowed to give records out to adoptees. Know how I know you're adopted? You gave us the wrong birth date for yourself. Ha ha ha ha ha. What kind of dumb bastard doesn't know her own birth date? Ha ha ha.
110. Sure, we can get you your records. But first, yonhave to show us an original birth certificate, eight pieces of photo-id, security clearance from NASA, the CIA, and the FBI, three letters of reference from psychoanalysts to prove you're not insane or unstable, a complete list of every address you've ever lived at, every employer you're ever worked for, and every association you belong to. Once we've verified that you check out okay - this will only take about 25 years what with the waiting period and all - we have to request your records from a storage facility on Mars, and then your records will be out to you in approximately twelve light years.
S.L. Forest:
111. We'll need your footprints to compare to the records before we can even consider looking for them.
112. I'm sorry by it seems your records were mistakenly put into the pile of paper the administrative assistant used to test the new paper shredder.
113. Oh my, those records have been sent to the preventive genetics study program at Marduke University. They'll be doing a follow-up later this year. What's your address?
O.S. Moses:
114. Your identical twin who was not relinquished has them.
115. It's none of your business.
116. We are waiting for approval from the NCFA before we release them.
117. They were placed in a time capsule that is embedded in the corner of Bill Pierce's house.
118. They are written in English and we are translating them for our file clerk who is from Paraguay. We'll forward them to you as soon as she passes her course on English as a second language.
119. They were sent to you but the post office must have lost them.
Dixie LaPierre:
120. When unwed mothers came here years ago, we did not keep records for their privacy, sorry.
121. We can only release non identifying info about you, and you were fine. There's your info.
122.Your bio-mother requested we not contact her.
123.The agency has the records.
124.The doctor that delivered you sent the records with your adoptive parents. Obviously they do not want you to know.
125.The records are stored in a warehouse 12 states away from here- guess which way and which state?
126.Those records mildewed and we had to throw them out because OSHA said it was a health hazard.
127. The records? What records? There are no records.
128.Let me transfer you to adoption losers.
129.Name at time of birth?
130.Name of Parents?
131.Name of the doctor?
132.Mother's maiden name?
133.We will need the address of your mom at the time of the delivery.
134.Oh...adopted....well...those files were being stored, and then there was a fire there in the basement, and then there was a flood from the sprinkler system, and then there was mold and then there was OSHA and then we disposed of them and then we picked up the phone.... NEXT!!!!!
Jennifer Cooklin (ISO birthfamily born 9-15-70 in Cincinnatti, Ohio)
135.Well you see it's like this... your a-mother Celesta has them locked behind a door with you severly ADHD brother... but it is just to keep you out.
136. Call the court that handled the case they should have your info.
I called the court and they don't have it..... under this name that name or my aparents name or my birthdate....
Did you try having the court look under you bmothers name?
137. The state registry could get the info you have..... call them
I called them and all they said was yes I was born.
Did you register?
They said I couldn't register. I had to petition the court to open the files that they don't have and then pay them 50 dollars to release that information to the registry.
Well your birthmom can register.
138 Call the agency.....
What agency.....?
The agency that is in your court records.
139. Try the lawyer that handled the case......
The one that is in the court records?
Yes, that's the one!!!! he could help you.
140. "Hi I'm the idiotic machine that belongs to the idiot that has 365 reason that you can't have your records...... You'll never get to me so I can tell you no you can't have your own records about your own medical history or treatment... but leave a message at the court and I'll get back to you."
Gavi
141. Social Worker: Oh yes, I have it right here...(eyes roll upward while reaching for form letter 632:"Nosy Bastards Who Can't Leave Well Enough Alone") Ok. Let's see. Your doctor's name is Eminen T. Domain, the lawyer's name is M. Alfie Zants, your mother's name is Mora L. Turpitude, and your father's name is N. Rem. Always remember, the laws were created for _your_ protection. Good Luck!
Beda Warrick:
142. Your records are not available due to microfilm erosion (they really told me this!!!:-p)
143. I'm sorry, but your birth is none of your business.
Mark:
144. You want what!?!?!?! (lots of laughter)
Shea:
145. The Cigarette-Smoking man transferred those files to a digital tape and stuffed it up Krycek's anus right before he was locked in the radioactive missile silo.
146. We recycled them to make tennis shoes for underprivileged children who are GRATEFUL to HAVE them!
147. Bill Pierce has used them to insulate his attic.
Lori Pringle:
Genuine Excuses from the U. of A. Hospital in Edmonton (names changed):
148.Hi. This is Celesta. You'll have to talk to Nancy about that, because I don't know anything about it, and she's out for lunch right now. - when you call back... Hi. This is Nancy. You'll have to speak to Celeste about that, because I don't know anything about it.
149. Oh, you were _adopted_? Well, we can't send you anything then.
150.Why do you want your records?
151.What information... I mean, what EXACTLY is it that you want to know from your birth records? I mean, WHY on earth would you want something so old?
152.Well, it was put into the mail MONTHS ago. It must have gotten lost.
153.I know we sent it to you, because it says so right here. But what's your address, because we don't have it. 154.Adoptee - By law, you have to give me my birth records.
Celesta - No, we have to give the _patient_ their records. And since you can't prove you are the patient, you can't have them.
Adoptee - But I GAVE you proof of who I am. You have copies of my adoption records.
Celesta - According to your birth certificate, you are not the patient. And since adoption records are sealed, we have no way of verifying that yours are genuine.
155. Celesta - Okay, I've now been told that you CAN have your birth records - IF your birth mother will come down here and sign a waiver.
Adoptee - My birth mother committed suicide six years ago, because she couldn't handle not knowing where her children were.
Celesta - Well, like I said, we still need her consent.
Adoptee - I told you, she's DEAD! Do you want _proof_? I can get you proof.
Celesta - Um... talk to Nancy... I can't help you. - click
156. Well, I know we already sent them, but okay... we'll send them _again_. You should have them by early next week (snicker, snicker).
Damsel Plum:
157. A dangerous fungus grew on them and we had to have them fumigated. In the fumigation process, many were disintegrated. I am sorry to inform you that yours were among the fungus-ridden and disintegrated.
Jean the Bean:
158. Oh, sure -- I have your birthmother's last name right here on this baby ID bracelet... no, wait... dang! I can't seem to scrape off this darn price tag!
159. (Actual quote from the Boston registry of births:)
"Those records were destroyed. But you can get a court order to see them."
160. Well, we really *wanted* to keep your records, but we thought it would be better for *you* if we sent them down a river in an unmarked bottle.
161. You want your records? Let me ask *you* something. Don't you love your parents, or what?
162. Oh, your *records*? We aborted them.
D.C. Wilson
163. Perfect one for Feb. 29 birthday people:
Celeste: Well, according to our records, you were born on February 29, so you'll be eligible to view them when you turn 21.
Adoptee: I'm 25 now.
Celeste: Not according to our records. They say you're only 6. You've still got 15 more birthdays to celebrate (smirk)
Dana Boggs:
164. Do you have your receipt?
165. I'd give your records to you but someone has wrapped them all up in red tape and I can't seem to cut through it.
166. Rod Serling already picked them up.
167. Talk to the hand.
168. Our records show that we don't have any record of your records.
169. Do you have any proof that you were born?
170. Yours is a broken record.
Katherine Brower:
171. Diseases, miss?? Well....(smirk) we can certainly see why you would be afraid of "diseases".... but considering your age you are in no immediate danger of dying from anything that your birth mother would have contributed to!!
172. Records?? Considering your status, the only record you are entitled to is something by Motley Crue. (punchline: Motley Crue's single Bastard)
173. We most certainly understand the need for you to know where you came from. The stork brought you!!
174. Two words: Non existent!
175. (This can be universally applied to any government agency/medical facility) Will you look at that honey, my computer terminal just crashed. Must be all the adoptees trying to access their records!! Overloads the system with unnecessary traffic!! I better go find someone who can lie to your face a little bit better than I can.
176. I just work here.
Gavi:
177. Oh, the adoption worker who was holding your file followed a herd of other adoption workers off a cliff. It was tragic. Sorry.
178. Well now, if you'd be willing to contribute to society by signing up for our cryogenics experiment, we'd be happy to match your DNA to that of your parents. That is, when we are fully capable of it, say in, oh, 2050.
179. Records? Yes, you have reached a recording. (Click.)
180. Records? RECORDS? Excuse me, but have you heard of _recycling_, or are you not from this century?
180. Apparently you don't understand why you were adopted. Adoptees always come from parents where the mother was a slut and the father was a lay-about dog with no future. Do these sound like people who leave reliable information? I suggest your next call be to your adoptive parents, expressing how _grateful_ you are that they took you in.
181. Oh, apparently you haven't been keeping up with "Journal of Higher Education." All adoptee records are now in the hands of a sociology professor who is doing a study promoting the return of orphanages and workcamps. You're obviously another unhappy adoptee. It's people like you who confirm his theory. Perhaps if you applied for graduate school at his university and were accepted under his mentorship, you could see your records.
182. Oh yes, we sent it by pigeon to your adoptive parents a few years ago. Now, um, remember how Bert on Sesame Street loved pigeons? (You're an eternal child like the rest of the adoptees, aren't you?) Well, unfortunately, it was around the time of the Bert-and-Ernie-are-homosexuals-rumor scandal, and the delivery pigeon was shot down. Bye now.
Mari Steed:
183. "Due to the considerable amount of time which has passed, we no longer have your records. We just don't keep older things." (ACTUAL EXCUSE!)
Brian Moulton:
184. The truth of the matter is you are a clone and have no "parents"
185. Ahh we have been waiting for you to contact us, you were part of a secret military project to create a "master" race, but unfortunately you were "inferior" and marked for termination at birth, please report to our offices at ...
L. Rayner
186. Hmmm...that's funny. They don't seem to be here. Perhaps we already sent them to you. Are you sure you don't have them?
Midnight:
187. Unfortunately your record has been recorded over. However, if you would like to view the season finale of "Days of our Lives", we would be happy to send it to you.
188. Your record is on vinyl and we can't find a record player anywhere.
189. We don't have your record -- however, we DO have your 8-track..
190. You have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Your record will not bring you happiness. Therefore, we are terminating your pursuit of it, thus ensuring your emotional glee. Aren't we nice?
191. Your record was signed with disappearing ink. The expensive kind.
192. The Doctor signing your record had Parkinson's disease, so everything written on it is illegible.
193. It's all on a computer, but the county hasn't given us the funds for monitors.
194. I'm sorry sir, but it's in Braille.
195. Because your birth record was an illegal abortion, it is confidential.
196. Birth certificate, death certificate -- is there really a difference?
197. Why don't I just get you your death certificate instead ...
198. Because your original birth name is an expletive, it has been censored from our records.
199. If I told you that you were Bill Clinton's illegitimate son, I'd have to kill you.
200. You call and they say, "We'll send it to you." Weeks later you receive a letter reading as follows: "Dear Bastard: Enclosed is the bill for searching our records. The search was successful. Thank you. Sincerely, Bastard Hospital. P.S. I would have enclosed the birth certificate but I just sealed the envelope."

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