Question: I was diagnosed with MS, but I’m beginning to wonder if that’s accurate. I was adopted and recently met half-siblings, two of whom (and one of their daughters) have MCAS. When I brought this up with my doctor, she dismissed the idea outright without any discussion.

Discovering new family history information, especially after being adopted, can raise important questions about your current diagnosis and care plan. When you bring legitimate concerns to your provider and they’re dismissed without discussion, that’s frustrating and can leave you wondering how to get your questions properly addressed.

Why Family History Matters in Healthcare

Family history provides crucial context for healthcare providers, helping them understand patterns that might influence your care. When you’ve been adopted and suddenly have access to biological family medical information, that represents a significant change in your health profile that deserves thoughtful consideration.

The dismissive response you received reflects a common communication challenge where providers may have already formed strong opinions about your diagnosis and feel resistant to reconsidering their conclusions. Sometimes this happens when providers interpret questions about alternative possibilities as challenges to their expertise, rather than as legitimate requests for thorough evaluation.

Strategies for Getting Family History Properly Evaluated

Document the family history comprehensively. Before your next conversation, gather detailed information about your biological family members’ diagnoses, including:

• Which specific family members have been diagnosed and their relationship to you
• When they were diagnosed and by what type of specialist
• Any symptoms or health challenges they experienced before diagnosis
• Any other relevant medical conditions in your biological family

Present this information systematically rather than casually mentioning it. You can say: “I recently gained access to my biological family medical history for the first time, and I’ve discovered some conditions that I’d like to discuss in relation to my current diagnosis and symptoms.”

Request specific documentation in your medical record. Make sure this new family history gets properly recorded: “I need this new family history information documented in my chart, including the specific diagnoses in my biological siblings and niece. This is the first time I’ve had access to this information, and it’s important for my ongoing care.”

Ask about the evaluation process directly. Instead of suggesting alternative diagnoses, focus on understanding what your current evaluation included: “Given this new family history information, I’d like to understand what testing was done to arrive at my current diagnosis and whether this family history warrants any additional evaluation.”

Request a comprehensive review. Position your request as wanting to ensure completeness rather than questioning competence: “I want to make sure we have a complete picture of my health situation. With this new family history, could we review whether any additional testing or consultation would be appropriate?”

Addressing Provider Resistance

When providers seem resistant to discussing alternative possibilities, you can reframe the conversation around thoroughness and collaboration:

“I’m not questioning the quality of my care, but this family history is completely new information that wasn’t available when I was originally diagnosed. I’d feel more confident about my treatment plan if we could discuss how this information fits into my overall health picture.”

If your doctor continues to dismiss your concerns, you can ask directly: “What would need to change about my symptoms or family history for you to consider additional evaluation? I want to understand your clinical reasoning.”

Consider requesting specialist consultation. If your current provider seems unwilling to explore your concerns, you can request referral to a specialist who might offer a fresh perspective: “Given this new family history, I’d value getting a specialist’s perspective on whether any additional evaluation would be appropriate.”

Advocating for Second Opinions

You have every right to seek additional medical perspectives, especially when new family history information becomes available. You can frame this diplomatically: “I’d like to get another opinion that takes this family history into account. Could you refer me to another specialist, or should I pursue this independently?”

If your provider seems defensive about a second opinion request, remember that seeking additional perspectives is a normal part of healthcare, particularly for complex conditions or when new information emerges.

Document everything. Keep records of your conversations about family history, including your provider’s responses. If you need to escalate your concerns or seek care elsewhere, having documentation of these discussions will be valuable.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Trust your instincts about pursuing this new family history information. Medical understanding evolves, and newly available family history can provide important context that wasn’t previously considered. A good healthcare provider should welcome new information that might improve your care, not dismiss it without discussion.

If your current provider continues to refuse engagement with your concerns about family history, that’s valuable information about whether this healthcare relationship is serving you well. You deserve a provider who takes new medical information seriously and is willing to have thoughtful discussions about how it might impact your care.

Your advocacy for thorough evaluation that includes all available family history information is appropriate and important. Keep pushing for the comprehensive assessment you deserve, and don’t let dismissive responses discourage you from seeking answers that account for this significant new information about your health background.

This response provides guidance on patient advocacy and communication strategies. It is not intended as medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals about your specific medical concerns and treatment options.

Reader-submitted questions may be lightly edited for brevity and clarity, while preserving the original intent.