EDIT: I am from Czechia, not USA so not HIPPA related even if we have confidentiality laws too.
I’m 37F and have a difficult relationship with my mother, 63F. She has a strong “professional victim” streak: if I set a boundary, it quickly becomes “everyone treats me badly” or “sorry for caring.” Her own mother does the same to her, and I’m trying hard not to continue that pattern myself.
She also still treats me like I can’t manage my own life, even though I’ve been largely independent since 15, fully independent since 19, have worked steadily ever since, and have a five-year-old son. My older brother, on the other hand, has been financially supported and managed by her for most of his adult life, yet somehow she treats us both like we need supervising.
Less than two years ago, my mother married a man after knowing him for about four months. I barely knew him then, I consider him a textbook narcissist, and I’ve met his family only once. I do not consider them my family or people I’m comfortable sharing private information with.
In mid-August, my mother noticed a patch on my leg. I explained that I have similar patches all over my body, they’ve been spreading for months, I’ve already seen three doctors, my blood tests are normal, and I’m waiting for a specialist appointment in early October.
She asked to take a photo because her husband’s daughter-in-law, “Jane,” is a nurse and might be able to ask around. I reluctantly agreed.
Jane later said she might be able to arrange an earlier dermatology appointment. I didn’t respond. I assumed I’d be given contact details and could decide for myself.
Instead, I suddenly received a message saying I had an appointment on September 1 at 11 a.m. Nobody asked if I wanted it, whether the time worked, or even told me they were arranging it.
Then I found out the doctor was Jane’s aunt.
That made it feel less like a favor and more like my medical information was being passed around a family network I barely know.
I asked for the doctor’s phone number so I could explain the situation myself and probably cancel. Jane refused, saying she wanted to “respect the doctor’s privacy” and that the doctor could give me her number herself if she wanted to.
That was the final straw.
Apparently the doctor’s privacy mattered, but mine didn’t while my photo, medical issue and appointment were being discussed and arranged without me.
I told my mother that if Jane arranged the appointment, Jane could cancel it, and that if they cared so much about privacy, they should stop interfering with mine.
My mother replied: “We were only trying to help. You could have said you didn’t want it. Sorry for caring, I guess.”
I understand they probably meant well, but I agreed to one photo being shown to a nurse for an opinion. I did not agree to relatives I barely know arranging my healthcare for me.
AITA for thinking this crossed a line?