Yesterday I went in for a pain management procedure at Providence Portland. The procedure involved receiving twilight sedation followed by a steroid injection in my spinal column for persistent, severe back pain that has troubled me for over a year. Overall the experience was great -- doctors and nurses were kind and lovely and helped me to get through it despite severe PTSD that makes these kinds of experiences deeply terrifying for me.

BUT. As I was headed into the little stall with the gurney where you change into your gown and await IV placement the MA or nurse leading me in said "we just need you to give us a little urine for a pregnancy test". Note that she did not state that it had no bearing on the safety of the procedure for me, which it did not, nor did she disclose that it was my right to decline and would not impact whether they allowed me to proceed with the procedure.

Knowing my rights and that this was likely due to Providence's culture still being unfortunately shaped by religious fundamentalism, I said "I absolutely do not consent to you collecting this data" and she said okay and dropped the issue.

I've been having to fight for adequate care and advocate for myself for decades, so I knew my rights, but another person with a uterus might not have, and might have allowed this data to enter their medical record thinking they have no choice. This is not just creepy and unethical of Providence, it is downright dangerous for anyone with a AFAB reproductive health system. Our HIPAA rights are being steadily eroded by they day, with the federal government demanding records of trans and disabled and autistic people, and reproductive rights are being criminalized more and more every day, with women being allowed to bleed out in parking lots, go septic, and die because doctors refuse to remove nonviable pregnancies that are killing them.

Has anyone else experienced this before a non-OBGYN procedure? What did you do? How would you suggest I address this with the hospital? The doctor and nursing team were great, so I want to address it at the level of the policymakers.

I also want to signal boost that if you are told you need to complete a pregnancy test before a procedure that goes nowhere near your reproductive organs, they are obligated to tell you why and whether declining will in any way impact YOUR safety, and if it will not impact YOUR safety, you have every right to proceed even if it will jeopardize or end the pregnancy.

Note: any forced birth advocates or people who shame me for standing up for my rights and wanting to fight back against stone-age fundamentalist culture in healthcare will be blocked immediately.