Creating a Family Genealogy

It is important for you and your doctor to know what diseases have occurred in your family. We suggest you develop a family health tree portrait using our form or any of the sites below. Bring this information to your doctor and discuss your family medical history. Remember that family medical history changes over time. Update this information at least once per year and discuss any major changes with your doctor.

We recommend you use the Surgeon General's Family Health Portrait

• Surgeon General
  http://www.hhs.gov/family and http//www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/downloads/portraitEng.pdf

Alternative methods to collect medical family history can be found at:

• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
  http://www.cyndislist.com/

• Free Family Tree Chart http://genealogy.about.com/library/free_charts/bl_family_tree.htm

Privacy and Insurance Issues

• Genetic Alliance : Advocacy, Education, and Empowerment http://www.geneticalliance.org/ws_display.asp?filter=policy_discrimination

• National Partnership for Women and Families
  http://www.nationalpartnership.org/

• Patient Advocate Foundation
  http://www.patientadvocate.org/news.php

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