i write “n/a’ for not applicable. It fits better in the tiny box.

also i never provide race and ethnicity even though those are 2 things that actually could be helpful to a dr because certain races and ethnicities are predisposed to certain health issues.

and to that dr who responded to the question of why they like to know marital status: you must be quite the dr, because most drs i know wouldn’t ask a married person if they were suffering from domestic violence. By the way, what about the unmarried and living together? Missed that boat.

i’ve never heard if a dr asking if a married person is s caregiver so they can refer to resources. Sorry, byt I disregard your answer.

there is a security issue when answering single, divorced, separated, widowed. That person could be living alone. I know someone who says they’re married for that reason. Like in the old days when a single woman would just use her first initial in the telephone book.

true it is a lost cause. I heard interviewers ask marital status to see how committed to the job you’ll be. If you don’t answer, no job for you. It nay be worth giving them the answer they want, since it shouldn’t be asked to begin with!