I have had similar experiences.
The best was a Friday night 2 years ago when my husband brought me to the emergency room with a broken ankle. The admitting person was asking me questions and I looked at her dumbfounded when she asked if I smoked. What does smoking have to do with a broken ankle?
As we both know, if you had died due to maybe bleeding or something else, your death certificate surely would read it was caused because of smoking. LOL
I have been told that all these forms are something called "informed consent." Informed of what? Furthermore, since HIPPA and computers in every damn office why is it necessary to complete what you have previously provided? I truly am sick of every clerk in my town having knowledge of my medical history. IT IS JUST NOT THEIR BUSINESS.
The dentist told me it was for my own good. I told him it was to protect him from liability. And I had done that. I wrote across the form in the dentist office "no changes, see previous form" and signed and dated it--still not good enough. He came right out of the back room to convince me I should do this. Well, I chose freedom and told him so. Well, when I arrive at an emergency someone will treat me (even if I have a heart condition) and someone may even give them the information they so desperately believe they need--but not I. Understand that I am not out of the area I live. I have never used another hospital or Dr. (they have the records) look it up if it is so damn important. LOL
While it may not seem necessary to you, someone attempting to heal your bones certainly wants to know if you smoke.
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/brokenbones/a/smokingbones.htm
Smoking has a documented detrimental effect on the rate at which your bones (and skin) heal. Chances are the nurse didn’t care if you told her or not. You won’t get your follow up in the ER, but it is important for the doctor to decide when to schedule follow up appointments and your final cast removal.