Gina_

I see nothing wrong with those questions for the reasons that have been mentioned. Your husband's origins and why you separated from him may have some bearing on your health. Certainly, your own ethnicity could as well. There genetic predispositions to diseases.

For instance, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and chose to radically deal with her breast cancer based on the potential risks she faced.

As to the denial of a referral, in this day of increased health care costs, doctors have protocols in referring specialists. Such was the case with my children until the doctor found a pattern of illness that justified more specialized care. I had no problem with it as the next step was surgery. They have to attempt to treat you before just passing you along. Specialists are expensive.