I dropped off a prescription at my pharmacy this morning, planning to return this afternoon to pick it up. My wife went to the pharmacy to pick her medication, along with my childrens' medication, and since the last name is the same, they grabbed mine as well and handed it to my wife. I was under the impression that my private health information is just that, private. I am not trying to hide anything from her, it is just that I thought I have a right to privacy regarding my medication and the need for it. They openly shared my issue for which I need the medicien by handing her my prescription without my permission. I feel that I have a right to privacy from anyone regarding medical and pharmacy-related issues if I so choose to want that privacy.

Did the pharmacy violate one or more HIPAA / PHI rules? If so, what action may I take against the pharmacy?

Seriously you keep medication usage secret from your own WIFE!!
As your next of kin do you really think your privacy was breached ?

My husband and son had to sign a privacy document that allows them to pick up my prescriptions if I can't. The three of us go to the same GP, but he has never asked any one of us how any of the others are feeling or how a treatment has been working. In grad school for counseling, we were told we were not even to acknowledge (say hi to) a client in public unless he initiated it and certainly not discuss his concerns then.

I just called my pharmacist who told me the pharmacy was wrong to give the prescription to the spouse (and.or discuss the med) if there was no previous permission granted. And it would be a HIPAA violation.