I recently found out that one of my co workers went and told everyone that I was pregnant. I had it posted on myspace but only my friends can view my page. One of my formal friends let this co worker view my page on myspace and this co worker went to work the next day and told the entire office including my supervisor that I was pregnant. I was waiting until my doctors first visit to get confirmation before I told anyone at work, let alone my boss. Is this a hipaa violation?

Everyone will find out soon enough. You did post this online anyway so I can't imagine this being a HIPAA violation. Had you not made this "public info online" that may be different but since the person did not receive the information from your health provider, then the answer is no.

Nope, no HIPAA violation. It wasn't your doctor or nurse who spread the word. Besides, you did post it publicly on myspace, whether it's set to private.

Technically it was posted privately on myspace. If your profile is set to private, only your friends have access the page, unless of course, one of your "friends" show someone else. I don't think it's necessary to delete your myspace or anything but go through your friends and delete anyone you can't trust.

I think it was incredibly rude of this person to tell everyone for you instead of letting you share your good news.

Technically even though it is set to private, it is on the internet, anyone of her friends who reads it has access to spread the word around. So, private is really a relative term when it comes to the internet.

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Originally Posted by J_9

Technically even though it is set to private, it is on the internet, anyone of her friends who reads it has access to spread the word around. So, private is really a relative term when it comes to the internet.

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I didn't think about it that way, you're absolutely right

Its not even an issue of Myspace or the Internet.

J9 is correct; HIPAA only concerns doctors, nurses, etc. and their patients.

This was just workplace gossip.