I am a nurse.I was accused of a HIPAA violation. My DON had a daughter in a mental health facility that I previously worked for about a year ago. Another co-worker at the new job mentioned something about the daughter that I mistakenly repeated to another nurse who reported it. Now the DON is convinced that I repeated information from a private chart, rather than an informal discussion. The hospital legal department now wants to meet with me. Do I need a lawyer?

Do you need a Lawyer? I don't know. Would I get one? Yes.

I don't understand how you mistakenly repeated something - you didn't mention names or something along those lines?

I would not attempt to meet without an Attorney.

Yes, I would get a lawyer.

You didn't "mistakenly" repeat it, you repeated it intentionally. For what purpose I don't know, but you did repeat it rather than informing the nurse who told you that she was committing a HIPAA violation.