I am an employee for a hospital. When I started I had noticed that my energy level was down a bit, and through the course of three months I would have days where I would have a fever of 101 I was not to overlly concerned I was pulling 12 hr shifts 6 days a week with one day off to recoup. I finally went to see my doctor who informed me that I had a bacterial infection and without antibiotics it would keep getting worse. Great mystry solved. My doctor wrot a note stating I was to have two days of from work which would tie into my two days off giving me 4 days to rest. I took the note in to work Thursday my H.R. person said go home we will see you on Monday. Now the reason I was worried is because my boss kept asking people if they had ever smelled booze on me because they thought I was going through Alcohol DT'S ( I don't even drink ) So I left Thursday and Friday night at 8pm one of the nurses called and said I was on the schedule tonight when would I be in? I told him I had a doctor's note and I would not be in. I told him him that HR had a copy of the note. He then told another nurse that I had an excuse from the doctor and wouldn't be in. Then he asked me what it was I had that required a doctors note? Well I have nothing to hide I said I had a bacteria infection he starts laughing and puts the phone down and says "Oh little Johnny has a bacterial infection" I was stunned I told him I was antibiotics my fever was sitting at 102.7 that day he started laughing even harder and said well I made baclava just for you the other nurse said ask him how long he has been on the antibiotics I told him tell her I just started them today (Friday ) I was so angry I asked him is this what you do to employees that are not feeling well you call them up and ritacuel and humilulate them and laugh at them. The nurse just said oh we don't mean to laugh at you it's just funny" My fever jumped to 103 that night because I was so upset and embarresed by what had happened. Please this has to violate a few HIPPA laws Can someone please tell me if I have a leg to stand on?

You can file a HIPAA complaint and maybe you will be one of the first two people to ever win one. OK they were inappropriate and laughing but you have not been fired have you? You gave the person on the phone the diagnosis so there is no expectation confidentiality from that point forward.

Since you volunteered the information and the doctor did not, there is no violation.

BTW sending a note to HR is a bit out of the ordinary. You should communicate your illness via proper channels which would normally be your supervisor.

I don't know your position at the "hospital," but there is a chain of command. Firstly, your direct supervisor. That person should have been contacted first regarding your illness and subsequent absence so that provisions could be made and schedules changed accordingly.