
Originally Posted by
edsnopse
Scott - Your scenario doesn't work for this thread. 1) You have chosen to expose your broken leg by attending school. 2) A broken leg has no social stigma.
If you had an embarrassing health condition, say an STD, you wouldn't like it shared with your peers without your consent. A good bet says that you'd be looking into Hipaa laws at that point.
You are aware that, in some jurisdictions, if you have certain STDs the healthcare provider is required to inform the state health department, which will then try and find all your sex partners so that they can be informed and tested for the disease? And yes, I have a feeling that Sue (or Johnny) is going to have a pretty good idea who the person is who may have infected them. The state feels the benefits of preventing the unknowing partners from infecting others outweighs the initial diseased person's right to privacy.
And, as you have found out, lice is contagious. The school may have been able to handle your child quietly and privately, but then how do they justify checking the other kids, to prevent it spreading?