[wedway]

I go to a pain management clinic. My doctor requires me to email him when I have questions, problems, and requests for prescriptions. I notice that every time I email him, his response is emailed to me and three or four office staff in his office. Sometimes there are very personal things written that I didn't intend to share with anyone but the doctor. I understand that he may want to put a copy in my file of what I wrote to him, but I don't see why so many people need to get my emails. One maybe to copy the information to my file, and a second to send out a prescription, but three or four? His office is impossible to deal with and they are very judgemental. When I asked him not to send the information to so many people, he refused to comply. He could not explain why he copied so many people to see my emails, but he said that the emails need to be put in my medical records and my prescriptions need to be sent out and his staff does those things. Is this reasonable, or does the doctor have the right to copy this information to as many people as he wants within his office? I doubt this is a HIPPA violation, but I do not like that my doctor does this. Thank you for your time.

[nitelight198073]

I don't know but the issue is that he is not taking your feelings into consideration you told him to stop that is very wrong... Health Information Privacy to find more info

[ScottGem]

The doctor may feel that, to provide you with care and to cover his own liabilites certain people in his office need to be copied in.

The reason why this isn't a HIPAA violation is that you are, in effect, authorizing this by using his services. If the info was revealed to someone outside his practice, that would be a violation. But he has the right to determine who, within his office, needs to know your info.

If you don't like it switch doctors.

[LearningAsIGo]

Working in a medical office, I can tell you that this is not a HIPAA violation. Its also very common that several (3-4 or more) have to be copied.

My office has a staff of 30 and at least 25 of them have access to imput information into a patient's medical records.

Since they are all privy to your information (ALL patient communications go into a chart, including phone messages, etc.) he's actually being more efficient to copy them all and ensure the work he wants is done.

Like Scott said, its best to find another doc if you're uncomfortable with this. Its his prerogative to run his practice this way and ethically, there is no issue, so he can continue as-is.

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, the doctor is free to discuss a case with other medical professionals