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    Peggygrady's Avatar
    Peggygrady Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jun 13, 2015, 02:48 PM
    My employer told my office I had breast cancer is this a hippa violation?
    I have breast cancer the office scheduler told people in the office I had breast cancer is this a hippa violation?
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
     
    #2

    Jun 13, 2015, 02:56 PM
    Are you receiving medical care from your office? If not, it was probably not a HIPAA (not hippa) violation. HIPAA protects you from having your medical providers from revealing information about you without permission.

    The question here is how the office scheduler found out. If they found out because they are privy to medical claim forms filed, then there may be an issue, though probably not a HIPAA one. But if you told them. There may have been a breach in ethics, but not HIPAA.

    What is it you want done about this?
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #3

    Jun 13, 2015, 05:06 PM
    If this is a medical office and you are being treated there, it would be. If this is merely a office where you work, then no. This law, very misunderstood by most people, only applies to places where you get medical care.

    Work places are like families, if you were missing work or the illness was able to be noticed, normally they care about you and are worried. So people will talk and discuss things like this.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
    current pert
     
    #4

    Jun 13, 2015, 05:56 PM
    It isn't even so much that people care and will worry. It's that you are covered by liability insurance (separate from medical insurance) that covers what happens to you on the premises, and the company has a right to know of course, but also to tell co-workers if it fits in with concerns about fainting or hurting yourself on a machine or falling downstairs, etc. If you had a communicable disease it would be obvious, but cancer isn't, and they should have been more delicate about talking with you first.

    I would say so. You have a right to be upset, but it isn't worth it. You need your energy and calm for your health.

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