Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    wedway's Avatar
    wedway Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    May 21, 2009, 10:29 PM
    Is this a HIPPA violation?
    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's Avatar
    nitelight198073 Posts: 470, Reputation: 76
    Full Member
     
    #2

    May 22, 2009, 07:11 AM

    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's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
     
    #3

    May 22, 2009, 07:15 AM

    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's Avatar
    LearningAsIGo Posts: 2,653, Reputation: 350
    Survivor
     
    #4

    May 29, 2009, 01:00 PM

    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's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #5

    May 29, 2009, 06:22 PM

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

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Hippa Violation Or Privacy Law Violation? [ 16 Answers ]

My ex boyfriend got me pregnant and left me at four months. I have many physical problems and he had his friend who is a pharmicist look up my perscriptions (I live 40 miles away from that store location and have never been there) and then the pharmacisit shared all the information. Can I do...

Is it HIPPA violation? [ 6 Answers ]

I had patient data stored for research purposes. I lost it somewhere, cannot find it. Is this a HIPPA violation? What do I need to do? Should I report this to someone?

HIPPA Violation? [ 5 Answers ]

I went to a lab for a medical test that required the use of a large machine. The technician had me sitting in the room while another patient was being scanned. The machine was silent and the room was not very large. The technician asked me questions about my medical history in front of the other...

HIPPA violation? [ 4 Answers ]

I am a nurse and I work in the home health care setting. A new patient that I visited with asked me for my phone number as I was leaving. He had a list of phone numbers for other nurses and I added mine to it. I am now being accused of a serious HIPPA violation. Is this in fact wrong? Is it a...

Hippa violation? [ 3 Answers ]

As a supervisor in Texas I recently had an employee call in. while speaking to another employee about getting coverage I was asked if he had the flu since we had so many people call in with that. I said no he has... I thought nothing of it since it wasn't something embarrassing. Now I am being...


View more questions Search