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    Hailey82's Avatar
    Hailey82 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 22, 2013, 06:14 AM
    Did I violate hippa?
    I informed a patient that his ex wife ( also a patient) was/is pregnant. He did not know. Can I lose my license?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Oct 22, 2013, 06:20 AM
    Yes it was a HIPPA violation, assuming he wasn't on her list of authorized people for informationYou might get slapped with a fine if someone actually made a big deal of it... its not something that rises to the level of losing a medical license over.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #3

    Oct 22, 2013, 06:40 AM
    License for what profession?
    You most likely will be fired if she complains, unless you are self employed.
    Who complains to what agency such as HIPAA or your state licensing board will determine what happens after that.
    Hailey82's Avatar
    Hailey82 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Oct 22, 2013, 02:53 PM
    Dental profession
    Fired? Really? A stranger could she see is pregnant. I hope not
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #5

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:30 PM
    Yes but since she was an ex wife, he may not have seen her to know. You did violate HIPAA and the practitioner you worked for could be subject to sanctions if they don't fire you.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #6

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:31 PM
    It doesn't matter if she was pregnant out to here and had leprosy and 3 extra arms growing. If she didn't want her ex to know, and especially if they don't interact, you are in hot water.
    Alty's Avatar
    Alty Posts: 28,317, Reputation: 5972
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    #7

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:31 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Hailey82 View Post
    Fired? Really? A stranger could she see is pregnant. I hope not
    If a stranger, which means anyone, could see she is pregnant, how did the husband not know? Did she know? If so, why didn't she tell him?

    The fact is, this was private information that you divulged. If it was very obvious that she's pregnant, and she chose not to tell her husband for whatever reason, she could cause trouble for you because of what you did. And yes, that trouble could include being fired for violating HIPAA.

    Oops, just re-read, this isn't his wife, it's his ex-wife. In my opinion that actually makes it even worse.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #8

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:32 PM
    Her ex husband, Alty
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #9

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:33 PM
    Ex husband, Alty
    Alty's Avatar
    Alty Posts: 28,317, Reputation: 5972
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    #10

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:33 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by joypulv View Post
    Her ex husband, Alty
    I just edited my post. Realized that after I posted.

    Thanks Joy. :)
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #11

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:33 PM
    The 'new' AMHD kept telling me my response was too short!
    Alty's Avatar
    Alty Posts: 28,317, Reputation: 5972
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    #12

    Oct 22, 2013, 03:38 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by joypulv View Post
    The 'new' AMHD kept telling me my response was too short!
    Finally my super long posts are going to come in handy. :)
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #13

    Oct 22, 2013, 04:25 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by joypulv View Post
    The 'new' AMHD kept telling me my response was too short!
    I must be special... I can give a one word answer and not get that.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #14

    Oct 22, 2013, 04:57 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    I must be special... I can give a one word answer and not get that.
    Yeah the system appreciates it when you are terse! <<ducking>>
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #15

    Oct 22, 2013, 04:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ScottGem View Post
    Yeah the system appreciates it when you are terse! <<ducking>>
    Yeah.. it's a lot harder to tick people off with really short answers.
    J_9's Avatar
    J_9 Posts: 40,298, Reputation: 5646
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    #16

    Oct 23, 2013, 01:40 AM
    Fired? Really? A stranger could she see is pregnant. I hope not
    Actually, yes, fired. Why? Because you talked about one patient to another patient. It doesn't matter that the pregnancy is obvious, what matters is that you didn't keep your professionalism by keeping patient information private.
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