[Farrout]

I was at a particular dentist's office for the first time and was undergoing an initial intake assessment by one of the dental staff. I was seated in a dental chair. Only a couple of feet away from me was seated another person in a dental chair. The assessor was asking me a lot of personal and private questions during the assessment. The person seated next to me in another dental chair could hear my entire conversation and vice versa I could hear the other person's conversation. During this time, I felt like there was a violation of the privacy of my personal information. Was this a violation of the HIPHA Law and is so, what can I do about it?

[medic-dan]

Not a lawyer but often run into a similar situation at an accident scene.

You were aware of your surroundings and that someone else could hear your responses. Yet, you knowingly answered the questions?

No on the HIPAA violation. You were the one that disclosed the information when you answered, not the dentist. In addition, the other patient is not a "covered entity." They have no relationship with you at all and are not a health care provider.

You should have told the person doing intake that you were not comfortable answering the questions in that location and wanted privacy.

[ballengerb1]

Definitely not a HIPPA violation. If the health care provider shared your info it might be a violation but in this case you shared it willingly and was overheard.