Please let me know if this is a violation: I had a patient who I also knew casually. She and my sister participated in a competition which she won. I did not have her email so I asked a friend for it to congratulate her (nothing to do w/ being a patient). My friend then asked her (the patient) why I would have asked for her email. The patient replied, "it is a private matter". So now I have my friend asking what is the private matter and I have stated that it was just to congratulate her (which of course doesn't add up to my friend - who is dogging me about it & guessing all kinds of incorrect things - ). I am worried that the patient thinks I told my friend something or may be irked that I even asked for her email. Should I email/call the patient and explain because I now feel that I did something wrong and I feel that I should contact the patient and state that I was just getting the email to congratulate her (which I did). This all seems so convoluted!! I wish I had never even asked for it. Any thoughts would be helpful - I don't want to get myself in any deeper. :smackingf