Article about Joan Rivers doctor - many patients identified

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2014

Those patients chose to disclose was my take. It is similar to celebrities disclosing their illnesses to the public. Many who do this also will serve as spokespersons for disease research and support such as Michael J. Fox and Christopher Reeves. I do think this doctor was a little star stuck though and pushed the limit. I would have felt no need to post those on my walls and would have kept my patients appreciation private as I think it should be. It is not looking good for this MD as it appears that she did not give or get informed consent and did not have privileges at that facility. She well may be a good physician but she needs to follow the law as it is in place to protect all citizens and had she done that she would not be in the mess she is in now.

Altra, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2014

Obviously, the celebrity patients know their photos will be displayed and don't mind (else they wouldn't send her the photos). And the people who spoke to an NYT reporter did so voluntarily.
Still, I was surprised there was no mention of HIPAA in this article. One doc did say displaying photos is "ethically suspect."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/fashion/for-joan-rivers-doctor-Dr-Gwen-Korovin-fame-delivers-its-bill.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below

What is the HIPAA issue that you are surprised was not included?

Semolina · Nov 9, 2014

What is the HIPAA issue that you are surprised was not included?

Well, the fact that HIPAA exists might be relevant. In August, the Times ran a piece informing us that doctors can no longer display cute baby pictures because of HIPAA.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

I think it was a great publicity. After all, if stars are being worked on by him or her, then shouldn't you feel confident too?

BlueDevil, DNP · Nov 11, 2014

I don't see what the JR story linked has to do with HIPAA. They gave implicit consent to have the photos and gold records (lol) displayed when they signed them and gave it to her. I think I find it a little tacky (don't feel strongly about it, I just probably wouldn't do it), but then I'm a hypocrite because we still do have a baby/kid wall in our office. It is chair rail to ceiling cork board the length of the hall. We just request that the patients/parents pin the photo up themselves. To me, that is more than sufficient to provide proof of consent for a photo to be displayed. Change your mind and don't want your photo up there, take it down. Many of our adult patients have brought their old baby pictures as well, and we also have a lot of furr babies up there along with exotic vacation photos, head shots, glamour shots, graduation photos, wedding photos, family reunion photos, newspaper clippings, etc. There is no HIPAA violation if they personally pin a photo of themselves or their child onto the board. To my knowledge, no patient has chosen to write their diagnoses on their photo though. They don't mind people knowing they are a patient in our practice, but they want to keep their pediculosis pubis to themselves.