I was discussing this with someone. My question is, does HIPAA also legally forbid us from discussing something that a member of the public, say a neighbor, friend, or family member, confides in us because we are a nurse? I'm not saying I would blab, because I wouldn't, I'm just asking about the law. If anyone has a link to supporting documentation backing your opinion, that is written in plain English, I'd be most appreciative.
Does HIPAA forbid us from gossiping about something that a friend or neighbor confides in us merely because of our medical background, even though they aren't officially 'our' patient.
"(4) HEALTH INFORMATION.--The term 'health information' means any information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that--
"(A) is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, public health authority, employer, life insurer, school or university, or health care clearinghouse; and
"(B) relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, the provision of health care to an individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
Where did I say it was her grandchild? I never stated that.
I believe she meant that the woman to whom the friend reported the abortion was the grandmother of the unborn baby.
I don't believe that this constitutes a HIPAA violation. I'm sorry for the emotional pain for all involved, but hope that everyone learns the lesson that the only way to safeguard personal information is to keep it to one self. If the young woman who had the abortion felt compelled to share that information, I think it was unreasonable of her to expect that someone else would do a better job of keeping that information private that she did herself.
I believe she meant that the woman to whom the friend reported the abortion was the grandmother of the unborn baby.
I don't believe that this constitutes a HIPAA violation. I'm sorry for the emotional pain for all involved, but hope that everyone learns the lesson that the only way to safeguard personal information is to keep it to one self. If the young woman who had the abortion felt compelled to share that information, I think it was unreasonable of her to expect that someone else would do a better job of keeping that information private that she did herself.
You're right, I realized that after posting and changed my response. I agree with you, people need to learn to keep their own mouths shut about their own information.
It isn't a HIPPA violation. It is a violation in a friends trust. There was probably a better way to go about that moral delemma. I do think grandma has a right to know but it is the person who didn't want to be a mother's place to do that.
I is a violation, just not HIPAA.
I didn't say anything about HIPAA.
It was not her "right" to know that a relative had had an abortion.
If the woman wanted her mother to know, she would have told her.
Why tell her after it is already done? She couldn't "save" the child. It was too late. Telling her accomplished three things:
1. Destroyed a woman's trust in her friend.
2. Violated a woman's privacy.
3. Saddened a potential grandmother.
I'm sure it probably caused problems between the woman who had the abortion, and her mother, as well.
FireStarterRN, BSN, RN
3,824 Posts
Quote:
"(4) HEALTH INFORMATION.--The term 'health information' means any information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that--
"(A) is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, public health authority, employer, life insurer, school or university, or health care clearinghouse; and
"(B) relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, the provision of health care to an individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/pl104191.htm
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This seems to imply that health information means official health data gathered while one is in their official capacity as a health care worker.