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I am a military spouse in the middle of a divorce. One of the med-techs (military equivalent of an LPN) in the women's clinic at our base was told by my husband that I gave him an STI. She then shared this w/multiple spouses of other people who work w/my husband and also know me; who then told me via FACEBOOK of all places, that I needed to get to a dr. as they were told that I gave my husband a disease, by the med-tech in question.
Unfortunately for me, I am a patient of the clinic where this med tech works, and am currently being treated for pretty serious cervical dysplasia. I had varying degrees of staging from 1-3 and so I've been in and out of the doctor many, many times in the past few months. Needless to say, I'm facing the possibility of a hysterectomy and a little scared.
It was found that my husband did indeed have an STI, and I immediately went to the county health dept., got tested & came out negative for everything.
It's time for the checkup that will ultimately determine whether or not radical hysterectomy is advised, and I'm refusing to go back to the clinic on base as I have no clue if this chick is going to share my info. with anyone else. in the past she told me that she asked the doctor in the clinic whether or not her ex-husband's wife was pregnant, who then confirmed the pregnancy. So I'm well aware that she's violated HIPPA in the past, but not sure if my situation applies. As an LPN myself, I wouldn't dream of doing what this med tech did as in my mind it IS a HIPPA violation. But I might be overzeaously interpreting the rule too. So I'm not sure.
I make this branch of the military sound a little low class. lol. I'm sorry.
Like any small town, everybody knows somebody that knows your business on small bases- that really ticks me off.
Integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do... that's the Air Force's core values. I can tell you're talking about AF when you mention squadrons/bases. Albeit no branch is perfect, I'd hope that we could rise above this childlike gossip.
Ugh... Separate yourself from those people. Definitely file complaints. Heck, even shoot an email to the commander of the med group if need be. It's a terrible shame you had to deal with that. I like the idea of getting a lawyer- or at least writing an intent to sue letter, haha.
Either way, I am truly sorry you had such a poor experience with your health care team you entrusted yourself in. And I wish you well in your future. :heartbeat
Doesn't matter whether your husband told her as a friend, patient, coworker, spiteful person or all of the above.She can't turn around and tell your husbands friends and coworkers. She can't even tell her coworkers unless they are involved in treating you.
She knows this.
Now you do.
Sure she can...it depends on how she got the information.
For example, we had a set of quads born at my hospital last year where there was a write-up in the local paper and the mother breastfed the infants, information that was also, in the local paper.
Whenever I work with parents of twins and the mother has difficulty breastfeeding, I cite this example that it is possible because you body adjusts on supply and demand...I CAN DO that, because it was in the local paper and only give information that was in the article (which I did read)..I also tell the parents, "I am only giving that example, because there was a write up on the family in the local paper"...so the family I am working with knows that I am not violating anyone's privacy.
This is the same thing...if the husband told her outside the facility, NOT as an employee, she is free to share the information with who she chooses..however, if the husband was in the clinic and mentioned it to the med-tech and then she told everyone...then that became confidential information, and subject to HIPAA.
OP--I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. It's awful enough to be going through a divorce, and now to have a "friend?" spread malicious gossip about you is just horrible. Hang in there. I agree with other posters--go to someone higher up---document everything that she has said/others have said to you about what she's saying ABOUT you. Someone else mentioned integrity being part of the Air Force "motto". Well, this person/these people, are in violation of that very thing, imo, and need to be reprimanded. Hope your next physical exam brings a better bit of news.
It wasn't HPV that he was saying I gave him. I had HPV many years before I met my husband, and it did cause the dysplasia and was asymptomatic in me. Had I been getting regular paps I would've known about it and it wouldn't have progressed as far as it had. I told my husband immediately when my pap came back abnormal that it was caused by hpv.My husband is saying I gave him something else, what I don't know. The clinic on base said they weren't allowed to tell me b/c it would violate hippa, and that I'd find out if I tested positive for it. They would only confirm that he was positive for SOME STI.
I'm aware that the military has a duty to notify if the STI falls into a particular category. HPV isn't one of them. Syphyllis and ghonorrhea are the big 2 that I'm positive that they do mandatory notifications for.
They attempted to notify me, but they had no way to contact me so I never found out and wouldn't have known had this med tech not been telling other military spouses.
Don't forget HPV is a very very common virus. The majority of sexually active people are exposed to it some time during their lives.
I don't think it needs to be stigmatised ... I'll mention that because there are some people who put it in the same category as some of the others. And that's unfortunate.
Think it's important to follow through with all your treatment. Maybe obtain a second opinion regarding the hysterectomy ?
Best wishes to you
I disagree that repeating what someone else told her (to many people, including Facebook) is not slanderous. At the VERY least, it's highly unprofessional, and I can think of any number of employers who would fire her butt. Most employers don't even like to flirt with the line of a possible HIPAA violation.
I disagree that repeating what someone else told her (to many people, including Facebook) is not slanderous. At the VERY least, it's highly unprofessional, and I can think of any number of employers who would fire her butt. Most employers don't even like to flirt with the line of a possible HIPAA violation.
If you say something that is true, it is not slander.
If you are simply repeating what someone else told you, you cannot be found guilty of slander, but the person that originated the statement, can be found guilty of slander.
That is why I posted it was important HOW she got the information...if her husband told her in the context of the med-tech's employment...you are 100% correct...she needs to be fired as well as sued for a HIPAA violation.
However, if this med-tech is friends with her husband and she just happens to work at the clinic, then all she is guilty of is being a bad gossip.
However, I do agree with you on one thing...still doesn't mean it couldn't get her fired.
nurse2033, MSN, RN
3 Articles; 2,133 Posts
This sounds like libel and slander. From what you say it sounds like it is not true that you gave him anything. She both told people and put it in writing. Contact a lawyer and you might be able to sue her. I would also contact her CO and give them the facts. Even if you don't sue her a letter from your lawyer will probably make her throw up a little in her mouth. Best of luck!