Horrible breach of personal confidentiality!

UK2USA · May 5, 2004

This situation definitely needs to be taken further. I don't think that there is anything you can do about your friend except drop her!... her problems are hers alone. I know that sounds hard but she is showing no recognition of your friendship by her actions.

I would definitely make a formal complaint to the physician and the manager of the lab. Disclosure of this type is totally out of order - and just think... whose details (apart from yours) is he handing out. Get the lawyers involved take this all the way, it is absolutely disgusting.

hmccartn · May 5, 2004

I would weed out this "friend"...slowly cut off contact with her... but i would pursue the breach of confidentiality with the lab...to ensure this lab doesnt reveal personal info about patients ever again...

zenman · May 5, 2004

Anyone can call a hospital for any info they want. Just doesn't mean the hospital is going to give it to them! The lab failed in this case...big time.

allnurses Guide · May 5, 2004

I experienced a privacy violation, actually a couple. As I was waiting in the pharmacy for my prescription there were a number of phone calls and there were names and drugs discussed with customers standing at the counter. Then the employees discussed one particular incident with the name of the person and the drug.

I'm not sure folks realize how easy it is to violate privacy but we sure need to do some re-education.

Definitely the lab made a huge error if they did give results to someone else.

Seems strange to me that they would but look at the pharmacy employees discussing personal info in front of customers.

steph

Justus · May 5, 2004

Perhaps give it a cooling off period first and then tactfully confront your "friend"- be thankful for her concern but firm in the importance of your privacy. Then I would contact my attorney, and have him contact the doctor/lab. Thats a wake up call. Or you could push it into a law suit. Either way I would not just let this go.

I'm sorry this happened to you, I can imagine how such an invasion would feel.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 5, 2004

Whoa....how did she get your labs! Did she have your MR number? Where I work we have to have the patient's MR number and the encounter number to get any results! If it isn't inpatient, they tell you to go to the computer and look it up, which if we do, it is traced and we get the steel tipped boot out the door!

You are in a bad place...I would report the lab ASAP at least.

KMSRN · May 5, 2004

If she got your lab results it needs to be reported. HIPAA violations are not personal affronts they are a legal violation that carry criminal penalties. Most institutions have people or processes to report these things. If someone in the lab gave out your information they should be fired, in my opinion, and maybe prosecuted.

missmercy · May 5, 2004

We have had staff fired for accessing labs of other staff members via the computer system. The lab certainly needs to be confronted about that!!

You "friend" sounds like a piece of work -- be careful, but distancing is a good idea!! What other sources is she digging into: credit reports, bank accounts......?

ferfer · May 5, 2004

Thank you for everyone's responses. I am still very upset by this and deciding what to do. I have never heard of HIPPA, perhaps because I live in Canada. But I am sure we must have some sort of privacy law as well that regulates this. I do want to report the lab person and her, but again, fear repercussions. I wrote an e-mail to this person asking her what she thinks I should now do and explaining that I am hurt and upset because I trusted her and she broke that trust in a terrible way. She did not respond. So I have some decisions to make on how far to go and how far I will let this affect my life. But, I do know I cannot just let this go completely because she can now look at my info at any time!! Even in the future. So, something must be done. Perhaps calling this lab 'friend' and asking hher to coffee and explaining how much this has affected me and threatening that if she ever does it to anyone I will sue her and get her fired, etc etc will end this. Do you think? Is that just foolish and wishful thinking?

Sigh.......cannot believe after 3 days I am still just as upset as when I first found out.:angryfire

zenman · May 5, 2004

Forget going handling this yourself other than going through the proper management channels. That's what they are for. Good luck.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 5, 2004

A friend of mine knew that I had some bloodwork done. She called her friend that works at the lab and had her check her databases for my results. I am outraged and feel so personally violated. Not to mention that it is so illegal. The problem is, if i were to take any action I would be alienating a friend that has a lot of issues going on- possibly severe mental illness. There is no telling what she is capable of if I upset her. She has made suicidal threats in the past....she would be the type to go out of my way to make my life hell if I did anything. But i am so angry about this and feel no one should have access to my personal information without my consent, and that something should be done. I need advice on what to do without facing repercussions!

I'd be turning her in to everyone for what she did. Her psych history is not your fault, and you shouldn't have to deal with that kind of violation.

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 5, 2004

I agree with Zenman - If you try to deal with this yourself you will find yourself sucked into a subordinate role as her manipulation behaviour escalates. Do not feel sorry for her - life is full of choices - she just chose wrongly - very wrongly now she must live with her decisions.

Ferfer you almost sound scared of this person talking about repercussions - ask yourself "what is the worst she can do to me" and remember anyone whom you utterly and entirely ignore will leave you alone.