The pt (47 yr old with twins) was an out-patient who came in for a routine non-stress test. Her friend was sitting in a chair in the room, near us. I was reviewing her history from her chart and mentioned her IVF. The pt glared at me, and I realized I spoke out of line, and tried to back peddle by saying, oh I must have confused you with another patient....and then nothing more was said.
But a few days later she called me up, very angrily, and told me I caused her tremendous distress, because she had not told her friend about the IVF. I felt awful and apologized profusely. She also reported it to my supervisor, who fortunately, was very sympathetic to me. Perhaps because I have worked there for 32 years, and have never had a patient complain about me before.
I guess I hadn't thought of it as highly sensitive information, because we see many IVF patients who generally bring it up freely. Also, if she allowed the friend to stay in the room with her during the test, I figured she was ok with her hearing what went on. Wrong!
So, just putting it out there, so no one else makes the same mistake I did!
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Is she ashamed of having a baby via IVF, not the good old fashioned way? She wouldn't want her friend to know such a hideous secret? What a drama queen!! Sounds like her pregnancy hormones got the better of her and, of course, as usual, the nurse is to blame--again!! These outrageous patients are something else.
Doh! This is the reason my facility has a policy that we have to ask if it okay for everyone in the pt's room to hear any and all information discussed. Even if we know it is the pt's SO, sister whatever . . . we have to ask every time. ( I work in a clinic setting.)
Ridiculous!! Who the he'll cares that she had IVF? besides, being 47 with twins (assuming they are young) kinda raises a red flag (at least in my book). She's obviously hasn't come to terms with it, and now has an easy way to displace her feelings (it's the nurses fault, of course). I'll reiterate: why invite seine into the exam room if you are not comfortable revealing something in your history to them?
Oops, just re read your post; she is currently pregnant with?? Not for nothing, but that makes the Pt even more stupid (not for being preg, but for her friend possibly thinking less of her).
I think we can all learn something here. Pts scream HIPAA all the damn time so we need to err on the side of caution and ask for consent explicitly. You didn't really do anything terrible IMO. She is just as responsible as you are. And shame on her for lying to her friend. This is what happens when we lie people. The truth will out, lol. She's just pi$$ed and embarrassed that she got caught in her lie and is taking it out on you.
The patient is an idiot for bringing her friend to an appointment if she's so secretive about her medical history. Even if she wasn't in the room, what did she expect? That you would whisper the questions to her? If I brought someone to an appointment with me, I would assume I am giving my doctor/nurse permission to speak freely. It's not like you went out in the waiting room and questioned her. I don't think you messed up.
Oops I misread your post. I thought that you said the friend was sitting outside the room. Don't know where I got that. Anyways, even better. How could she expect that something like this wouldn't come up? It's implied consent.
And I agree with the poster who said it's a red flag anyways for her to be pregnant with twins at her age. I'm sure it was no surprise to the friend haha.
Today I drove my 'BFF' to an appt for a TEE. I did not go up with her as it is a very long walk from the parking lot, and I use a walker. However, she gave the nurse explicit consent to tell me everything post-test, and the nurse called me with the full report.
I think this is a 50-50 error - the pt maybe didn't think it thru about having the friend there, and the nurse thought it was okay to speak freely because the pt didn't ask the friend to wait outside. Worse things have happened, and this was not a deliberate inappropriate violation of policy.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
It is the patient's fault, if she didn't want her "friend" to know then she should have told you that privately ahead of time or not brought her in the room with her!! Does she think you have a crystal ball with you?! I do not see IVF as being that much of a privacy issue, but then again I do not work in labor and delivery....
enchantmentdis, BSN, RN
521 Posts
Is she ashamed of having a baby via IVF, not the good old fashioned way? She wouldn't want her friend to know such a hideous secret? What a drama queen!! Sounds like her pregnancy hormones got the better of her and, of course, as usual, the nurse is to blame--again!! These outrageous patients are something else.