Patients son who is a MD violating HIPPA & is just a jerk!

[Manatee111]

I am currently working a nursing home. The other night 2 of the aides came to a patient's room where I was caring for a patient and asked to speak to me. There was a family member of a patiet (, but not my patient) standing at the medication cart going through the MAR. The aide said he'd told her he was the patient's son and a physician so it was ok. We all know it isn't "ok". So I went over and asked if he had questions regarding his mother medication and I told him in order to answer them I'd have to check the MAR. He stepped back and I checked the MAR and answered his questions. I explained to him that if he had any further questions that he should ask the nurse because it is a violation of HIPPA and the rights of the other patients for him to be going through the the MAR. The patient and her family then went for a walk through the building. Later, when no other staff or his family membesr were around the man came up to me at my med. cart and put his face close to mine and said, "You'd better never speak to me like that again. I am a physician and that is my mother. I will look if I want. It is my right!" Then he quickly walked off. Now I've only been a nurse for a few months so I had no "Come backs", but the part that makes me mad is I told my supervisor and nothing was done. No type of report. No discussion with the family. I would be horribly angry if I'd planned working there long term, but I just got my RN and my two week notice is already in and thankfully since the supervisor obviously doesn't think that her staff deserves to be respected. I think that sometimes nursing homes are too concerned with customer service and making families happy than with doing whats right!

[widi96]

My other concern would be that if he had MARs without a staff member present - he could alter them.

Patient's and POA's can see the charts at our facility - but ONLY with a staff person with them. Once they are discharged they are also able to obtain a copy of their chart from medical records. They can keep that - but then it's a copy, not our legal record.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I don't care if he is the Pope. If he wants to view his mother's medical records, and if he has the legal standing to do so, he still must follow institution policy, which ususally involves sitting down at a time that is mutually convenient with the family member and staff, and reading the records in the presence of a staff member.

I would have said one of two things, 1.) Are you threatening me? If he answered, "Yes", I would have asked him to repeat his threat for my co-workers to hear, so that I would have witnesses for the police report. or 2.) I would have said, "Since you are a physician, you certainly are aware of the conditions under which you may view your mother's medical record. I'll make your request known to my supervisor, and she will schedule an appointment with you."

Yep......

I've been in this situation before. If they want to look at a chart, they probably are having issues with the care or questions. Sometimes, just taking a minute or two and ask what the concerns are or what they question can stop this behavior, but then again.....

[lsyorke, RN]

"You'd better never speak to me like that again. I am a physician and that is my mother. I will look if I want. It is my right!"

The answer to that is "Then if you're a physician you understand the Hipaa regulations and the need for me to protect the privacy of my other patients. I'd be happy to provide you with your Mothers medical record once I confirm your legal right to see it with your Mother. As a physician I'm sure you understand the process that I'm legally required to uphold".

[rwright15]

Even if this suspicious guy is the POA, there are steps to proving that he is legit.... He can't just come up and start looking at confidential pt records. Also, I think when he came up to you and got in your face, wouldn't that fall under an assault category? That was completely uncalled for and IF he is the medical professional that he claims to be, he could have chosen a more efficient way to have his agenda and ego stroked....creep...