Privacy rules for reproductive history

[GMHarmony]

My friend was in the ER a few years ago and while there answered all medical history questions some with her mother present some on her own. (She is over 18). When her mother was out of the room she asked that her reproductive history be kept private and only her husband was able to know. There were no papers signed, just a verbal agreement. Later that evening the doctor spoke of her past abortion in front of the mother who did not know and then realizing what was said the doctor made a joke about it. Needless to say my friend was horrified, embarrassed and upset. She still talks about it to this day and says she will never visit that hospital again. Is this a violation of Hippa? Is it too late for anything to be done?

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

I'm an RN in CA and I know that here, you cannot assume that because family is in the room, the patient wants to them to know everything or anything about their situation/history. It is the obligation and "just the right thing to do" to give the patient the option for family to leave the room for certain things to be discussed.

[Batman25]

The doctor clearly forgot their earlier conversation and I'm really sorry to read that. Shame that her private info wasn't kept that way. I do always tell people if you want to keep your private health info private it is wise to leave people out of the exam room. I do ask people to leave the room before asking private questions.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

The presence of the 3rd party in the exam room conveys implied consent. Mom shouldn't have been there.

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

The presence of the 3rd party in the exam room conveys implied consent. Mom shouldn't have been there.

It doesnt necessarily mean implied consent. Mum might still be worried till she sees the doctor and followed her back. Never assume anything (this could be saving a lot of people's career). Ask the guest to kindly leave.

[MyGranniePanties]

When my sister was a freshmen in college, she had an abortion. Two years later she got married (not to the same guy) and when got pregnant again, she made the mistake of seeing a doctor where her sister-in-law was a nurse. When she told of her reproductive history, her sister-in-law told everyone in the family. Of course, my brother-in-law was aware of the abortion, but not everyone in the family. This was long before HIPAA was in effect. 30 years later and my sister still won't speak to her sister-in-law.

This is so awful! I'm so sorry this happened to her.

[GMHarmony]

Thank you for all the replies I agree it was kind of a grey area for release of phi but the doctor imo was unprofessional. The joke was related to letting the information out unintentionally not about the abortion, still not a good time for a joke.