reading obituaries and HIPAA?

[guest998179]

While reading the posted, public obituaries, I saw a last name on one obit that got my interest. The (last) name rang a bell both because of a former patient's connection to it (which their family shared with me) -- and because that family name also has a distant connection to someone in my family. Also for reasons related to the person's age and interesting history, I wanted to read it. It is wrong, or even a HIPAA violation, to open that obit and read it, if it is shared publically? 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Obituaries are not covered info, and newspaper publishers are not covered entities. No, it is not a HIPAA violation to read it. 

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

And why would you even think that was a violation?

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Lots of times some family-member has written the obit. They want you to read about their loved ones, otherwise they wouldn't publish it.