What money can get you.

[Jenni811]

I'm appalled to say i came from a school that allowed this, but i want to hear what you guys think.

So we had this girl that graduated last year, she came from a very very wealthy family. we shall call her "Jane Doe" I mean...very wealthy, beyond the point where you cringe. And she is super showy about it. Daddy bought her everything. her New mercedes for passing pediatrics, a class in which she struggled.

She is constantly dressed up in like Gucci stuff, only does her shopping in New York City, which they fly too every couple months so she can shop with daddy's credit card.

Ok, she reminds me of paris hilton. No joke! So to imagine this girl, think of Paris Hilton in Nursing school and you have this girl.

Ok, now you picture this girl. She is was in her psychiatric rotation at our local mental health facility. There was a girl that Jane Doe went to high school with that was in the psych unit for attempted suicide. Jane Doe and this other girl, the patient HATED each other in high school. I belive they've gotten in a few fights, constantly fighting blah blah blah (high school stuff). Anyway...so Jane Doe actually access her medical record and got all this information about her. Such has her hx of depression, suicide attempts, drug use etc. So Jane Doe gets home after her clinical day and tells her ROOMMATE, who isnt even in nursing, who she saw. She told her Roommate everything she read on the medical record.

So Jane Doe starts emailing anonymously this poor girl things like "If you were smart enough you would have jumped off that bridge" ....really really horrible stuff.

So anyway, make a long story short because there was more said and done, this patient complained to the hospital that someone had to have shared information because she is getting all these emails and its information only the hospital knows (medications, history etc.). So while the hospital is doing their investigation, she is still writing all these nasty emails to this poor girl. Her Roommate knew all about it (but not being in nursing knew nothing about HIPPA). So her roommate goes to one of our psychiatric nursing instructor and asked to speak with her privately. The roommate told her everything, just stating that she doesn't know if Jane Doe is doing something wrong or if there are any regulations against this but her roommate felt something was very very wrong about the situation.

So all actions that should have taken place, did take place. She was suspended from clinicals until it was reviewed, hospital was notified, the head hanchos got involved...everything. But now here is the catch----- her dad donated $100,000 to the school. and little miss prissy pants got off with NOTHING. No punishment, not kicked out of the school, nothing but a slap on the hand.

What do you guys think of this?? It disgusts me to even look at her. Needless to say, she got a job after daddy donated money to the hospital she got hired at (Sound fishy??)

[sourapril]

man, if she got all that money to blow, she shouldn't be a nurse. It's hard work and requires a very ethic person to do the job right.

[M.YoungRN]

I think its a case of daddy sends daughter to school to be a nurse so she can land a doctor. Once her mission is accomplished she will quit. This story is really disturbing....what if this psych patient committed suicide behind these emails...all I can say is Thank God she didn't!

[Jenni811, RN]

I think its a case of daddy sends daughter to school to be a nurse so she can land a doctor. Once her mission is accomplished she will quit. This story is really disturbing....what if this psych patient committed suicide behind these emails...all I can say is Thank God she didn't!

Good point with the doc thing. i could see that being the case.

[mazy]

I just can't imagine someone like that actually being able to function as a nurse. Is it possible that she is just trying to get her Mrs. Dr. degree?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

She's going to shoot straight to administration, probably a one woman ethics committee.

[caliotter3]

Not to this extreme, we had some older students who obviously were getting preferential treatment in my program. I considered them to be "bored housewives" who lived in a neighborhood that got them respect. The instructors ate up everything these women said or did. They monopolized the classroom to the point of nausea for other students (other students talked about the brown-nosing, time wasting). Money talks. Living in the right neighborhood talks. Having an influential husband talks. Whatever. Works in all aspects of life. Says more about the people who defer to this, than the people who take this advantage and go with it.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

I, seriously do not believe Jane Doe will actually work as a nurse. It has to be beneath her. I agree with finding the Dr aspect but that means actually working as a nurse. She will never make it even if she were to pass boards. Unless Daddy can pay for her to pass boards. I think her parents wanted her off her butt and learning something...or at least attending classes for something.

She will always believe there is a different set of rules for her kind, gotta remember she was raised this way!

I think you would be best off not to continue listening to her ex-friend. The less people talk about it the better.:)

[rn4ever?]

So if daddy is so rich. Maybe the patient whose rights were violated can sue Gucci girl for emotional pain, mental distraught, and HIPAA Violation so she can find some justice?

[JacknSweetpea]

Money buys way too much in this country, even things that shouldn't be for sale. This is likely a small example of similar things that go on in our government, justice system, etc.. This country is of the rich, for the rich, and by the rich. The rest of us do not count, except as "humanitarian" stories to tell at a $5,000 a plate charity dinner!

[Sand_Dollar, BSN]

Daddy won't be able to save her when she is criminally prosecuted for HIPAA violations once she is a licensed nurse.

[DarkBluePhoenix]

Sadly, this lil spoiled brat took a seat that should have gone to someone more moral, ethical, and compassionate.

[lckrn2pa]

This patient has an extremely good case against the hospital, the school and the family. I would encourage the patient to get a lawyer on this.

Criminal Penalties

In June 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified who can be held criminally liable under HIPAA. Covered entities and specified individuals, as explained below, whom "knowingly" obtain or disclose individually identifiable health information in violation of the Administrative Simplification Regulations face a fine of up to $50,000, as well as imprisonment up to one year. Offenses committed under false pretenses allow penalties to be increased to a $100,000 fine, with up to five years in prison. Finally, offenses committed with the intent to sell, transfer, or use individually identifiable health information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm permit fines of $250,000, and imprisonment for up to ten years.

I'd drop the hammer on all of them if it were me. Evidently the facility did no self report because I doubt daddy has enough money to make DOJ go away.