DEAR ABBY: “Concerned in Massachusetts” (Feb. 20) used her status as a hospital employee to access her husband’s medical records and found a history of STDs. I’m a registered nurse with 40 years’ experience. Every health care organization I know of teaches all their employees about HIPAA violations and that accessing private patient medical information is a criminal offense. It is essential that patients know they can trust us to protect their privacy. We have specific policies against using one’s employee status to access a relative’s medical information.
Jeanne Phillips“Concerned” is lucky she still has a job. At my institution, she would be terminated for violating organizational policy and federal law. Her husband may not be a saint, but neither is she. Her actions were unacceptable and reflect a clear lack of integrity and honesty. – SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY
DEAR SAFEGUARDING: Thank you for your informed response. You are not the only reader appalled at what “Concerned” had done. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: “Concerned” indicated that her husband had been treated twice for STDs “some years back.” What does that mean? Were they married then? If not, is he labeled high risk due to his previous behavior? Perhaps there is something deeper in the relationship that needs addressing – such as why there are weeks between sexual contact with her husband.
It’s ironic that she’s bent out of shape over infidelity concerns, but thinks it acceptable to betray the privacy and ethics rules governing medical professionals. – VINCENT IN WEST VIRGINIA