Can a physician give out your contact info?

[loweryclan]

We live in the state of Alabama

At my son's last Endo visit we were discussing putting him on an insulin pump. The Endo is all for it but I said we would have to wait a little longer and I would contact him and let him know when we thought we were ready. The very next day I received a phone call from one of the pump manufacturers. I asked them why they had called or how they got our info. They stated that the Endo has passed on to their rep that we were looking at pumps. Not only did he give them my phone number but my mailing address as well.

Was it legal for him to do that?

 

[seniorjudge]

We live in the state of Alabama

At my son's last Endo visit we were discussing putting him on an insulin pump. The Endo is all for it but I said we would have to wait a little longer and I would contact him and let him know when we thought we were ready. The very next day I received a phone call from one of the pump manufacturers. I asked them why they had called or how they got our info. They stated that the Endo has passed on to their rep that we were looking at pumps. Not only did he give them my phone number but my mailing address as well.

Was it legal for him to do that?

I don't think it is illegal for a doctor to give out non-medical info.

But, I must ask, what is "The Endo"?

 

[stresseddriver]

"The Endo" is the Endochronologist, a hormone specialist.

I am not certain that this was a legal move, however I do believe it to be unethical.

 

[wooglin]

i do not think that the dr. was being unethical. for many patients getting an implant requires a long process that can take many days and alot of effort on the office staff's part. since you were considering the implant, they may have started the process in the mean time. so that in case you decided to proceed, you could have it at your earliest convenience. it is neither illegal nor unethical. he was probably trying to save you some time and you should view it that way. it would have been alot easier to let you sit and wait for the pump should you decide to proceed with that care plan. if anything the manufacturer jumped the gun and the dr should be advised of his/her actions.

 

[purple2]

Your name and contact info are Protected Health Information under HIPAA. Whether or not the Office of Civil Rights would consider this a violation is anyone's guess. You'd have to file a complaint with them and see.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Your name and contact info are Protected Health Information under HIPAA. Whether or not the Office of Civil Rights would consider this a violation is anyone's guess. You'd have to file a complaint with them and see.

In and of themselves, name and address are not PHI. It's only if/when they are coupled with additional information (i.e. re: treatment, billing, etc.) that they become included under the PHI umbrella. And in this case, it appears that's exactly what happened. File the complaint and see what happens.

 

[barry1817]

giving info

We live in the state of Alabama

At my son's last Endo visit we were discussing putting him on an insulin pump. The Endo is all for it but I said we would have to wait a little longer and I would contact him and let him know when we thought we were ready. The very next day I received a phone call from one of the pump manufacturers. I asked them why they had called or how they got our info. They stated that the Endo has passed on to their rep that we were looking at pumps. Not only did he give them my phone number but my mailing address as well.

Was it legal for him to do that?

I guess it would have been a lot kinder to ask if they could contact you to explain all options for this device. Are you comfortable with this doctor? It would seem that you could ask him why he did that.

But if you are comfortable with this doctor, and he gives you a reasonable explaination about the matter, you might want to jeopardize his desire to treat because of a potential oversight.

[email protected]

 

[janedoe23]

What's wrong with a DR passing on your name so that a pump comapny can give you helpful information and may help you decide. Your DR didn't give out personal information such as weight of your child, age or your address. You do realize sometimes Endo's have there own pump specialists in there office and perhaps one of them called you?

You inquired about a medical device and you shouldn't shoot down the Doc just because you are getting more information about it.

 

[loweryclan]

So, how do I file a complaint?

In and of themselves, name and address are not PHI. It's only if/when they are coupled with additional information (i.e. re: treatment, billing, etc.) that they become included under the PHI umbrella. And in this case, it appears that's exactly what happened. File the complaint and see what happens.

That is how I see it. There is a lot more to this than I've given - I tried to keep to facts without expanding on all the reasons I'm looking into this.

So, how does one file a complaint?

 

[You Are Guilty]

So, how does one file a complaint?

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/contact.html

 

[averad]

When you became a new patient with this doctor you may have signed an agreement allowing the DR to release contact information when needed.