Were my Patient Rights Violated?

[clashcity19]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington State

I was seen in the ER at the advice of my insurance company's Advice RN with flu-like symptoms, severe, intermittent stomach pain that had progressed over the course of about a month. The doctor I saw did not take blood or do urinalysis, though a sample was provided. He told me that he felt I was going through withdrawals from an antidepressant I discontinued and was now on a new, similar antidepressant. I was concerned because these symptoms started PRIOR to the discontinuation and were getting worse. The nurse informed me that doctor refused to write me a note excusing my absence from work that afternoon and told me to give my employer my "discharge instructions" as an excuse (these contained personal health information) and that despite how awful I was feeling he was not going to write me note to excuse me from work the following day either. Seems like a pretty blatant HIPAA violation to me to tell a pt to give employer d/c instructions as absence excuse. I asked the nurse why and he said, "He says (the doc) you don't need it. Now can you leave the room? Let's go." My symptoms got worse and worse and a week later, I went to an urgent care center and was diagnosed with pneumonia. I felt so demoralized and dismissed that I was very hesitant to see another doctor, but I am glad I did as this situation could have gotten very, very serious.

 

[Isis1]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington State

I was seen in the ER at the advice of my insurance company's Advice RN with flu-like symptoms, severe, intermittent stomach pain that had progressed over the course of about a month. The doctor I saw did not take blood or do urinalysis, though a sample was provided. He told me that he felt I was going through withdrawals from an antidepressant I discontinued and was now on a new, similar antidepressant. I was concerned because these symptoms started PRIOR to the discontinuation and were getting worse. The nurse informed me that doctor refused to write me a note excusing my absence from work that afternoon and told me to give my employer my "discharge instructions" as an excuse (these contained personal health information) and that despite how awful I was feeling he was not going to write me note to excuse me from work the following day either. Seems like a pretty blatant HIPAA violation to me to tell a pt to give employer d/c instructions as absence excuse. I asked the nurse why and he said, "He says (the doc) you don't need it. Now can you leave the room? Let's go." My symptoms got worse and worse and a week later, I went to an urgent care center and was diagnosed with pneumonia. I felt so demoralized and dismissed that I was very hesitant to see another doctor, but I am glad I did as this situation could have gotten very, very serious.

it is NOT an HIPAA violation to let the patient know they can show their employer the discharge papers in lieu of a doctor's note. based on the information you gave, you were given a diagnosis. your symptons continued, you sought further care. the doctor is not required by law to issue you a doctor's note.

 

[cbg]

Had the doctor himself given your personal health information to your employer, that would have been a HIPAA violation. Telling you to give your instructions to your employer does not violate anything.

 

[clashcity19]

cool, thanks.

 

[ecmst12]

Doctor is not required to write a note for your job. And it is entirely likely that you did not have pneumonia when you were seen in the ER.

 

[clashcity19]

okay, got it.

Entirely possible? I don't believe so based on the diagnosis I received after the fact. I had atypical pneumonia for some time. I get everyone's point. That's why I wrote on here. No laws were broken. I will merely file a grievance with the hospital for the lack of compassion I was given and the way I was personally treated. Hopefully that doc and nurse will be more kind to the next person. No need for further response. I get it. thanks for your time.

 

[LillianX]

You're willing to put the poor, overworked ER doc's career in jeopardy because he didn't give you your way?

That's pretty pathetic.

 

[ecmst12]

Atypical, that means your symptoms weren't exactly matching up with your diagnosis so it would not have been easy to diagnose you. But you're not upset about the missed diagnosis, only about the doctor's attitude. Which....well doctors have been having bad attitudes for a long time and no one has figured out how to fix it yet.

 

[clashcity19]

The poor, overworked ER doc who declined to do ANY sort of physical examination or blood-work which is his JOB? Yeah. I am writing my grievance. It's not like I don't have to pay for that visit and I am getting free, crappy medical care. I do pay, and as such, expect to have a thorough exam.

 

[ecmst12]

Also....the ER was probably not the appropriate place for you to seek treatment. Your symptoms had been present for a month and it was not a life-threatening emergency. Your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic would have been a much more appropriate venue.

 

[clashcity19]

Also....the ER was probably not the appropriate place for you to seek treatment. Your symptoms had been present for a month and it was not a life-threatening emergency. Your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic would have been a much more appropriate venue.

Original Post: I was seen in the ER at the advice of my insurance company's Advice RN with flu-like symptoms, severe, intermittent stomach pain that had progressed over the course of about a month.

There's more to this story. I had been seen by my pcp. i cannot get in to see her without missing work. I was told I needed to go to the ER NOW based on what I was telling the advice nurse. So I went.

 

[clashcity19]

Thank you, everyone, for your 2 cents. I will be sure not to visit a site like this one in the future. It has answered my initial question, but I had no idea the amount of snobbery and unsolicited opinion I would receive about a situation for which you received a very abbreviated version of. It is not pathetic for consumers to demand the service they deserve in an industry that is designed to help people. Having read the hospital's definitions of what my rights were as a patient, I have been able to deduce that I was treated improperly. So coming here was just a source of added aggravation.