• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

HIPAA Violation?

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

Becky48195

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Michigan

Please help. I will make a long story short. I need to know if this scenario is a valid HIPAA violation.

My best friend works in the ER. My Mother (whom I have a PPO against for violent threats) was in the ER with my Grandmother and stated to my friend (who was my Grandmother's nurse) that she was aware when the PPO expired and was going to retaliate. My friend told me the next day that she had a conversation with my mother and urged me to make sure that I renewed the PPO before it expired.

I had the PPO renewed and in my letter to the judge I stated my friends name and that my Mother had mentioned to her the things that caused me to get the PPO renewed.

When my Mother was served with the papers and letter - she immediately called the hospital and claimed the my friend had violated her HIPAA rights by telling me what my Mom said to her in the hospital. My Mother was not the patient being seen, my Grandmother was, and no information was shared about my Grandmother's health or even that she was in the hospital. My mother and friend simply had a private conversation that had nothing to do with medical information.

My question is - can my friend get in trouble and is this an actual HIPAA violation? The claim is being investigated by the hospital now and I don't want my friend to get fired.

Please help. My mother is crazy and will stop at nothing to hurt me. I just want to make sure I didn't get my friend in trouble by mentioning her in the PPO.What is the name of your state?
 


cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
HIPAA protects medical information. It is not nearly as broad as most people think it is. Your friend did not violate HIPAA as there was no medical information involved.
 
well.....

the only thing that would make me nervous about this ( I work in the ER) is some patients dont want people to know that they are in the hospital and by the nurse speaking to her friend, she knows that Grandma was being treated as a patient. That would be a violation. If OP already knew that she was being treated, no problem.
 

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top