People poking around Hospital Records

[ColumbusHawk]

Under Iowa law an adult is an individual 18-years of age or older. All medical information that pertains to adults is not accessible by anyone other than health care providers, insurance and billing companies and the patient. Under HIPPA, if you are an adult, your parents do not have access to your medical records & your attending physicians may not discuss your condition with your parents without specific written consent.

Of course, HIPPA does not prevent an adult child from discussing his condition with his parents or his wife. But there is no credibility to the information.

Further, if a parent does have written authorization to receive medical information, the parent violates HIPPA by discussing the information with anyone not authorized to receive the information. In other words, you can't even relay the information to your neighbors & friends.

Basically, HIPPA restricts information to a "need to know" basis. But, really, who needs to know my condition other that myself & my caregivers!

 

[GravyJones]

Why does "HIPPA" bother me so much? It's "HIPAA".

 

[edr247]

Does this explain how so much information has been leaked to ESPN?

Not necessarily. According to Pat Forde's column, he's spoken with family member(s) (who request to stay anonymous, due to fear of reprisal against their relative). Family members would be free to talk about their relatives.

 

[tazclone]

Does this explain how so much information has been leaked to ESPN?

Doesn't ESPN claim to have spoken with parents? The article I read was quoting parents. IF so then there is nothing illegal or unethical. The parent (if the athlete is under 18) and the athlete can share their medical info if they want.

 

[HawkForce]

I know someone who was released from the UIHC a few years back because of this....and they should've been. Someone is going to lose their job over this.