What happened to HIPPA?

I've been appalled at the amount of detail reported on the news about the Pope and poor Terri Schivo. I do tech support at an Army hospital and we have very strict rules about the amount of medical information that is given out to those who don't have a need to know.

Did we really need to here that the Pope's urinary output was gone or that Mrs. Schivo was receiving morphine by suppository?

In the 70's, my SO got really pissed at me after we went to see Network. I was in my 20's and freaked. I tried to tell him this was the most prophetic film I'd ever seen. He was extremely angry and in denial about it but he called me years later in awe that I recognized what was going on when I was 24.

as I've been doing a career change to become a Medical Transcriptionist and HIPAA was a big part of my studies. I've been surprised at the level of medical info that has been reported on both cases.

:shrug:

being cared for in Europe. I'm not sure whether HIPAA places a confidentiality order on relatives of people. Clearly the caregivers are not to reveal info to inappropriate people without approval & need. Most of the stuff abt Ms. Schiavo's condition seemed to be coming from her parents. I don't know whether they were forbidden from being told abt her care, since they were visiting her while she faded away.

Basically, if a reporter calls a hospital and asks, they can't get detailed information about a patient from anyone who's involved in any way with patient care.

This is where we get these fine phrases like "upgraded from critical to serious condition" in the newspaper; that's all that's allowed.

The whole HIPPA thing drives me crazy; my mother was recently admitted to the hospital and I was calling from out-of-state and could get no info about her condition, room number, etc, even though I am her POA and she was severely ill. I understand the intent, but it should NOT be to prevent info from getting to those who need it OR to give private info to the public when there is a media circus. jeez louise.

A couple of years ago my sister and I went to visit my favorite aunt in the hospital. There was a nurse in her room when we walked in and I casually said "How's Our Girl doing today?". The nurse stiffened and said, deadly serious, "You'll have to ask the immediate family".

We got a good laugh, however, when my aunt asked "Am I "immediate" enough to be able to answer that? Because I think she was asking me." God, I miss her!

I'm still not sure about Shiavo though....I'd guess it'd depend on who was doing the leaking.........Is it illegal for a relative to leak medical information to the media?, or only for personnel working in a facility who have access to patient information?

It's the medical staff/facility that is bound by HIPPA.

did anyone from the medical staff at the hospice leak any medical information?, or was it all done by relatives......i'd assume with such a "high profile" case that people would be careful about stuff like that...... :)...(Then again, it WAS done to rally support by the fundies, so maybe not)

I know the HIPAA Nazi where I work (my former boss, Crazy Lawyer Mary) would be having a conniption fit if it were us giving out info like that !!!!

chitting chatting abt a patient in the not un-typical poor humor that occurs among hospital staff, as they were riding in the elevator. The patient's mother was in the elevator as well, unbeknownst to them. They didn't have a very good day after that!

so I don't find those revelations surprising. It's kind of like a presidential primary.

Terri, on the other hand, was/is a victim of crazy people who would/did do anything to further their insanity. They don't think twice about tearing her apart and displaying her insides on the TV.

....that HIPAA is an American law and the Pope is neither an American citizen nor in this Country.

Anyway, HIPAA (not HIPPA) only places restrictions on what information healthcare givers, insurance companies and the like can release. Individuals, and that would include the Media, are not restricted by HIPAA.

That being said, decorum would seem to dicate that people in general would be more sensitive toward what information needs to be discussed publicly regarding the physical status of a dying person. However, if the Terri Schiavo circus taught us anything, it's that few people anymore, especially the Media, have any interest in practicing such decorum.

Here's a resource on HIPAA basics

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8a-hipaa.htm

Too much nonsense info.