Patient Rights Under HIPAA

Camila Mendes

            When working at the hospital I witnessed one too many times a doctor speaking on the phone with someone about a patient’s information. The question is, is this doctor violating a patient’s HIPAA rights? The answer is yes! When a patient is hospitalized they, immediately must receive care under Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is the law of patient care that protect patient confidentiality.

            When a doctor discusses their patient’s information in the hallway, elevator, or in the street, they are violating their patient’s HIPAA rights. When a nurse confirms that a patient is in the hospital to a person calling on the phone, the nurse is violating the patient’s HIPAA rights. When a doctor uses the patient’s name when speaking with someone outside of the patient’s care team, the doctor is violating the patient’s HIPAA rights. HIPAA laws are important because they protect patients against any type of violation of their confidential information. As a past, current or future patient, it is important for you to question medical staff when observing something that seems to violate those rights. For example, if a patient can hear a doctor speaking about another patient outside the hallway, recognizing that this is a colossal violation of patient rights and speaking up can be very helpful.

            As a patient you have a right to keep your information confidential between you and your doctor. Imagine your most personal information being shared with the public. Maybe you contracted an STD, or maybe you injured yourself while driving under the influence. For that reason you must open your eyes and ears to the information heard around you. Medical staff make mistakes all the time and sometimes the patients need to remind them of it!