Is your personal information safe with your doctor?Can the hospital release your personnel information to law enforcement agents without your consent? This question was re-ignited by the recent arrest of a nurse in the United States for refusing to hand over

This happened with Salt Lake City nurse Alex Wubbels.

As the charge nurse in the University of Utah Hospital’s burn unit, Wubbels was responsible for a truck driver who had been severely injured in a head-on crash with another vehicle that was driven by someone fleeing police.

The driver the police had been pursuing was killed in the July 26 crash. The truck driver was unconscious.

Jeff Payne, a part-time paramedic who also has been on the Salt Lake City police force for 27 years, arrived at the hospital to draw blood from the truck driver.

However, state and federal laws, as well as the hospital’s policy, forbid police officers from drawing fluids without a warrant or patient consent. Payne had neither.

Wubbels explained to Payne she wouldn’t fulfill the request.

In the video of the incident, released by Wubbels and her lawyer on August 31, Wubbels is seen talking to a hospital administrator and holding a copy of the hospital’s policy.

“The patient can’t consent,” Wubbels says to the person on the phone and the police officers surrounding her. “He’s [Payne] told me repeatedly that he doesn’t have a warrant and the patient is not under arrest. So I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do. That’s all.”

Payne responds, “So I take it, without those in place, I’m not going to get blood. Am I fair to surmise that?”

Wubbels appears confused as to Payne’s aggression. “I have no idea why he’s blaming me,” she tells the person on the phone.

Then Payne lunges at Wubbels and proceeds to aggressively push her out of the hospital and handcuff her with her hands behind her back.

This footage was caught on an officer’s body camera.

What you should know about doctor-patient confidentiality

All healthcare personnel especially doctors are expected to keep patient’s personal information private unless the patient voluntarily consents to its release. This process of safeguarding the patient’s personal information-confidentiality- is a key part of medical practice.

Why is it very important? Without doctor –patient confidentiality, doctors can’t be assured of access to critical information required to provide timely interventions.

This is because no one (including patients) entrusts sensitive information to someone that is likely to betray his or her secrets.

Many people experience health problems that are heavily stigmatized such as mental, sexual, reproductive health issues. If such ones do not trust their doctors to protect such sensitive information from the public, they are less likely to willingly seek treatment.

Is the doctor the only member of your healthcare team that has access to your personal information?

No. All the members of the healthcare team have access to confidential information of patients they care for and are expected to safeguard it too. So, nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacist, health records any have access to one information or the other in the course of providing care. Also, doctors may need to share some information with their colleagues while trying to seek their opinion of aspects of the treatment. However, this is expected to be without providing details that could link you to the information.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/confidentiality-personal-information-hospital/

Can family members have access to your health information?

Not without your permission. However, if the family member e.g. spouse is at ‘’specific risk of harm’’ in relation to your diagnosis, the doctor may have to warn such individuals. For instance, a person with mental illness may threaten to harm another individual. In this instance, the psychiatrist may have a ‘duty to warn’ such persons to protect them. Also, healthcare personnel are required to report specific cases in the interest of the public. These include serious health conditions that are rare or highly infectious such as Ebola, Cholera and Lassa fever.

Unfortunately, healthcare personnel may inadvertently release patient details to the public in some of the following cases:

1.Inefficient methods of safeguarding patient’s data. Recently, there were fears that electronic records of patients may have been compromised in the largest attack on NHS, UK. Also, in many developing countries, paper records are still used. Such files may be left on consulting tables were relatives or unauthorized personnel may have access to them. Unfortunately, some patient records have been scanned and circulated on social media.
2.During interactions with others: Sometimes, healthcare personnel excitedly discuss patient’s details in public places such as restaurants, bars or parks or conferences. When they do so without removing data that can used to identify the patient, they may be violating patient’s right to confidentiality.
3.Pressure from media and other interested parties: Sometimes, healthcare staff come under intense pressure from the media and other interested parties. Unfortunately, some disclose patient’s details without the consent of the person involved.
4.Some doctors feel they are no longer bound by the terms of confidentiality because the patient is now deceased. This is wrong. Recently, a book detailing the last days of Mandela included details of his health problems. The book was eventually withdrawn because the doctor included information that may constitute a breach of doctor-patient confidentiality and the family have threatened to sue.


What can help a doctor decide if it is appropriate to disclose such information?

According to Dr Jessica De Bord, one way is to ask yourself the following question: will lack of this specific patient information put another person or group you can identify at high risk of serious harm? If the answer to this question is no, it is unlikely that an exception to confidentiality is ethically (or legally) warranted.

What can you do if you suspect your personal information has been released without you consent?

Patients’ rights are protected under the law and a breach of confidentiality that causes some harm to the patient is a valid reason for suing the health care staff. You may need to bring this up with appropriate authorities or seek legal opinion.



http://www.healthx24.com/confidentiality-personal-information-hospital/