Monday, June 9, 2014
Did you know that as a medical patient you have the right to privacy act? These acts are laws that have been put in place to prevent hospitals and their employees from sharing or releasing your personal information.
To some people it might not seem that important. But others are not as open and certainly have the right to choose who does and doesn't have access to their information. It's not like people are lining up to take advantage of medical patients but stranger things have happened!
Take a look at this web report we found from www.wlwt.com read about it here. The report tells about a woman who was treated at a medical facility for syphilis. An employee at that facility allegedly shared the woman's medical records on her own Facebook page! The patient was devastated after being the subject of verbal abuse and humiliation and is now suing.
Regardless of the nature of the patients records it is not ok to share! These facilities and their employees are trusted with sensitive information all the time. Who knows how many cases like this occur and or how many violations take place?!
Unfortunately the medical facility will also pay the price, and have to be held just as liable as the employee. Sometimes it's an accident, other times it can be malicious and nasty. Regardless you should know that as a medical patient your information is confidential. Medical facilities, hospitals, doctors, nurses and other hospital employees are charged with the responsibility of protecting your information. Not promoting it on social media or facebook!
