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April 17, 2006
Monday Reader Mail: 75
By QBlog in Reader Mail
This Reader Mail tackles questions of privacy, ethics and the law. If true, this looks to be a clear violation of HIPAA though I'm no lawyer so I could be wrong about that.
name: Jade
date: February 27, 2006
message: I have a question about the soliciting of people in this quixtar business. The person whom contacted my now former husband and I got my contact info from my medical file. He is a doctor in our area. Can he really do this??
My ex is now "one of them in a big way" I joined and buy a little here and there. I refuse to buy cd mags and go conferencing. Just a question I would like your opinion on.
Thanks alot and have a great day.
J
So, what's your opinion? What would you tell Jade?
Comments
I just want you to know that people are who they are. A business system like quixtar does not make them who they are. Don't hold what that man did, which by the way was totally inappropriate, against a whole business. Would you stop visiting your favorite movie theatre or hair dresser or fill in the blank, because some one who worked there had a bad day? I don't think so, everyone has lapses in judgment.
I'm not saying Quixtar made the doctor get info from a medical file. but I do believe it is also a violation of HIPAA. I mean they're pretty strict about that kinda stuff now.
I am not a lawyer, nor do I want it to appear that I am offering a legal opinion.
But if the doctor was the prospect's doctor, then no info was exchanged that might violate HIPPA in my opinion.
HIPPA normally covers sharing of info through third parties such as from doctor to medical supply house to insurance company to collection agencies to family members.
But I do think that a doctor should have more ethics than to turn his paitent roster into a business roster.
I have to agree with David here. If it was his doctor I don't think it was a violation for him to use his number from his medical file, but it is highly unethical and if it was in fact his doctor I think those that oversee the issue of his medical license would not look favorably upon this kind of behavior.
That's a little vague. Is he an unknown-to- them-before doctor or their doctor? Is their info otherwise unpublished? Most addresses, etc. can be obtained on the internet quite easily. If they met the doctor socially or even sent him a Christmas card then it's a big jump to assume it came from medical files. I have a hard time picturing a dr. contacting someone by saying "I came across your name in my colleague's file and thought you might be interested in this business idea."(or whatever the current line is). Did I miss something?
If true I would consider it unprofessional, as I'm sure would Quixtar.
I agree with Insider on this one, but the motive could be a factor.
I believe it is clearly a violation of the HIPAA
rules.
Posted by: Joecool18 | April 17, 2006 9:16 PM