Sunday, August 16, 2009

Medical Record Privacy - Invaded by HIPAA

In a listing of married Doctors, it was emphasized by the physicians that though they were married, they never discussed patients with each other and attribute this to strict privacy laws. This reflects how our profession has been trivialized by the legal profession, primarily through our Congress. Medical students are drilled never to discuss patients with members of the family or friends for this violation of the Hippocratic Oath will sooner or later backfire, causing loss of medical license, disruption of family—personal and professional destruction. Confidentiality is a doctor's MIDDLE name. It is also emphasized in Nursing and Medical Assistant schools.

The U.S. Congress, under the pretext of forcing privacy on physicians, nurses and their staff, has given access to our patients' confidential medical records to a large number of lay and clerical workers and administrative bureaucrats, without the patient giving permission or even being informed or aware.

We receive regular quarterly notices, with a cover letter, to copy and submit a number of our patients' charts to insurance carriers, Medicare, Medicaid and other government agencies. These notices are signed by a third party that collects this information, advising us not to inform the patient since they have a right to [invade our patient's privacy] because HIPAA authorizes it.

At this juncture in time, each of the five hospital systems in Sacramento has electronic medical records (EMRs). Essentially every physician office can access these EMRs from his or her office or the hospital. There is no need for the federal government to spend taxpayer's funds to make all EMRs readable by government agencies so they can snoop into our patient's confidential and personal history.

EMRs are being developed by the profession and the hospitals as fast as is feasible without forcing taxpayers to fund this innovation. They are making excellent progress. Although this causes stress for the medical and nursing professions, they are meeting the challenge rather well. There is no need for the Federal Government to become involved in the EMR for their purpose is now apparent--invading the medical privacy of the American citizenry. It has nothing to do with lowering the cost of health care. Government mandates always increase costs.


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