HIPPA violation? How should we pursue this issue?
Recently my husband was incorrectly diagnosed with a STD. I be told I should have HIV testing-this was during the salvage period after my husband had a colonoscopy to find the source of bleeding. Due to extreme prejudice and misjudgment the doctor loudly told me that he thought my husband have an STD which was caused by male-to-male sexual contact. He said this beside the door to our room open, in full audible range of anyone in the waiting area. He also call, loudly, asking if my husband was hurting. He said, "He should be, that is the worst ... I've ever seen".
After one hospitalized the next day due to inability to guzzle or drink and continued bleeding, my husband was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a GI disorder which be then treated with steroids.
Any suggestions concerning HIPPA violation? From what I've read this constitutes a serious breach of privacy because the doctor took no precautions whatsoever to protect my husband from his loud speculations-which he shared not only with his staff contained by the hospital, but also with any recovering patient and household within hearing distance at that time.
I'm still within shock. And thankful that we did find another doctor who was competent to correctly treat the problem.
Answer: This is really not a HIPPA violation. This is a violation though of doctor lenient confidentality.
The first thing I would do is to file a complaint near the state board of medical examiners in your state.
Is this doctor a resident, or is he at a teaching hospital? If so, name the chairman of his department.
Lastly, you may have legal recourses as ably. I would consult an attorney