HAPPY DAD: Thanks for the pm.
BUHDEE: Unfortunately, you are probably right. (Sorry I am not sure I understand your credibility comment. I think you are referring to the others who posted at the beginning but then found that this is actually a serious thread...?)
REBEL8: Perfect. Thanks for the link and the tip. (I'm still a bit overwhelmed with the entire physical process so the research assist and suggestions are greatly appreciated.)
HONESTY: Thanks for response. I would have thought that based on my posting history and placement under 'MEDICAL' that people would thought mis-posting. If I was thinking more clearly, I may have just started a new thread.
JGNAT: "As a second side note, my Canadian brain doesn't quite "get" this tendency to sue first and ask questions later?"
Sigh. I'm not sure I'm inclinded to sue on this. But I *do* think it's important to pursue with governing agency to enforce HIIPA regulations.
Thanks again for assistance. I was hoping I would see more from you. I always appreciate your postings on other threads and was so pleased to find that you contributed to mine. I truly appreciate the support!
LUNA2: Yeah. It was a shocker. There was more, but, believe it or not, I shortened my tale.
EMMA: I'm glad you're doing well. I know you'll get to the bottom of your health issues.
I'm working on it!
CRUZANHEART: it's a good reminder to all of us to change that Advance Directive and make sure our wishes are updated in the hospitals' databases! Easy to forget to do that.
It's very frightening and hopefully it will save someone else from realizing too late that their AMD says: No Blood.
Everyone: There were other HIIPA violations as well. During one shift, a diligent attendent blocked calls to me in the CCU. My pushy, medical employee, JW sister forced them to give her my HIIPA # for access to me and my records by relaying my profile. I was pleased the hospital was protecting my privacy but then realized that the same person violated the privacy because the person on the phone (my sister) knew me so intimately.
My estranged JW mother also got thru to me in the CCU. The attendant cheerfully and helpfully interrupted a call with a close friend to tell me that my mom is on the phone. She looked put out (or maybe worried that she violated policy) when I told her: "Oh. That's not good. I haven't seen or heard from her in over a year. I don't know where she lives and I don't have her phone number. A call from my mom is not full of warm fuzzies."
She's a staunch, near militant JW.
Looks like me and OCR and the hospital will be having a few discussions about this.
If the elders actually *do* contact me as a result of this, I might consider contacting an attorney. I did not sleep well last night and am on my way to the doctor. It might be normal post-op stuff. It might be my brain running ahead of reality and making a bigger deal of something than warranted.
But they were still violations of my privacy and that is a very, very uncomfortable feeling.
-Aude.
