I am going to be the lone dissenter here and say that in my opinion the doctor did breech HIPPA guidelines. I am a RN (although I have RSD and am currently on disability and have not practiced since 2008). We had HIPPA regulations drilled into our heads not only during nursing school but each year during our annual hospital required in-services. There was no reason for the daughter to need to know what medications/drugs the mother tested positive for under any circumstances unless the mother agreed for the doctor to tell the daughter. It would be the same as the doctor telling anyone else of the results, say a neighbor or employer. Just because the mother tried to commit suicide she does not wave her right to privacy. The only people that have the right to know that information are those whom it would affect the mother's direct care (other health care professionals on the mother's case.) Just as an example, it would also be against HIPPA regulations for the doctor to reveal that information to a doctor or nurse who was not on the mother's case or for a health care worker not on her case to access those records.) The only time a doctor could reveal this type of information without a patient's direct consent would be if the daughter was the mother's MEDICAL power of attorney. I'm sorry but in my opinion the doc messed up on this one.
Cricket