Sorry about YOUR mom. It is an awfull experience to go through. Been there, twice.

In so far as your friend is concerned however, I just have a different perspective on this in that it just sounds like someone is looking for a reason to sue the doc for disclosure issues. HIPPA was initiated around 2000 or so and before that personal conversations with the family were the norm. I doubt the doc's intentions were dubious in nature. Should this progress into litigation, then we all needlessly bear the cost by increased healthcare costs!

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

I work in a doctor's office on Long Island. The doctor did violate the Hipaa laws, no question. The mother has to sign a disclaimer stating whom the doctor can talk too. The laws are the same in every state, to my knowledge. One of my sons in Mich listed me on his Hipaa paperwork so that I can call his doctor office and have them tell me what is going on, so I can help him better understand too.

So yes, the doctor was wrong. Even in our office where we have related patients, it's against Hipaa laws for us to mention that we saw their sister last week or whatever. One of the workers always does it, but she's wrong and should be talked to about it.

Melody is the lady planning on taking legal action?
I just feel the suffer has so much more to worry about and whether it be right or wrong she needs to focus on that. I think if she did take legal action against the doc she would not win even with the laws. That is just my opinion and the experiences I have faced though I have never took legal action. I have had docs break confidentiality. It does bring up trust issues but at the same time I see in the long run it was for my best interest

Daniella:

I have to clear something up. My friend is the one who is the mom. Never met the daughter. I think once she found out that the doctor told her daughter what pills she took, AND SHE THEN FOUND OUT THE DOCTOR WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THIS....well, I think she is thinking of suing.

I don't think she'll win.

Too much gray area here.