WTH is the Hepa law?

[kei]

It's happend again guys, my sister had to be sent to the hospital again, today, due to high tempurature, but she's not in the state of alabama, she's in the state of tampa florida, and they can't even give my mom information on her status, because were all the over in frekin birmingham alabama, WERE HER FREAKIN FAMILY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, AND YOU CAN'T GIVE INFORMATION ON HER STATUS! WHAT KIND OF FREAKIN LAW IS THAT! Now we don't know wth is going on with her because of this damn law.
Long live america my ass. If you can't freakin tell a family that another member of their families fine or not, then I say to hell with you.

heh heh, sorry about this guys, I don't mean to drag any of you in on this it's just really sad the world we live in these days, doctors, chosing not to operate on people because of thier religion or sexual orientation, moms sawing their two month old babies limbs off, mothers being killed for their babies by perfect stangers. And now you can't tell people even if thier their direct family if a sivlings ok or n ot because of location. WTF!

Any comments?

[BWS-1]

Well, you got yourself a reason to come move your entire family to Canadia!

Wow, I think it's not even THAT stupid in other countries, like, say, Russia, Ethiopia, Congo, or Afghanistan.

At LEAST in those countries, the reason why you wouldn't be informed of your siblings' status would not be because they don't feel like telling you, it'd either be for lack of ways of communicating with the said hospital, hospital blew up, or you just can't even get an hospital ... now it's like ... o yeah they COULD tell you, but they DON'T. And for such a crappy reason ... Silly ****tards

[Girkon]

Exchange one law and cricumstance and it is the same in other countries though. It can be as bad and it is as bad. I find it more a reason to blame human ignorance than the country we live at or the ground we set foot on simple because it is caught in something that only the people can be responsible for.

Kei I do truely appreciate your situation. Being left in the dark like that is no easy thing. In situations it can be helpful to know exactly what is keeping you in this situation. Look it up on the net and find out all the details you can about the law. It can be possible to find a way through this, or perhaps a loophole as many laws have. More importantly it's too early to give into it just yet. Time to take that anger and focus it into solution.


BIG EDIT:Kei I looked up some information, apparently the only ones to comply with this law are the helath workers and insurance companies etc etc. It's not as though they don't want to, just that this law is apprently a big ball buster and will be harsh. So they really keep a lid on it. Though exceptions can be made if the person who is in the hospital can give a form of concent to give the information to others for whatever reason is necessary. Since this is a right which each person has control of. If that is denied, then someone would need to contact her health insurer, or contact the governmental office. Don't quote me on this as being 100% proof positive, but I think it's a start you could try.

[Excel Zero]

Finally something I can field

As a man of medicine I take a HIPPA refresher course every year.

It was invented in 1996 as a replacement to older outdated Privacy Act information. HIPPA itself is made for employees of the health and law enforcement fields. However some sections apply directly and indirectly to the Next of Kin laws.

Simpley Stated - If a patient doesn't want people to know, they won't know. In some ways I am glad HIPPA is around, in some ways I wish it would change. Not too long ago, it wasn't difficult for me to get information of your families medical status. The problem is, what if I am a stalker? Now I know where you were treated, what you were treated for, and sometimes even more info. In 1996 it became a law that no matter how much grievance you are going through you could not obtain any info of a patient unless under certain circumstances. That part of the law has it's good points and it's bad points.

The Good - People you don't want to know your info won't know it no matter how much they fight with nurses and staff.

The Bad - Your case is a good point of why this system can fail. The problem is HIPPA wants your sister to specifically say that recorded info can be released to these certain people...i.e. your dad, mom, you whatever. Again there are circumstances and ways around this...and here they are

If she enters the hospital in a disabled or unconcious state, or in altered mental status, the Next of Kin laws take over. Because at that point in time, she is no longer able to make decisions for herself. If this already hasn't happened, have your sister tell her they can release records of information to you three

Good Luck

[kei]

it still a dumb ass rule to me.

[Girkon]

True, but at least you're more educated on it. Hooray for knowledge.

[Silver Adept]

Like many bureaucratic things, the idea behind it is good. In this case, there's some stickiness in implementation, but Excel's right - these things are there for a good reason. It'll be a little more paperwork, but you'll be okay, I hope.