Question

response to the questions below. Is it ethical for healthcare practitioners to share the condition of a patient with the patient's employer? Why, or why not? As a healthcare practitioner, how can you address questions and concerns from friends and family members regarding information on others discovered in the course of their employment? Explain your answer. Respond to these questions in a Word document. Your responses should be at least one page, double-spaced, with

Answer 1

1. It is unethical for healthcare practitioners to share the condition of a patient with the patient's employer. Information in a patient’s medical record is considered as sensitive and private. Medical ethics rules, state laws, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of the federal law requires healthcare practitioners and other staff to keep a patient’s medical record or the protected health information (PHI) confidential unless the patient allows the disclosure by the practitioner's office. Disclosure of PHI by covered entities is regulated by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Healthcare clearinghouses, employer-sponsored health plans, health insurers, and medical providers are the covered entities mentioned here. Employers are prohibited from accessing the medical record of a patient or insurance claims as this could end up in discrimination. If any employer needs to see a patient’s PHI, then the employer needs to receive written permission from the patient.

2. Information on others discovered in the course of practice can only be shared with consent if required by a court, but cannot be shared with friends or public. Their questions about the information on others can be handled tactically stating the related facts covered in HIPPA Privacy Rule. Any unpleasant situation created by these information seekers can be avoided by educating them about the need for health information protection and federal law to protect it. A healthcare practitioner can also inform them that this is a punishable offense under the HIPPA and that he/she doesn’t wish to be part of any unsolicited legal proceedings.