Privacy rights of Ebola victims

[BuelahWitch]

Diabeticman's thread on Nina Pham's dog got me thinking about how these people's names and details about their lives seem to be fair game for the news. How can this be? They aren't public figures, they aren't criminals, they did nothing wrong except to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Doesn't HIPAA figure in here somewhere? Or does all that go out the window with the new scary bug?
Waiting to find out if Pham has boxes in her garage too...

[Crunchy Frog]

1. News organizations are not bound by HIPAA. n/t

[BuelahWitch]

4. Insane

A $15 an hour temp for 1-800-Medicare has to learn the law and sign a form that they will not break that law, but Wolf Blitzer can spew anything he wants about anyone's medical records?

[Crunchy Frog]

7. Yes. One of them is a medical worker and bound by HIPAA. The other is not. n/t

[branford]

11. Moreover, any leaks to the press by medical workers would be severely punished.

If anyone even remotely bound by HIPPA or state law equivalents was caught leaking information on the Ebola victims, I imagine they would be easy to identify, and likely lose their jobs and potentially any licenses or professional certifications. They might also be subject to civil legal action by the victims, or if necessary, their heirs.

Public information about the victims not revealed in the course of medical treatment is not usually covered by medical privacy laws. Facts that can be ascertained outside the scope of medical treatment, such as basic travel or pet ownership, will almost always be reported.

[KMOD]

2. There is an anonymous patient at Emory

who is close to release, that has managed to stay anonymous.

But yeah, no one knew he was there.

I'm sure the paparazzi media will hunt down all and any details on the nurses.

Although, Amber's family has been able to keep close tabs on her. And Nina and her condition are being pretty guarded as well.

[BuelahWitch]

6. I hope they continue to be anonymous

I can't help but feel sorry for them, fighting several battles all at once.

[Warpy]

3. Condition reports on her have to be approved by her to be made public

With all the hysteria out there, she knows the public is curious about how she is doing.

Don't forget, her hospital suits initially blamed her for getting sick when at that time they knew "universal precautions" used for things like HIV had no chance of working.

Some of this is likely damage control from that.

[TorchTheWitch]

5. Ms. Pham approved of certain information concerning her health

becoming public. She's not had any problem with the public knowing that her dog is quarantined and being well taken care of. But just like anything else public the media will do what it does. I think it's reprehensible for them to be having public discussions about whether or not her dog should die... that's just cruel to her, and there's no point to it anyway since he's not going to be killed. But when has the media ever cared about being cruel to anyone?

I already find it reprehensible that the media had turned into discussions of opinion instead of just reporting the facts without any opinion. Opinion should be kept the those that digest the news, not the news itself.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. I'm under the impression that we haven't found out anyone's info until they themselves gave the OK.

It's been that way back as far as Brantly and the other one coming back from Liberia for treatment-- we only knew they were "Americans with ebola" until they gave the okay to publicize their names.

I don't believe anyone- Pham, Duncan, etc. has had their identity released by the media before they or their next of kin has okayed the release of information.

[BuelahWitch]

10. This does make sense

Knowing what the news media does to most people, I am not sure it was in their best interest to do so. But it does sound right.

[Live and Learn]

9. Pretty sure all of our privacy rights have gone out the window,

these days. And with the support of much of the public, including some on DU.

[City Lights]

12. Emory hasn't given any specifics (that I've heard) on Amber Vinson,

citing patient privacy. All I've heard is that her uncle said she is in stable condition.