Vanderbilt turns over transgender patient records to Tennessee attorney general in probe

[riversedge]

Source: USA Today





Updated 9:30 p.m. ET June20, 2023


NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center has turned over transgender patient medical records to the Tennessee attorney general's office, which confirmed Tuesday it is conducting an investigation into potential medical billing fraud.

VUMC, through a spokesperson, confirmed to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Tuesday that the facility provided patient medical records to the attorney general. But the move has sparked privacy concerns among families whose children sought treatment at VUMC amid an increasingly contentious political climate surrounding transgender issues in Tennessee, where multiple legal battles are ongoing over state policies.

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................Families fear patient privacy

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, said three different parents of transgender children called him in a panic since Monday after they were told by Vanderbilt that their child’s medical records were released to the attorney general as "part of an investigation."

Sanders said the parents had no other details.

"They’re terrified," he said. "They don’t know what’s next, they don’t know how this will be used or whether they will be targeted in some way. They feel like their privacy has been violated."
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Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/20/vanderbilt-university-medical-center-transgender-patient-records/70340537007/

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my god!! TN is going after hospital records

[Lonestarblue]

1. How is this not a violation of federal patient privacy laws?

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. +1

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Con legislators think they know more about medicine than doctors. . . . nt

[Lovie777]

3. Seriously..........................

attacking fellow Americans.

[onetexan]

4. Vanderbilt has eggregiously violated patient confidentiality

I hope the payient sues their and this red state's gov't's pants off.

[NotHardly]

12. Vanderbilt use to have a reputation, now they are a disgrace

[dlk]

5. Whatever happened to HIPAA?

It’s none of their business. Shame on Vanderbilt.

[Justice]

14. HIPAA requires disclosures for law enforcement purposes

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/disclosures-for-law-enforcement-purposes/index.html


https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/505/what-does-the-privacy-rule-allow-covered-entities-to-disclose-to-law-enforcement-officials/index.html

i.e., in response to a subpoena or an administrative request.

[dlk]

16. It still seems like a gross violation of privacy

And a targeted one, as well.

[dembotoz]

6. an they will want to "interview" these patients as it relates to the case.

let the knocks on the doors begin

[Scalded Nun]

7. If those records have not been anonymized then these folks need to sue the pants off all parties

This is Tennessee so I would not trust anyone involved with this.

[IndyPepper]

8. Flip the script

Imagine, if you will, a blue state attorney general forcing the Catholic church, or any church for that matter, to turn over membership and tithing records because of investigations into allegations of child sex abuse. Do you think the right wingers would stand for that?

Valid laws do not discriminate, and these right wing/fundy-inspired laws are being passed simply to target specific groups they don't approve of. It's why, thankfully, many of them are being struck down by the courts.

[riversedge]

10. People also concerned if Tenn. AG can obtain "obtain reproductive health care information."!!

I would be very concerned also if I lived in TN!
This case makes me wonder if this is the next move by many red states?? [getting health care records!!}




.........................
Families fear patient privacy

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, said three different parents of transgender children called him in a panic since Monday after they were told by Vanderbilt that their child’s medical records were released to the attorney general as "part of an investigation."

Sanders said the parents had no other details.

"They’re terrified," he said. "They don’t know what’s next, they don’t know how this will be used or whether they will be targeted in some way. They feel like their privacy has been violated."

Sanders said many people are upset that Vanderbilt did not fight harder to prevent turning over patient information. He said others are concerned over the implications for other politically charged issues such as abortion, and whether the attorney general could obtain reproductive health care information.

Patients affected were provided with a hotline number to call with questions and concerns, which is an answering service that asks callers to leave a name and phone number..............................

[Initech]

11. This is some seriously evil shit.

[area51]

13. This is outrageous.

This may get people killed.

[tonekat]

15. Total violation of privacy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.

These goober politicians have no right to these records.

[Oneironaut]

17. So, they just happened to need the records of transgender children for a medical billing fraud case?

And, the case just happens to deal with transgender medical care? Bullshit.

What this is really is, is, they’re trying to paint clinics that provide gender affirming care as Nazi-esque butcher shops that arbitrarily maim kids for money. It’s the narrative being pushed on Fox News. This is red meat being thrown to extremists.