Whittingtons doctors refuse to reveal blood alcohol content?

[RethugAssKicker]

WTF? How can this be. Isn't there some way they can be forced to reveal this info. I can't believe this.. Is there any question now of a cover-up in your minds?

[Dunvegan]

1. Five letters: HIPAA

[bigscott]

2. it is against the law

to release medical information without the patients consent

[RethugAssKicker]

3. HIPAA ???

[Kingshakabobo]

6. The new laws that cover patient privacy. n/t

[drm604]

4. As much as we'd all like to know

This is proper medical ethics. You can't blame the doctor, they are just doing what is ethically proper and legally required.

Maybe if there were to be some kind of investigation the info could be gotten by subpoena, but I'm not sure about that. I would think that you'd have to show that the victim's levels were somehow relevant.

Do we even know for sure that they did blood alcohol tests? Is that normal procedure for a shooting victim?

[converted_democrat]

5. I don't know anything about shooting victims, but they do it to

accident victims all the time. (To determine fault of the accident, especially in accidents that occur in the workplace.).. I would think that the Doc's would "know" though because it would be important in knowing how to treat the patient.. Alcohol thins the blood and makes it easier for one to bleed out..

on edit- I'm sure the Doc does know, but he can't tell due to HIPAA.

[hwmnbn]

7. If there's an auto accident and someone ....

is hurt or killed, there are reports in the newspaper giving out the blood-alcohol levels involved in that accident.

I can't believe anyone would agree to have that info released publicly. What's the difference if it is an auto or a shooting accident?