Doesn't HIPAA apply to the TB man? Why is his

[Ilsa]

treatment plan being discussed in detail on tv? I wouldn't want details of my health on tv. I hope someone will explain this to me.

[Kber]

1. Probably. Unless they haven't released his name or identifying details

Then it might be OK (legally, anyway.)

[Fridays Child]

8. HIPAA versus the out-of-control, if-it-bleeds-it-leads media.

His name, age, occupation, state of residence, etc., have all been publicly released.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Don't blame the media. They are not subject to HIPAA

The healthcare providers are. If they violate HIPPA by releasing the information, the media if free to report it.

[hippiechick]

2. I think - possibly - because he's a 'public health threat' ?

... although that wouldn't explain why they're still talking about him, and giving out specifics.


:shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Maybe

he's consented to having the information released? That's the only thing I can guess at.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. He must have given them permission.

Because they've released more than enough information to be in serious violation of HIPAA otherwise. :shrug:

[uppityperson]

5. His name, personal info, has been released also. I don't know why.

Maybe he released it? Patients can give info to public, health care providers can't. It is odd.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_re_us/tuberculosis_infection
TB patient ID'd as Atlanta attorney, 31

By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Writer
14 minutes ago

ATLANTA - The father-in-law of the tuberculosis patient under the first federal quarantine since 1963 works as a microbiologist at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory that studies TB and other bacterial infections.

Bob Cooksey said he gave his 31-year-old son-in-law, attorney Andrew Speaker, "fatherly advice" when he learned he contracted the disease.

"I'm hoping and praying that he's getting the proper treatment, that my daughter is holding up mentally and physically," Cooksey told The Associated Press. "Had I known that my daughter was in any risk, I would not allow her to travel."

-snip-

On Thursday, he was flown by a plane registered to Med Air LLC from Atlanta to Denver, accompanied by his wife and federal marshals, to be treated at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center, hospital spokesman William Allstetter said.

-snip-

[Warpy]

6. Has his name been published?

If not, he's just another anonymous case study.

[Ilsa]

14. All the typical stuff: name, occupation, age, picture,

details of treatment, relatives, underwear size.

[Warpy]

18. Then he gave permission

As of late yesterday, he hadn't.

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Get this! His FIL is a TB researcher at the CDC!

:wtf:

[depakid]

11. That may well be why the case came to light in the first place

Sort of begs the question: "how many other people are out there potentially spreading the disease in international airports that no one knows about?"

[Throwing Stones]

10. I think he lost his right to complain about privacy when he knowingly exposed 100s of people to TB

[Ilsa]

13. I agree with your sentiment. But do the healthcare

providers and CDC have the right to not only give out his name, but the details of his treatment in Denver (something like one oral and one IV antibiotic, etc)? Was really necessary?

[Individualist]

12. The hospital spokesman said the man gave permission to discuss his treatment

but not his identity.

[PCIntern]

15. And his name and picture are therefore on every station...

OK....

[Ilsa]

16. In light of all of this, I demand that the doctors release the details of

treatment plans for current and former news employees, esp. Tony Snowjob, etc. Since they are so gung-ho on revealing personal stuff, they should reciprocate and not whine about loss of privacy.

[PCIntern]

17. We know the answer to that one...

Tony had his asshole grafted thru his digestive tube onto his mouth, thus creating a Klein-bottle (3-D Moebius Strip) human being.

Any other questions...?