In most States there is something called a Right To Know law and unfortunately it looks to be overruling the HIPAA. If you want your privacy protected someone can simply go right over you by using that law and people are only just noticing this.
How will this be fixed and how soon? Well considering the fact that no one took into account that the two laws can cancel each other out, I don’t think we should hold our breaths.
I am not too certain if I am at the site which could lead me on to more info re HIPAA, but basically this is what happened to my father.
He was ill with Ahliemers and Parkensins, and his house cleaning lady eventually befriended him and at one time had his will changed where she got 1/2 of his estate. Then eventually had it changed with his attourny and had it all left to her. His homes, life insurance, and anything related to his Naval Retirement. She will not allow us to get copies of his medical health records from his doctor, or get any of his personal items that were related to us kids. All she did, was to have his ashes sent to us.
Is there a way to get copies of his medical files that we are not aware of? We do not have the money to hire an attourney and do costly court battles. He lived in Ocean Springs Mississippi at his death in Aug. 2004.
Any help would be appreciated,
Barry Dukes