Woman Reported Her Clinic Receptionist After She Disclosed Her Pregnancy To Her Mom Via Text
Privacy is a crucial part of our everyday experiences. It protects our feelings and our personal life—it lets us feel safe as if we’re in this imaginary bubble that keeps us away from unnecessary stress. Though sometimes, we cross paths with ignorant people who are not willing to consider our boundaries. Yes, it’s somewhat acceptable to assume that at some point in our lifetime, someone who’s close to us will have the audacity to disrespect us, yet, we know that certain people such as professionals are legally bound to follow the confidentiality law.
Healthcare workers are thought to be the most trustworthy individuals since they are the first ones we come to whenever there is emotional or physical distress. They keep us alive—therefore, we are obligated to be transparent with them.
Usually, the majority of specialists and their employees tend to be private and confidential, considering that everyone is aware of what could potentially happen if they would breach the confidentiality agreement, but this 20-year-old woman has a different story to tell:
More info: reddit.com
Confidentiality is a #1 law amongst any professionals
Image credits: Army Medicine (not the actual photo)
TAbabyblabbermouth, a Reddit user, opened up a discussion on the “Am I The A-Hole” subreddit, asking the online community whether she would be the bad guy for reporting a family friend who outed her pregnancy to her place of work.
In a nutshell, Tababyblabbermouth found out that she was expecting, even though she was taking an oral contraceptive. To confirm the pregnancy, she made an appointment with her nearest and highest-rated OB—but when the appointment day finally arrived, she became “immediately concerned” since the woman behind the desk turned out to be Tababyblabbermouth’s mother’s old friend.
And this is the story all about how the receptionist ended up breaching a privacy rule
Image credits: u/TAbabyblabbermouth
Tababyblabbermouth mentioned that the women aren’t close anymore—however, they’ve known each other since high school, and they do occasionally contact each other.
Since the future mother wasn’t ready to share the exciting news with anyone other than her partner yet, she began panicking—but her boyfriend was quick to assure her that the woman wouldn’t be able to share anything without Tababyblabbermouth’s consent.
But unfortunately, when Tababyblabbermouth got home, her mother was already aware of the news as her old high school friend had already congratulated her over text.
Many users agreed on the fact that not only did that woman break the privacy and security laws, but she also stole an incredibly valuable and meaningful moment from Tababyblabbermouth, as she should’ve been able to announce the news at her own time and pace.
Some commenters also speculate that the woman did this deliberately, as the future mother couldn’t possibly have had the time to share the news with her family, even if she wanted to, as the text was sent way before Tababyblabbermouth arrived home.
The fact that after the appointment, the receptionist intentionally checked the medical records just to see the result doesn’t sit right with the online community, and it makes people wonder if this is an ongoing thing that the receptionist has been practicing, or was it done purely because of the fact that Tababyblabbermouth was a daughter of a friend.
Either way, Tababyblabbermouth explained that she was lucky enough to have such a supportive family. Yet, she has also expressed her concern towards families with different kinds of relationships, who could’ve potentially reacted in an entirely different way.
Tababyblabbermouth also makes sure to mention that she completely understands that the employee crossed the line, although she feels that it doesn’t seem right to report her as it could potentially get her fired, which is why she took it over to Reddit for some guidance.
Considering the Reddit community, the majority of users agree with the fact that this situation is a strict HIPAA violation. People are furious and are voicing their concerns, asking Tababyblabbermouth to immediately contact her OB office.
Some folks shared similar stories about the same lack of privacy from professionals. Many users also pointed out that there could’ve been piles of issues with this kind of “gossip,” as different people have different plans and circumstances.
However, soon after, Tababyblabbermouth edited the post and told the fellow readers that she decided to report the receptionist to her OB.
Tababyblabbermouth also stated that she will make sure to explain the whole situation, as she wants the healthcare employees to know that nothing awful happened to her and that she is reporting this matter purely out of concern for future patients with different background stories.
Shortly after the story was posted, the Reddit users received an update where Tababyblabbermouth mentioned that she reported the woman to her OB—to which they said that they take situations like this very seriously.
The online community agreed with the OP and encouraged her to report the receptionist
In 5 days, the thread received 17,500 upvotes, 2,400 comments and a fiery discussion regarding this unethical circumstance. We’re eager to see what you think of this situation, so let us know in the comment section below!
NTA. Women in abusive relationships are most likely to be killed when pregnant or trying to leave. This person put her life at risk by breaking confidentiality. She should lose her job immediately.
From the Reddit posts: The OP had abusive situations in mind. Which shows that she is far more mature than the receptionist close to her mother's age.
Load More Replies...This is why i hate this Karen thing!!! Suddenly whatever happens and we complain we are Karens? This was very serious and she was right to complain!!! Enough with this Karen thing that is another way to silence women!
The term for karens and kyles was suppose to be about calling out the truly racist, horrible arrogant people. But now it just seems like people (men) like to use it because they're excited that they now have a new insulting phrase they like to give to women.
Load More Replies...HIPAA violation = federal crime. Report! Suppose there was a married woman and the receptionist congratulated the husband by phone, only to find out they were in the middle of an acrimonious divorce. Violence could result.
This receptionist is the same age as the mother of that 20y.o girl, she should know better , and I bet she knows that she broke a law, but still did it. There is no excuse for that and she should never work anywhere where she can put someone confidential information at risk. By the way the 20 y.o girl handled it like a champ!
I think the receptionist told the mom to make sure OP would be given a hard time if she chose to abort.
Load More Replies...What if you were planning an abortion ? or you had very religious strict parents that may harm you if they found out you were sexually active and pregnant. ? What if you were rapped or had an abusive boyfriend. This woman crossed the line and should be fired immediately.
Exactly. I kept thinking the same. What if she doesnt want to keep the kid and the parents are religious nuts? Or the sex was not consensual?
Load More Replies...That woman should be fired immediately. I’ve worked in the medical field and privacy is sacred.
My mom had this type of job and it is definitely a huge issue. Just like the OP said, that could be very dangerous in a different circumstance. Also, there is a lot of joy in telling people you are pregnant. This woman robbed them of that. Plus, what if she had wanted an abortion and wanted to keep it private?
Good god, what an utterly atrocious breach of professional standards and common courtesy! When my sister was pregnant I and everyone else in the immediate family were expressly asked to keep it to ourselves because she and her husband wanted to announce it in their own time, once they were sure the pregnancy was viable. A lot of people take the same precaution - and what if this lady had decided not to keep the baby and her family didn't approve of abortions? It could have caused YEARS of family strife or even estrangement. This is just the height of irresponsibility and should definitely have consequences.
Not sure what the rules are in the USA, but as an MD in the Netherlands I’m not allowed to open medical files of patients when I’m not directly part of the team treating them. Receptionists have access to patient records, but only so far as to see personal details and appointment times etc, definitely NOT medical information. What possible reason could there be for a receptionist to have access to the results of a patients pregnancy test?
as I understand it, the op had gotten a goodie bag that the patients get from the ob when they are pregnant. Therefore the receptionist knew that the op was pregnant the op said this in the original reddit post
Load More Replies...Report her. She is required to keep all patients' information confidential, and not relate it to anyone else. She violated the terms of her employment.
Not only did she break HIPAA by telling the patient's mother, she also broke it by even looking at the results. Access to medical records is on a need to know basis. There is no need for a receptionist to know the outcome of a pregnancy test unless 1) asked to inform patient by provider or 2) asked by patient herself (and even then many providers prefer to have nursing staff field those calls). Even if her mom's friend was a different doctor in that practice it would be against the rules for them to open the chart record unless they were providing treatment or periodic peer review.
HIPAA regulations are so strict, you can't even look up your own test results, unless it's necessary to do so for your work.
Load More Replies...She needs to go above the OB. She can report it to http://hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html Yes I know she won't see this but maybe the link would be helpful to someone else.
I used to work at a hospital and I saw several people that I knew, come in as patients. I never told anyone because that's the job and it's a major violation of privacy. Personally if I was a patient and the worker was someone I knew, I would like to know that I can trust them to protect my patient rights and not tell anyone. It's already a vulnerable place and situation to be in, no matter what brings you to the hospital or clinic. It is no one's business to share that information.
Exactly! I was a bartender and a hairdresser. I think we had our own HIPPA rules before they were cool. As in we didn't tell people how Bob got drunk and cried about missing his ex as we bundled him into a taxi. We also didn't talk about the women who confessed to an abortion or plastic surgery while their hair was being shampooed. My mom still doesn't know about the two Jehovah Witnesses she knew that came into the strip bar I worked at.
Load More Replies...I would not only be reporting her, I would be trying to get her fired. Confidentiality is important, and breaching it is serious. As well as breaking the law, I'm pretty sure she breached her employment contract.
If her employer finds out she broke HIPAA laws, she not only will be fired on the spot, she’ll also be brought up on federal charges. This goes waaay beyond her employment contract...she committed a federal offense and will be brought up on charges, as she should be.
Load More Replies...We tend to go easy on offenders who aren’t clearly acting out of malice. However,: “What you accept, you encourage.”
She should be fired, she's a danger to society. Imagine a young kid in the closet. Imagine an abused wife. Imagine a pregnant teen with abusive parents. She's gonna kill someone if she isn't stopped.
I hope this woman loses her job and cannot work in healthcare/ any important job. This is devastating to have your privacy violated so. There are so many scenarios where this could have had disasterois ramifications.
No excuse to break confidentiality rules. Confidentiality is VERY IMPORTANT.
Reporting is absolutely the right thing to do. If she loses her job thats on her for crossing a line she knows was not to be crossed. I had a HIPPA violation against my husbands privacy and it involved family and we did report it. The family "friend" was furious because he almost lost his job, frankly i think he should have been fired on the spot because the outcome was not good at all
This is exact thing happened to me!!!! I was admitted into the hospital for some test (just for the day) they administered a pregnancy test (standard), and I found out I was 4 months pregnant...what a surprise it was. Once I was discharged, I drove 20 minutes home to tell my partner and as soon as I walked in the door, the phone was ringing from his grandmother. I had not even the chance to tell him when she said "So Julie is 4 months pregnant and you never cared to tell me". I was gobsmacked. Grandma then came straight over and demanded we tell his 6 year old daughter. I never got the chance to tell my sons father, or have any type of announcement or anything. I asked her how she knew but the old biddy would not tell me how she found out. I have no idea who told her but I was very upset.
Huge HIPPA violation. The office and the receptionist could be fined lots of money.
This is my concern when doctors now come in (located in USA to clarify) with a scribe. I was at a urology/gyn appointment and the scribe was a man. Not only was it awkward as hell, but I always wonder if they (scribes) are bound by HIPPAA laws? Are medical assistants and receptionists? And if they are, do they know that fact??
Yes they are. I worked as a CNA (certified nurse assistant) in a hospital for years. All people who come in contact with your medical information through their job are bound by law equal to the doctor. I went up to another area in the hospital to translate for a patient and I was even bound by the same laws just as a translator.
Load More Replies...As a mother of a 20 YO, I would be furious at the friend for telling me and robbing my daughter of that special moment. Don't get me wrong, I'd be over the moon to find out I'm gonna be a grandma, but who the eff are you to take that moment from the mother of the baby? Who are you to ruin that special moment between mother and daughter? And God forbid if it were a situation where it wouldn't be handled well? Wow. This chick needs a new job for sure.
NTA. She broke the law, rules of her job, revealed confidential information to an uninvolved party, and put your safety at risk. For instance, what if you were a 20yr old unmarried woman who belonged to an ultra-religious family from the middle east, where sex or even pregnancy outside of marriage is worthy of what they call an "honor killing". The woman's family murders her because she has besmirched the family honor with her personal choices. This is why the HIPPA laws are so strict. You have no idea how leaking confidential information may affect someone. She needs to be fired, she's putting too many women at risk at that OBGYN office. Also she robbed you of the moment seeing your moms face when she finds out she MAY have a grandchild on the way (you may decide otherwise, your life and your choice). This woman took a joy from you and placed you in a dangerous situation. You're not a Karen for making sure this bi**h does her job properly, and you shouldn't be labeled as such.
So, so many people claim HIPAA violations, and they're usually wrong. But not here. This is EXACTLY what an actual HIPAA violation is.
My boyfriend is an OBGYN and he agrees with me 100%- NTA. He and I both work in healthcare. Everyone who works in healthcare is aware of HIPPA. We receive annual, mandatory, training about it and what could and should happen if you violate it. She was not in the need to know about the results. She has no reason to go into your records. She completely violated your privacy rights and broke the law by doing so. She probably did get fired and to be honest, the OB's office is lucky you didn't report them to the OIG, because they would be fined.
HIPAA. And being aware of it and knowing how it works are 2 different things. I still have voicemails from the Dr apologizing for the hospital nurses who denied giving me info on my dad even though they had my Medical and Legal Power of Attorney papers. My dad was accidentally taken off a certain mental health meds and told a nurse he didn't want me visiting. She took that as she could not give me any info on him. It was the pandemic and no one else but me could visit because I am next of kin. I sat in a waiting room for an hour and the dr apologized, made a note in the chart that I am to have full access to info. The bitch did the same thing the next day when I called. So being aware of HIPAA means nothing.
Load More Replies...Believe it or not HIPAA has only been around since the very early 2000's. I've worked in Dr.'s offices since the early '90's. Before there was HIPAA, there were still VERY strict rules about patient confidentiality. I remember in one case, someone who had brought a pt to an appt was asking what was wrong with the pt. She got mad when no one would tell her. That woman obviously believed she was too important/above the law to be punished. She should be fired immediately. She will whine and cry and say she thought it was OK, but she knows better and is just sorry she got caught. Everyone in the office will know about it (they always do), so not punishing her is not an option.
NTA! - EU? GDPR? Meet the possibility of unlimited personal fines (not avoidable by bankruptcy) and criminal charges...
After reading this story, I feel like giving that idiot receptionist a piece of my mind! My reason is that a female relative did not go to the doctor after having a miscarriage because the receptionist was a blabbermouth like this one!
if this is USA she could sue the hospital for money. Ive seen this in movies.
Obviously, the receptionist was wrong to do what she did. What I would have done differently (especially if she was my mother's friend) is talking to her directly rather than reporting her to her employer which I imagine resulted in her losing her job.
Poster is being too nice here. My mom has a "friend" like this and I could totally see her doing the same thing. Not only would I call to complain but I would demand repercussions. Call me petty, but this isn't acceptable. It's a major
Hipaa violation and it is also robbing them of the chance of announcing her own pregnancy. It's none of her f-ing business. What if she came to be screened for an STD and that came back positive? Would she blab that too? Why stop at mom, who knows who else she's blabbing too? This person doesn't deserve their job.
Load More Replies...YOU are not putting her employment at risk, SHE did it to herself by violating confidentiality
I didn't even need to read this it is such a major HIPAA violation Sue Sue Sue that's outrageous
There was a pharmacist that was fired and bared from ever working in health care again because she did nothing more then look up the health care files of friends and family members without their consent. She didn't use the information nor did she disclose to anyone what she saw in those files but it was still serious violation of trust, she deserved to be fired and so did the women in this story.
Heck, when I worked at a hospital as a covid screener, the sister of a friend of mine came in. We did the usual "Hi, how are you!?" bit and off she went. When I saw my friend I said nothing....not a peep. No one else's business who's at the hospital or why.
I don't have any SFW comments that BoredPanda won't censor. Just know I immediately went into a blind rage reading this. There is no excuse for this woman's behavior. Fire her and fine her.
first, most definitely not the a-hole but is much nicer than me. not only would i report it to the ob but also to the state. and, if she was fired, fine. poster said her mom and woman weren't close so it shouldn't cause too big an issue there but, even if they were close, too effin bad.
NTA. I hope she contacted the AMA for HIPAA violations. Back in the 1970s an employee in my GYN OB's office told me a story about a mutual friend who was also a patient. I was appalled.
NTA, and not a Karen-ish thing to do. The receptionist is obviously in the wrong here, she messed up big itme: violating a patient's privacy isn't a joke.
This lady was the receptionist! Not only did she break the HIPAA laws, she accessed medical records without prior authorization. Two huge breaches. Women go to the OBGYN for more than pregnancy tests and Obstetric care. If this receptionist is used to breaking the law by accessing medical records, she is not only putting the patient in danger, but the entire practice and the doctors. This receptionist most definitely needs to lose her job and be fined. The fines for Tier 4 or 5 (which is what this violation is) is between $10-$50k per violation. I count a minimum of two violations.
Data protection is there for a reason. Absolutely anything could have happened. You don't know the patients intentions and how the family would react. This Woman could have been put in serious danger! When we've had celebrities at our clinic I don't even tell my wife who it is, I might tell her we had a celebrity in order to comment on my colleagues behaviour if they get 'star-struck', but never who it is.
I have a job where confidentiality is taken very seriously. If I was to violate that, I would be fired. I am also required to report independence..(i.e. letting the firm know if I live in a place a client owns, have stock in a clients company, etc.) to avoid conflicts of interest. And you shouldn't have to ask her to keep her mouth shut. HIPPA should automatically obligate her to say nothing. What if she'd had a miscarriage or was diagnosed with cancer. None of that is anyone else's business but the patient and the doctor.
NTA. What she did was against the law. Yes reporting her is exactly what you should have done.
It would have been totally wrong not to have reported this. It's such a basic rule, everyone who works in healthcare knows you don't cross over between professional and personal.
In the UK her behaviour would be straight-up breach of the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice. It would lead to disciplinary action that could result in both termination of employment and revocation of the right to work for the NHS ever again. Not only would someone be justified in reporting a breach like this, I would say they actually have a MORAL DUTY TO DO SO.
If the receptionist is NOT fired, I definitely would not feel comfortable going back to that office. I'd be looking for a new doctor.
NTA. My husband and I have different GPs but they work at the same office. My husbands Dr had a new female assistant that made him feel uncomfortable with her giggling while he was having his physical. Husband did not want to complain. I complained to my Nurse Practitioner when I was in a few weeks later. She said she couldn't say anything because of HIPAA and I said I understood. But that assistant soon disappeared so..... My husband saw his Dr's new female Nurse Practitioner when the Dr wasn't available and really liked her, as in was comfortable talking to her. It's not just women who are made uncomfortable. Men should not feel embarrassed to go to the Dr.
I have worked on maternity wards for 20y and I can't count the amount of nosy relatives that want to know about the baby, the birth etc. THATS NOT MY JOB. It is the parents job AND JOY. Relatives and friend should know how to be patience....
First of all, unless you BF understands anything about HIPAA or confidentiality AND has some understanding of the law, then he’s the actual start of the problem here. Second - report her. Why on earth would you be worried about being obnoxious or whatever when your legal privacy was borderline broken?
Honestly the pregnant woman did the absolute nice thing possible, because the receptionist was absolutely wrong for doing that and could have cost the medical practice 10k minimum if she had reported it directly to HIPPA that pregnant woman could have come into a loooooot of money for this and could have basically sunk the practice and the Dr. 1000% know this so that receptionist should be fired immediately and lawyers were definitely called.
NTA .. just because the receptionist is a friend of your mother doesn't give her the right to break HIPPA laws. They are put in place for a reason. It's a federal offense. Her job should be on the line. My daughter always planned a special way of giving me the good news of having a "bun in the oven." She would've been devastated if she couldn't tell me herself. My favorite was when I got a onesie on Mother's Day saying " Keep Calm and call Grandma". Thus was her 1st pregnancy and my 1st grandchild.
It would be much easier if BoredPanda just put the link to the Reddit thread. This site doesn't even pretend to give a sh*t anymore.
I'm really starting to not believe any of these posts any more. They're always "someone did something blatantly wrong, and I want to do something about it. my friends and family agree that it was wrong, but don't think I should do anything. AITA for doing something?" They're all very formulaic.
NTA. Women in abusive relationships are most likely to be killed when pregnant or trying to leave. This person put her life at risk by breaking confidentiality. She should lose her job immediately.
From the Reddit posts: The OP had abusive situations in mind. Which shows that she is far more mature than the receptionist close to her mother's age.
Load More Replies...This is why i hate this Karen thing!!! Suddenly whatever happens and we complain we are Karens? This was very serious and she was right to complain!!! Enough with this Karen thing that is another way to silence women!
The term for karens and kyles was suppose to be about calling out the truly racist, horrible arrogant people. But now it just seems like people (men) like to use it because they're excited that they now have a new insulting phrase they like to give to women.
Load More Replies...HIPAA violation = federal crime. Report! Suppose there was a married woman and the receptionist congratulated the husband by phone, only to find out they were in the middle of an acrimonious divorce. Violence could result.
This receptionist is the same age as the mother of that 20y.o girl, she should know better , and I bet she knows that she broke a law, but still did it. There is no excuse for that and she should never work anywhere where she can put someone confidential information at risk. By the way the 20 y.o girl handled it like a champ!
I think the receptionist told the mom to make sure OP would be given a hard time if she chose to abort.
Load More Replies...What if you were planning an abortion ? or you had very religious strict parents that may harm you if they found out you were sexually active and pregnant. ? What if you were rapped or had an abusive boyfriend. This woman crossed the line and should be fired immediately.
Exactly. I kept thinking the same. What if she doesnt want to keep the kid and the parents are religious nuts? Or the sex was not consensual?
Load More Replies...That woman should be fired immediately. I’ve worked in the medical field and privacy is sacred.
My mom had this type of job and it is definitely a huge issue. Just like the OP said, that could be very dangerous in a different circumstance. Also, there is a lot of joy in telling people you are pregnant. This woman robbed them of that. Plus, what if she had wanted an abortion and wanted to keep it private?
Good god, what an utterly atrocious breach of professional standards and common courtesy! When my sister was pregnant I and everyone else in the immediate family were expressly asked to keep it to ourselves because she and her husband wanted to announce it in their own time, once they were sure the pregnancy was viable. A lot of people take the same precaution - and what if this lady had decided not to keep the baby and her family didn't approve of abortions? It could have caused YEARS of family strife or even estrangement. This is just the height of irresponsibility and should definitely have consequences.
Not sure what the rules are in the USA, but as an MD in the Netherlands I’m not allowed to open medical files of patients when I’m not directly part of the team treating them. Receptionists have access to patient records, but only so far as to see personal details and appointment times etc, definitely NOT medical information. What possible reason could there be for a receptionist to have access to the results of a patients pregnancy test?
as I understand it, the op had gotten a goodie bag that the patients get from the ob when they are pregnant. Therefore the receptionist knew that the op was pregnant the op said this in the original reddit post
Load More Replies...Report her. She is required to keep all patients' information confidential, and not relate it to anyone else. She violated the terms of her employment.
Not only did she break HIPAA by telling the patient's mother, she also broke it by even looking at the results. Access to medical records is on a need to know basis. There is no need for a receptionist to know the outcome of a pregnancy test unless 1) asked to inform patient by provider or 2) asked by patient herself (and even then many providers prefer to have nursing staff field those calls). Even if her mom's friend was a different doctor in that practice it would be against the rules for them to open the chart record unless they were providing treatment or periodic peer review.
HIPAA regulations are so strict, you can't even look up your own test results, unless it's necessary to do so for your work.
Load More Replies...She needs to go above the OB. She can report it to http://hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html Yes I know she won't see this but maybe the link would be helpful to someone else.
I used to work at a hospital and I saw several people that I knew, come in as patients. I never told anyone because that's the job and it's a major violation of privacy. Personally if I was a patient and the worker was someone I knew, I would like to know that I can trust them to protect my patient rights and not tell anyone. It's already a vulnerable place and situation to be in, no matter what brings you to the hospital or clinic. It is no one's business to share that information.
Exactly! I was a bartender and a hairdresser. I think we had our own HIPPA rules before they were cool. As in we didn't tell people how Bob got drunk and cried about missing his ex as we bundled him into a taxi. We also didn't talk about the women who confessed to an abortion or plastic surgery while their hair was being shampooed. My mom still doesn't know about the two Jehovah Witnesses she knew that came into the strip bar I worked at.
Load More Replies...I would not only be reporting her, I would be trying to get her fired. Confidentiality is important, and breaching it is serious. As well as breaking the law, I'm pretty sure she breached her employment contract.
If her employer finds out she broke HIPAA laws, she not only will be fired on the spot, she’ll also be brought up on federal charges. This goes waaay beyond her employment contract...she committed a federal offense and will be brought up on charges, as she should be.
Load More Replies...We tend to go easy on offenders who aren’t clearly acting out of malice. However,: “What you accept, you encourage.”
She should be fired, she's a danger to society. Imagine a young kid in the closet. Imagine an abused wife. Imagine a pregnant teen with abusive parents. She's gonna kill someone if she isn't stopped.
I hope this woman loses her job and cannot work in healthcare/ any important job. This is devastating to have your privacy violated so. There are so many scenarios where this could have had disasterois ramifications.
No excuse to break confidentiality rules. Confidentiality is VERY IMPORTANT.
Reporting is absolutely the right thing to do. If she loses her job thats on her for crossing a line she knows was not to be crossed. I had a HIPPA violation against my husbands privacy and it involved family and we did report it. The family "friend" was furious because he almost lost his job, frankly i think he should have been fired on the spot because the outcome was not good at all
This is exact thing happened to me!!!! I was admitted into the hospital for some test (just for the day) they administered a pregnancy test (standard), and I found out I was 4 months pregnant...what a surprise it was. Once I was discharged, I drove 20 minutes home to tell my partner and as soon as I walked in the door, the phone was ringing from his grandmother. I had not even the chance to tell him when she said "So Julie is 4 months pregnant and you never cared to tell me". I was gobsmacked. Grandma then came straight over and demanded we tell his 6 year old daughter. I never got the chance to tell my sons father, or have any type of announcement or anything. I asked her how she knew but the old biddy would not tell me how she found out. I have no idea who told her but I was very upset.
Huge HIPPA violation. The office and the receptionist could be fined lots of money.
This is my concern when doctors now come in (located in USA to clarify) with a scribe. I was at a urology/gyn appointment and the scribe was a man. Not only was it awkward as hell, but I always wonder if they (scribes) are bound by HIPPAA laws? Are medical assistants and receptionists? And if they are, do they know that fact??
Yes they are. I worked as a CNA (certified nurse assistant) in a hospital for years. All people who come in contact with your medical information through their job are bound by law equal to the doctor. I went up to another area in the hospital to translate for a patient and I was even bound by the same laws just as a translator.
Load More Replies...As a mother of a 20 YO, I would be furious at the friend for telling me and robbing my daughter of that special moment. Don't get me wrong, I'd be over the moon to find out I'm gonna be a grandma, but who the eff are you to take that moment from the mother of the baby? Who are you to ruin that special moment between mother and daughter? And God forbid if it were a situation where it wouldn't be handled well? Wow. This chick needs a new job for sure.
NTA. She broke the law, rules of her job, revealed confidential information to an uninvolved party, and put your safety at risk. For instance, what if you were a 20yr old unmarried woman who belonged to an ultra-religious family from the middle east, where sex or even pregnancy outside of marriage is worthy of what they call an "honor killing". The woman's family murders her because she has besmirched the family honor with her personal choices. This is why the HIPPA laws are so strict. You have no idea how leaking confidential information may affect someone. She needs to be fired, she's putting too many women at risk at that OBGYN office. Also she robbed you of the moment seeing your moms face when she finds out she MAY have a grandchild on the way (you may decide otherwise, your life and your choice). This woman took a joy from you and placed you in a dangerous situation. You're not a Karen for making sure this bi**h does her job properly, and you shouldn't be labeled as such.
So, so many people claim HIPAA violations, and they're usually wrong. But not here. This is EXACTLY what an actual HIPAA violation is.
My boyfriend is an OBGYN and he agrees with me 100%- NTA. He and I both work in healthcare. Everyone who works in healthcare is aware of HIPPA. We receive annual, mandatory, training about it and what could and should happen if you violate it. She was not in the need to know about the results. She has no reason to go into your records. She completely violated your privacy rights and broke the law by doing so. She probably did get fired and to be honest, the OB's office is lucky you didn't report them to the OIG, because they would be fined.
HIPAA. And being aware of it and knowing how it works are 2 different things. I still have voicemails from the Dr apologizing for the hospital nurses who denied giving me info on my dad even though they had my Medical and Legal Power of Attorney papers. My dad was accidentally taken off a certain mental health meds and told a nurse he didn't want me visiting. She took that as she could not give me any info on him. It was the pandemic and no one else but me could visit because I am next of kin. I sat in a waiting room for an hour and the dr apologized, made a note in the chart that I am to have full access to info. The bitch did the same thing the next day when I called. So being aware of HIPAA means nothing.
Load More Replies...Believe it or not HIPAA has only been around since the very early 2000's. I've worked in Dr.'s offices since the early '90's. Before there was HIPAA, there were still VERY strict rules about patient confidentiality. I remember in one case, someone who had brought a pt to an appt was asking what was wrong with the pt. She got mad when no one would tell her. That woman obviously believed she was too important/above the law to be punished. She should be fired immediately. She will whine and cry and say she thought it was OK, but she knows better and is just sorry she got caught. Everyone in the office will know about it (they always do), so not punishing her is not an option.
NTA! - EU? GDPR? Meet the possibility of unlimited personal fines (not avoidable by bankruptcy) and criminal charges...
After reading this story, I feel like giving that idiot receptionist a piece of my mind! My reason is that a female relative did not go to the doctor after having a miscarriage because the receptionist was a blabbermouth like this one!
if this is USA she could sue the hospital for money. Ive seen this in movies.
Obviously, the receptionist was wrong to do what she did. What I would have done differently (especially if she was my mother's friend) is talking to her directly rather than reporting her to her employer which I imagine resulted in her losing her job.
Poster is being too nice here. My mom has a "friend" like this and I could totally see her doing the same thing. Not only would I call to complain but I would demand repercussions. Call me petty, but this isn't acceptable. It's a major
Hipaa violation and it is also robbing them of the chance of announcing her own pregnancy. It's none of her f-ing business. What if she came to be screened for an STD and that came back positive? Would she blab that too? Why stop at mom, who knows who else she's blabbing too? This person doesn't deserve their job.
Load More Replies...YOU are not putting her employment at risk, SHE did it to herself by violating confidentiality
I didn't even need to read this it is such a major HIPAA violation Sue Sue Sue that's outrageous
There was a pharmacist that was fired and bared from ever working in health care again because she did nothing more then look up the health care files of friends and family members without their consent. She didn't use the information nor did she disclose to anyone what she saw in those files but it was still serious violation of trust, she deserved to be fired and so did the women in this story.
Heck, when I worked at a hospital as a covid screener, the sister of a friend of mine came in. We did the usual "Hi, how are you!?" bit and off she went. When I saw my friend I said nothing....not a peep. No one else's business who's at the hospital or why.
I don't have any SFW comments that BoredPanda won't censor. Just know I immediately went into a blind rage reading this. There is no excuse for this woman's behavior. Fire her and fine her.
first, most definitely not the a-hole but is much nicer than me. not only would i report it to the ob but also to the state. and, if she was fired, fine. poster said her mom and woman weren't close so it shouldn't cause too big an issue there but, even if they were close, too effin bad.
NTA. I hope she contacted the AMA for HIPAA violations. Back in the 1970s an employee in my GYN OB's office told me a story about a mutual friend who was also a patient. I was appalled.
NTA, and not a Karen-ish thing to do. The receptionist is obviously in the wrong here, she messed up big itme: violating a patient's privacy isn't a joke.
This lady was the receptionist! Not only did she break the HIPAA laws, she accessed medical records without prior authorization. Two huge breaches. Women go to the OBGYN for more than pregnancy tests and Obstetric care. If this receptionist is used to breaking the law by accessing medical records, she is not only putting the patient in danger, but the entire practice and the doctors. This receptionist most definitely needs to lose her job and be fined. The fines for Tier 4 or 5 (which is what this violation is) is between $10-$50k per violation. I count a minimum of two violations.
Data protection is there for a reason. Absolutely anything could have happened. You don't know the patients intentions and how the family would react. This Woman could have been put in serious danger! When we've had celebrities at our clinic I don't even tell my wife who it is, I might tell her we had a celebrity in order to comment on my colleagues behaviour if they get 'star-struck', but never who it is.
I have a job where confidentiality is taken very seriously. If I was to violate that, I would be fired. I am also required to report independence..(i.e. letting the firm know if I live in a place a client owns, have stock in a clients company, etc.) to avoid conflicts of interest. And you shouldn't have to ask her to keep her mouth shut. HIPPA should automatically obligate her to say nothing. What if she'd had a miscarriage or was diagnosed with cancer. None of that is anyone else's business but the patient and the doctor.
NTA. What she did was against the law. Yes reporting her is exactly what you should have done.
It would have been totally wrong not to have reported this. It's such a basic rule, everyone who works in healthcare knows you don't cross over between professional and personal.
In the UK her behaviour would be straight-up breach of the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice. It would lead to disciplinary action that could result in both termination of employment and revocation of the right to work for the NHS ever again. Not only would someone be justified in reporting a breach like this, I would say they actually have a MORAL DUTY TO DO SO.
If the receptionist is NOT fired, I definitely would not feel comfortable going back to that office. I'd be looking for a new doctor.
NTA. My husband and I have different GPs but they work at the same office. My husbands Dr had a new female assistant that made him feel uncomfortable with her giggling while he was having his physical. Husband did not want to complain. I complained to my Nurse Practitioner when I was in a few weeks later. She said she couldn't say anything because of HIPAA and I said I understood. But that assistant soon disappeared so..... My husband saw his Dr's new female Nurse Practitioner when the Dr wasn't available and really liked her, as in was comfortable talking to her. It's not just women who are made uncomfortable. Men should not feel embarrassed to go to the Dr.
I have worked on maternity wards for 20y and I can't count the amount of nosy relatives that want to know about the baby, the birth etc. THATS NOT MY JOB. It is the parents job AND JOY. Relatives and friend should know how to be patience....
First of all, unless you BF understands anything about HIPAA or confidentiality AND has some understanding of the law, then he’s the actual start of the problem here. Second - report her. Why on earth would you be worried about being obnoxious or whatever when your legal privacy was borderline broken?
Honestly the pregnant woman did the absolute nice thing possible, because the receptionist was absolutely wrong for doing that and could have cost the medical practice 10k minimum if she had reported it directly to HIPPA that pregnant woman could have come into a loooooot of money for this and could have basically sunk the practice and the Dr. 1000% know this so that receptionist should be fired immediately and lawyers were definitely called.
NTA .. just because the receptionist is a friend of your mother doesn't give her the right to break HIPPA laws. They are put in place for a reason. It's a federal offense. Her job should be on the line. My daughter always planned a special way of giving me the good news of having a "bun in the oven." She would've been devastated if she couldn't tell me herself. My favorite was when I got a onesie on Mother's Day saying " Keep Calm and call Grandma". Thus was her 1st pregnancy and my 1st grandchild.
It would be much easier if BoredPanda just put the link to the Reddit thread. This site doesn't even pretend to give a sh*t anymore.
I'm really starting to not believe any of these posts any more. They're always "someone did something blatantly wrong, and I want to do something about it. my friends and family agree that it was wrong, but don't think I should do anything. AITA for doing something?" They're all very formulaic.
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