How do people use, misuse or abuse Hipaa, the federal regulations protecting patients' confidential health information? Let us count the ways:
■ Last month, in a continuing care retirement community in Ithaca, N.Y., Helen Wyvill, 72, noticed that a friend hadn't shown up for their regular swim. She wasn't in her apartment, either.
Had she gone to a hospital? Could friends visit or call? Was anyone taking care of the dog?
Questions to the staff brought a familiar nonresponse: Nobody could provide any information because of Hipaa.
"The administration says they have to abide by the law, blah, blah," Ms. Wyvill said. "They won't even tell you if somebody has died.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/health/hipaas-use-as-code-of-silence-often-misinterprets-the-law.html?
