Hospital worker violated law by reading husband’s records

DEAR ABBY: “Concerned in Massachusetts” (Feb. 20) used her status as a hospital employee to access her husband’s medical records and found a history of STDs. I’m a registered nurse with 40 years’ experience. Every healthcare organization I know of teaches all their employees about HIPAA violations and that accessing private patient medical information is a criminal offense. It is essential patients know they can trust us to protect their privacy.

“Concerned” is lucky she still has a job. At my institution, she would be terminated for violating organizational policy and federal law. — Safeguarding The Right

To Privacy

DEAR SAFEGUARDING: Thank you for your informed response. You are not the only reader who was appalled at what “Concerned” had done. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: Like “Concerned’s” husband, I, too, am labeled as high risk for STDs based on a medical survey, although I have had a monogamous 30-year marriage and do not do drugs of any kind. In that survey, they asked how many partners I had in my lifetime. Those few other partners were before I met my wife.

“Concerned” indicated that her husband had been treated twice for STDs “some years back.” What does that mean? Were they married then? If not, is he labeled high risk due to his previous behavior? Perhaps there is something deeper in the relationship that needs addressing — such as why there are weeks between sexual contact with her husband.

It’s ironic she’s bent out of shape over infidelity concerns, but thinks it acceptable to betray privacy and ethics rules governing medical professionals. — Vincent In West Virginia DEAR ABBY: “Young at Heart in Texas” (Feb. 9) could have written my story. I am also a 70-year-old man who is sexually dysfunctional. I, too, was lonely, having outlived two of my brides. However, I did find someone who appreciates holding hands and whispering sweet words.

Abby, you said: “Not only do I think you can (find companionship), I suspect you may need police protection to control the crowd of applicants. Years ago, my aunt, the late Ann Landers, polled her female readers asking if they would prefer ‘holding and cuddling’ to actually doing ‘the deed.’ The majority of them answered in the affirmative.”

At 71, I married my third wife, a wonderful woman just as you both describe. We have been married three years and nine months.

So I say to “Young at Heart in Texas”: Yes, you can find a woman such as you and Abby describe. And when you do, I suggest you rub her back often. Women love it! — Young At Heart In Colorado

DEAR YOUNG AT HEART: I’m glad your story had a happy ending, and I’m crossing my fingers that “Young at Heart’s” will, too. Thanks for writing to encourage him.