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Your Health Records Are Not Secret In This E. R.

8 comments

PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY TAKES A BACK SEAT when something “really good” pops up at the Mercy Walworth Medical Center in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  When a patient was brought in to the ER with an object lodged in his rectum, it stirred a bit of interest.

It was after the X-rays were taken, though, that the tittilation factor kicked in and once the word got around that the buried object was a sex toy, ethics joined the casualty list as at least two nurses took pictures of the films with their cellphone cameras.

Things got out of control when a tipster called the sheriff’s office to tell them that one of the nurses posted the photos on her Facebook page.  Once the law got involved, the Facebook page was suddenly taken offline and the two nurses were fired.  There’s no report on what medical procedure was used or the outcome.

After a penetrating investigation, the police have not found any criminal violations, so no charges have been lodged.

WISN-TV carried this VIDEO REPORT:

Posted by on February 28, 2009 • Filed under: current events
  • Justin

    Oh Geezers…

    You went there. “Penetrating investigation” is so childish.

    “The investigators hope to get to the bottom of this.” is more juvenile.

    Great stuff!

  • Justin

    Oh Geezers…

    You went there. “Penetrating investigation” is so childish.

    “The investigators hope to get to the bottom of this.” is more juvenile.

    Great stuff!

  • wvumounties8

    I know that it is a weird call, but NOBODIES medical info should EVER be released no matter what. I hope they can charge these two stupid nurses for their ignorance. Then maybe this will bring thing like this to an end, I mean stop.

  • wvumounties8

    I know that it is a weird call, but NOBODIES medical info should EVER be released no matter what. I hope they can charge these two stupid nurses for their ignorance. Then maybe this will bring thing like this to an end, I mean stop.

  • Dal90

    >I know that it is a weird call, but NOBODIES
    >medical info should EVER be released no matter
    >what.

    Unfortunately the just passed stimulus bill includes billions to do just that and place all our medical records into a central system for Federal government to slice-and-dice (and undoubtedly law enforcement and intelligence agencies to peruse.)

    It’ll be interesting to see how long it is until there’s people in hospitals and doctor’s offices doing lookups of celebrities and such.

    I have NO confidence proper security precautions will be implemented — they’ll have smoke and mirrors security certainly, but you won’t have control of your medical records.

  • Dal90

    >I know that it is a weird call, but NOBODIES
    >medical info should EVER be released no matter
    >what.

    Unfortunately the just passed stimulus bill includes billions to do just that and place all our medical records into a central system for Federal government to slice-and-dice (and undoubtedly law enforcement and intelligence agencies to peruse.)

    It’ll be interesting to see how long it is until there’s people in hospitals and doctor’s offices doing lookups of celebrities and such.

    I have NO confidence proper security precautions will be implemented — they’ll have smoke and mirrors security certainly, but you won’t have control of your medical records.

  • http://yourhappymedic.blogspot.com/ the Happy Medic

    “…place all our medical records into a central system for Federal government to slice-and-dice (and undoubtedly law enforcement and intelligence agencies to peruse.)”

    Under the US Patriot Act that is already taking place. The new stimulus funding allows physicians to share pertinent medical information the same way they share your paper record. Only now the information can be sent immediately.

    Imagine being taken to the ER, unconscious, with only your ID on you. Within minutes they can have your full medical history and that EKG you had last week showing problems (no suggestion that that is the actual case of course). Under the current system it could take days to get the proper records.

    Modernization is a good thing. Prying eyes will always find a way to do what they’re not supposed to. Remember the US Passport Office scandal?

    This is a good idea, make no mistake.

  • http://yourhappymedic.blogspot.com the Happy Medic

    “…place all our medical records into a central system for Federal government to slice-and-dice (and undoubtedly law enforcement and intelligence agencies to peruse.)”

    Under the US Patriot Act that is already taking place. The new stimulus funding allows physicians to share pertinent medical information the same way they share your paper record. Only now the information can be sent immediately.

    Imagine being taken to the ER, unconscious, with only your ID on you. Within minutes they can have your full medical history and that EKG you had last week showing problems (no suggestion that that is the actual case of course). Under the current system it could take days to get the proper records.

    Modernization is a good thing. Prying eyes will always find a way to do what they’re not supposed to. Remember the US Passport Office scandal?

    This is a good idea, make no mistake.