Hypoxia and Medicine

Can you sue someone for disclosing your medical condition publicly?

Someone told people about a medical condition that my sister has using myspace, which no one knew about, can she sue them? You guys assume too much, she didn't tell anyone about it, the person was at her house and saw medicine for it, now they're fighting and the person wrote about it on her myspace

Public Comments

1. Yep, just look under the H.I.P.P.A. law. Google it. It's all about privacy in the health field.
2. unless it is her doctor, then no. If she willingly told them about it, and they cannot keep a secret, that's her fault for disclosing the information herself unless it was her doctor
3. Doubt it unless the discloser was her doctor or nurse. If it's true, you can't even sue for libel.
4. Yes if it didn't come from her. Did she tell anyone about her condition.
5. Not unless it was a doctor that disclosed it.
6. yes you can i had a friend in cali get sued around $600,000 for give out someones medical info.
7. Not unless they're her doctor. Your sister disclosed her personal medical information to this person of her own free will. Unless what this person is saying is untrue, there is no law prohibiting them from telling anyone they want. edit: Your sister still has no case. She left a medicine bottle out for anyone to see. She can't have been that concerned about her secret getting out.
8. LOL if no one knew about it then how did it get out? Obviously it's your fault or your sister's fault. You can sue anybody for anything but that would be a waste of money since there is no way you would win. GG?
9. if your sister didnt want people to know about her medical condition,then she should have kept her mouth closed and told noone to begin with!Your question contradicts itself,was it YOU who told people about her condition and then someone posted online?hmmmm???
10. she can try whether or not she wins depends on merits of the case and damage done for instance did this cost her a job or insurance etc was it a medcal or other profesional who leaked it
11. Your sister has to find out how this person that broadcast her condition found out. If they're part of her medical care, they've violated HIPPA. If her medical provider shared her health conditions publicly, then she has a legitimate lawsuit. However, chances are that they found out from someone that found out from your sister. She most likely told someone, that told someone, etc.
12. yes it falls under doctor patient confidentiality. and if the person is lying to you its defamation of character, but of she told that individual then no she can not
13. well there is an information leak somewhere but you cant really sue anyone in this case unless you can prove the original person (nurse, doctor, ect.) is the source of the leak which i doubt med conditions are held private by hospital staff and in this case i dont know why they would do it, i think its more likely that someone you trusted with the info leaked it to someone who leaked it to someone else you cant sue your friends or classmates its unfortunate but unless you can prove the hospital wa at fault you have no case
14. Not unless the person who disclosed it had a duty to keep it private (i.e. a health care worker, employer). Otherwise, truth is a defense to any claim of liable or slander.
15. I don't believe so. HIPAA laws only apply to the medical and health insurance professions and those working within them. A slander or libel lawsuit would probably be a waste because these people were not spreading untrue information. As mean as that was, she will just need to get past it and be more careful with her private information in the future
16. I think your sister should deny the whole thing and otherwise do nothing. Everyone knows this person is fighting with her, so they will probably believe your sister more, especially if she makes her denials nonchalant instead of vehement.
17. You can only sue a health professional for disclosing such information. If she left her medication out and someone saw it then i think it is her fault.
18. I think that the HIPA law only covers dr./patient confidentiality. You would have to talk to a lawyer about it, I don't think there is any actual law in place that will protect her, but she still may be able to do something.
19. If she was welcomed into your house and she saw the medication, then there is not much you can do. Pretty much just the act of you letting her into your home disregards a lot of privacy laws out there.