Here is the original Discussion Post- Please Respond to Post #1 and Post #2 - NOT THE ORIGINAL POST.

HIPAA guidelines protect patient information and provide confidentiality for all medical information. Use the scenario below and explain how you would handle the ethical dilemma and abide by HIPAA guidelines.

You are a medical professional employed by a medical office. While on your shift, you receive a phone call from Mr. Smith's wife asking for his test results from his recent blood work. How would you handle this situation without violating HIPAA guidelines?

POST # 1- Please Reply to the Response Below-

I would handle the situation by following the HIPAA guidelines, which states the privacy of a patient's protected health information. Patient's have specific, protected rights regarding the release and handling of such records and HIPAA requires "covered entities" to adhere strictly to these guidelines. So, if I had access to protected health information, I would tell Mr. Smith's wife that I cannot release this information and that it is confidential, and I have to follow the guidelines to protect his rights and keep my job.

I would be discreet when dealing with this situation by explaining to the family that this information cannot be released to them unless provided to them by Mr. Smith himself. Mr. Smith's tests are confidential to protect his rights as a patient . As a patient Mr. Smith does not want the employee to give out this information on his test results unless giving the medical office his permission to do so. Until then, his medical records are confidential against the family.

POST # 2 - Please Reply To the Post Below-

When working in a medical environment in a medical environment there are a lot of things that going to have to be locked up in your mind. Meaning with having respect for your patients/customers any health related issues shouldn't be shared with anyone. So, handling a situation where a his and and wife is involved, if that wife isn't present in the room with her husband if she calls to the office wanting to know test results from her husband blood work I can not tell her anything. If I tell the wife that will violate the HIPAA law. To handle this situation professionally I will say ma'am I'm sorry but it's against the board of certification to discuss any health related issues regarding a patient even though he's your husband. I'm so sorry have a great day.