Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Wow. Good questions. Sharon McCoy , M.D. Renaissance Family Medicine The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare www.SharonMD.com Phone Fax (949) 281-2197 If you received this message in error, please notify me and then delete. EMail may not be entirely confidential. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kris Oaks Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 4:46 PM To: practiceimprovement1 Subject: HIPPA and coroner I got a call from the police yesterday saying one of my patients was found dead at his residence, they wanted info since he was 37 and they were not sure if they should treat it as a homicide or what. Now the coroner is asking for records but just left a voicemail asking me to fax the records. So does anyone know how I handle this. There is very personal info in there. I'm not sure what to do. I also don't know if it would be shared with his parents or if it matters... Kris Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 He's dead, the coroner can get them by law if he needs them. If there is stuff, no matter how bad, that will give understanding it will give closure to everyone, so send them ________________________________ From: on behalf of Kris Oaks Sent: Tue 9/9/2008 5:46 PM To: practiceimprovement1 Subject: HIPPA and coroner I got a call from the police yesterday saying one of my patients was found dead at his residence, they wanted info since he was 37 and they were not sure if they should treat it as a homicide or what. Now the coroner is asking for records but just left a voicemail asking me to fax the records. So does anyone know how I handle this. There is very personal info in there. I'm not sure what to do. I also don't know if it would be shared with his parents or if it matters... Kris Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Check with a lawyer. You may need patient's estate to give OK. Or you may need a court ordered release if, for example, there is something to suggest homicide and a full investigation is required.Rules for that may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, or state to state ... but, really, I don't know.Please let us know what you find out.TimOn Tue, September 9, 2008 7:49 pm EDT, Sharon McCoy , M.D. wrote: Wow. Good questions. Sharon McCoy , M.D.Renaissance Family MedicineTheRebirth of Personal Healthcarewww.SharonMD.com Phone (949) 387-5504 Fax (949)281-2197 If you received this message in error, please notify me and thendelete. EMail may not be entirely confidential. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kris OaksSent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 4:46 PMTo: practiceimprovement1 Subject: HIPPA and coroner I got a call from the police yesterday saying one of my patients was found dead at his residence, they wanted info since he was 37 and they were not sure if they should treat it as a homicide or what. Now the coroner is asking for records but just left a voicemail asking me to fax the records. So does anyone know how I handle this. There is very personal info in there. I'm not sure what to do. I also don't know if it would be shared with his parents or if it matters... KrisSent from my iPhone ---------------------------------------- Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser.com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.---------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Kris,I found this info from the Ohio University website:http://www.ouwb.ohiou.edu/hipaa/ohic-oucom/txt_frame.htmWhen can protected health information (PHI) be disclosed without patient authorization (other than for treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO)?Information can be disclosed without patient authorization to public health authorities and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). It may also be released to law enforcement officials, the medical examiner or coroner after someone has died, and other instances as noted in your Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) and as authorized by state or federal law. This is referred to as a “non-authorized” disclosure.Your Notice of Privacy Practices probably already says something about this. Mine does. SetoSouth Pasadena, CAI got a call from the police yesterday saying one of my patients was found dead at his residence, they wanted info since he was 37 and they were not sure if they should treat it as a homicide or what. Now the coroner is asking for records but just left a voicemail asking me to fax the records. So does anyone know how I handle this. There is very personal info in there. I'm not sure what to do. I also don't know if it would be shared with his parents or if it matters... KrisSent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I have the exact same thing happen last week, but with some official looking documents attached. Patient has long documented history of noncompliant severe Hypertension and strokes. I like that they are vigilant, but not unexpected under the circumstances SM So really > > He's dead, the coroner can get them by law if he needs them. If there is stuff, no matter how bad, that will give understanding it will give closure to everyone, so send them > > ________________________________ > > From: on behalf of Kris Oaks > Sent: Tue 9/9/2008 5:46 PM > To: practiceimprovement1 > Subject: HIPPA and coroner > > > > I got a call from the police yesterday saying one of my patients was > found dead at his residence, they wanted info since he was 37 and they > were not sure if they should treat it as a homicide or what. Now the > coroner is asking for records but just left a voicemail asking me to > fax the records. So does anyone know how I handle this. There is very > personal info in there. I'm not sure what to do. I also don't know if > it would be shared with his parents or if it matters... Kris > Sent from my iPhone > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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