Quote:
Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
As for your questions, I think that the hosptials are stating that it's impossible in some of these cases to remove the identifying information, because the cases are so unique. I don't see a conflict if the identifying information is removed, but I'd be very wary of exposing myself to a complaint from the patient if I disclosed too much information.
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Yeah, there's a write-up in some medical journal of treatment someone I know got, and based on the timing, hospital, age, and severity of what was wrong, I know exactly who they are talking about, and I bet almost anyone in our extended group of acquaintences would say "whoa, that's X!" if they saw it, even now, years later.
Sadly, I don't recall the exact HIPAA privacy requirements, but if you remove the listed identifying information is it automatically considered not individually identifiable? Or is there just a presumption? I can't remember. I'm talking HIPAA the federal law, not state privacy stuff.
