Over on Simple Justice, criminal defense attorney Scott Greenfield discusses a news story that is an eye-opener of sorts. It has do with how the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has tried to capitalize on our tendency to not really read HIPAA release authorizations we are asked to sign at a doctor’s office. Read the following carefully:
It’s been years since I’ve blogged about “tin stars on doctors,” but I was glad to read that no doctors seem to have actually used the forms or submitted such releases to the county.
As an attorney, Scott’s focus is understandably on the Fourth Amendment end-run that such forms attempt to accomplish. As a privacy advocate, I share his concerns, but as a healthcare professional, I am even more appalled when law enforcement tries to erode patient confidentiality and privacy. Kudos to the Herald Tribune for bringing this matter to the public’s attention and to Scott for amplifying the message.