Question: Are there any lawyers out there?? I am trying to find one who will file a suit against a doctor's office who let their nurse give information over the phone about:my sleep study which is a "Medical procedure" and it got me fired from my job and cost me my benefits,my treatments for sleep apnea,lupus &fibromyalgia.And I also lost my side jobs and my wedding plans.I am trying to get unemployment until I find another job and I am flat broke until they deny/approve it which I know the employer will fight it! SO now the doc got away w/not only violating the HIPPA ACT but also violated my own written requests on the HIIPPA Act that I added stating that NOBODY except my fiance' get information re:my info!!So please any help would be great!!The fla bar referal is NO HELP!! Thank you!!

Answer: Why and to whom did the dr.'s office give the information?  Drs. are allowed to disclose certaiin information without your consent under HIPAA in various situations.  It sounds like the information was given to your employer.  If you had insurance through your employer, and they needed certain info in order to process a payment or obtain insurance benefits, the dr. may have been allowed to give out the info under HIPAA without your consent.  HIPAA does not prevent the disclosure of information, but limits it to the "minimum necessary" to accomplish the reason for disclosure.  Based on what you typed, you may not have a case against the dr's office.  Additionally, HIPAA does not allow a patient the right to file a suit against the dr, employer, or insurance company.  Only the federal government, through the Office of Civil Rights has the ability to bring a suit under HIPAA.  You can have them check out your case by filing a complaint with the OCR in Washington.
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