Puester wrote:

> patrice wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Admittedly, I think sometimes HIPAA goes way overboard. Having said
>> that, and agreeing completely with Goomba's post, it's nice to have a
>> backup when a well meaning relative or friend calls asking for a
>> patient's condition, when it may or may not be any of their business,
>> and being able to said "due to new regulations, we're not able to give
>> out any more information". It keeps health care workers from getting
>> in the middle of really sticky situations. I really like the idea of
>> not being able to mention much at all about how a person is doing
>> without their permission.
>> Perhaps you can ask your dad to put you on a list of folks that the
>> doctor etc., is/are allowed to discuss his condition with?
>>
>
>
> Providing Dad actually wants her to know. He may be one of those
> private old guys who wants to fade away without a lot of emotion.
Agreed.
>
> In the long run it won't make a difference who knows about his
> condition but if he has a desire for privacy, it's worth helping
> him to protect his dignity.
I completely agree with you.
>
> I agree that if I were in Jill's position, I would want to visit as
> often as possible this year., but I recommend that to anyone with aging
> parents.
>
> I lost both parents when I was 28 and I still miss them terribly. They
> would have been wonderful grandparents for my kids.
>
> gloria p
>
Gloria -

Guess what I should've just come out and said was - that, IMHO, the
ultimate decision of whether or not to share health information should
be left up to the patient.
It's up to her dad - or any individual coherent enough to make decisions
regarding their own health care - whether or not they want family
members to know exactly what's going on with their condition.

patrice