Data privacy in electronic health records (EHR)

Since the discussion about medical record privacy spiraled out of control in the abortion thread, I figured I’d start this separate topic to move those posts here so we don't clutter the other one. 🙂

melloworca6

boldridge92 said:I have a question—if you go to public hospitals like Mayo Clinic, does everything get logged in your patient file?! It crossed my mind because you need a referral and Medicare coverage even if you're paying out of pocket. It wouldn't be great if every doctor you visit could just pull up something like that in the system.😲 In private clinics, that shouldn't be an issue, right? If anyone knows, please let me know ASAP.

I'm not trying to hijack the conversation, especially since people are getting pretty vocal about medical records here. But I do want to point something out.

It makes sense for a doctor to know that info for your own good, and honestly, it's smart to be upfront during your medical history. Every time a gynecologist opens a file, they ask these questions because they actually matter. Researchers look at links between miscarriages and certain diseases, so knowing if a pregnancy was the first or the fourth is vital.

Think about it: if a hematologist asks you for professional reasons, "Have you ever had a miscarriage?"—and they need to know because a specific blood disorder only shows up during a first pregnancy—what happens if you say, "No, why do you care?"

If a doctor finds out, it's not like they're just snooping. 🤷

Maria Booth96 said:I don't mean to meddle in this thread—it’s easy for things to get heated here—but I do want to point something out.

Then why jump in at all?

It’s only natural for a doctor to know that information for their own good, so it’s smart to be honest during an intake. Every time a gynecological file is opened, those kinds of questions come up—they aren't irrelevant.

It isn't "natural." The only thing that's natural is treating the consequences, if there are any. But a medical abortion typically leaves no lasting impact on healthy women. If issues do arise later, you can address them then. Why volunteer the info upfront?🤷 There are already enough moralists in this country without forcing women to deal with judgmental doctors on top of everything else.🙄 What gets recorded in files usually refers to miscarriages, which are pathological conditions. Intentional abortions aren't a disease and shouldn't be treated as one.

Scientists are looking into links between miscarriages and certain diseases, so obviously, they need to know if a pregnancy was the first or the fourth.

Why should a patient care about someone else's scientific study on miscarriage?😕 If someone is actually conducting research involving a patient's history, it would be standard practice to tell them—that’s basically the ethical code for research.

What do you think happens when a hematologist asks for professional reasons, "Have you ever had a miscarriage?"—because a blood disorder might only show up during a first pregnancy—and you just say, "No, why does it matter to you?"

Diseases can surface during any pregnancy, whether there’s a miscarriage or not. Miscarriages, generally speaking, aren't the cause of illness in healthy women.

Well, doctors aren't just anyone. 🤷

Depends on the doctor. And unfortunately, you can find a moralist at every turn, even in medicine.🙄

And why shouldn't an abortion—whether planned or not—be noted in a medical record? 😕 Why would anyone bother telling a new OBGYN about previous births at all then?

There’s clearly a reason why doctors ask for this info and log it. Anything written in a file that a healthcare worker sees (whether it's a doctor or a nurse) is strictly confidential. If they leak it, they can get sued and lose their medical license.

So, I honestly don't see any reason why these things wouldn't be recorded in a patient's history.

@Maria Booth96/">@@Maria Booth96, I’m with you on this one.

@NortWind, please—try not to act as her personal defense attorney; just because you feel you're always right doesn't mean you are.

First off, there are actual studies out there—and I suspect even you are aware of the most prominent ones regarding the link between abortion and breast cancer risk (specifically, a significantly higher probability)—not to mention all the other research available.
Secondly, any decent gynecologist or oncologist is going to ask about your pregnancy history, whether you've had miscarriages, or if you've had an abortion. Period. For a competent, thorough, and responsible physician, that information is vital—even if the patient feels otherwise.
Now, whether they choose to be judgmental about it... well, that’s a separate issue entirely.

Actually, it might be "better" to just show up for some future pelvic surgery or whatever and stay silent about the abortion. Then, when things don't go perfectly, they can turn around and blame the doctor for everything.
My mother recently underwent surgery, and it was strictly the surgeon's duty to ask certain questions, including those regarding abortion history.

It seems my question has triggered quite the avalanche. My intention wasn't to suggest that there’s no paper trail or that information will be withheld from anyone moving forward. Rather, my concern stems from the reality of living in a country where any individual with access to a system like Medicare can stumble upon sensitive data that doesn't even pertain to them. It is one thing to answer specific questions, but it is quite another to navigate our sudden shift toward becoming a hyper-moralistic society. In this climate, people are all too eager to weaponize information, and unfortunately, the patient's right to privacy is often the first casualty of such moral crusades.
My apologies if the inquiry felt out of place, but I truly do need some clarity here.

Your question isn't out of line. 🙂 It all goes into your medical record, and not just anyone can go poking around in there. It’s strictly your doctor and their nurse. If they let anything slip, they're going to get absolutely hammered for it.

I bet you're feeling uneasy about this whole digital transition, but that data is protected. My take? Unless there's some extreme emergency, other doctors won't even be able to see it without your primary physician giving the green light.

boldridge92 said:My real concern—given the current state of affairs in this country—is that once everything is uploaded into the Medicare electronic system, anyone with network access could potentially stumble upon that data, even if it has nothing to do with them. It’s one thing to answer a set of questions, but it's quite another to deal with the fact that we've suddenly become such a judgmental society; people will find any excuse to weaponize information, and I fear the patient's right to privacy is what ultimately gets sacrificed in the process.
apologies if my question came off as misplaced, but I really do need some clarity

It wasn't misplaced at all, don't worry 🙂. I understand exactly where you're coming from regarding those concerns, though I suspect they'll eventually come up with some intelligent workarounds. I'm not entirely sure which stage of development this project is currently in or what the final version will actually look like, but I assume they will—hopefully—address the more sensitive issues surrounding patient privacy.

Sophia Wells72 said:@Maria Booth96, I’m with you on that—signed, sealed, delivered.

@NortWind, stop playing her defense attorney—it’s not like you're always right, anyway.

Look, I’m far from being some legal expert—and trust me, I'm definitely not always right—but I’m just sharing my take here, much like everyone else on this board.

First off—there are actual studies out there. And I’m pretty sure you’re already aware of the big ones linking abortion to breast cancer risks—not to mention all the others.
Second off—every gynecologist and oncologist is going to grill you about whether you’ve given birth, had a miscarriage, or an abortion. Amen. It's vital info for any decent, thorough, and responsible doctor—even if it feels like a lot for the patient.
And whether they'll start preaching about morality—well, that’s not really what we're here to debate.

That previous post felt a little too preachy for my taste—which is why I’m chiming in, though honestly, I usually wouldn't bother.

When it comes to research and all that "correlation" talk—it’s still just probabilities, not actual cause and effect. Besides, every woman decides her own moves, including what she shares or keeps to herself based on her own life and circumstances. I'm just saying she isn't obligated to say a word if she doesn't want to—there aren't any laws forcing her hand—but if she wants to talk, that's her call.

It’d be even better if they showed up for some future surgery down there—and kept their mouth shut about the abortion. Then, of course, they’ll turn around and blame the doctor when things inevitably go sideways.
My mom recently had surgery—standard stuff—but apparently, it was the surgeon's job to ask her all sorts of questions, including things about whether she’d ever had an abortion.

Look, that's just my take on things—it’s pretty simple. People can talk about health risks when they actually have them, you know? Why go ahead and make a thing out of it before there's even an issue?😕 At the end of the day, nobody can actually guarantee anything when it comes to your health—regardless of whether they’re being upfront or keeping you in the dark.

boldridge92 said:Looks like my question started a bit of a landslide—wasn't trying to imply there's zero evidence or that things will be hidden in the future. It’s just that fear is real, given how things work here; anyone with access to the Medicare database could potentially stumble upon your data, even if it has nothing to do with them. Answering the technical questions is one thing, but since we've suddenly become such a "moral" society, people end up facing all sorts of judgment from self-righteous types—it's a massive blow to a patient's right to privacy
. My apologies if the question felt out of place, I just really need an answer

I think that’s spot on—there’s basically no guarantee that someone who shouldn't be looking won't get their hands on that data, or worse, someone with bad intentions. That’s why I laid everything out above. It would be a completely different story if we were living in, say, Sweden.

Then there's those other studies out there—you know, the ones that claim there's no actual link between miscarriage and an increased risk of breast cancer.

melloworca6 said:Your question isn't out of line at all. 🙂 Everything gets logged in your medical file, but it’s not like everyone can just browse through it. Only your doctor and their nurse have access. And if they ever leak your info? They are absolutely screwed.

I get why you're nervous about everything going digital now, but those records are protected. Honestly, unless there's some crazy emergency, other doctors aren't even gonna see your stuff without your primary doc giving the green light.

I'm not totally sure how these electronic health records work, but get this—about a year ago I saw a hematologist, and she was able to pull up my iron test results from six months prior just by using my Social Security number. Just a heads up, though: I wasn't even an official patient of hers! I just ended up seeing her because of circumstances, while my actual files are kept by a different clinic.

Hold on, did you actually go see a hematologist at the clinic or what? 😕

Look, if you're showing up for a follow-up with a hematologist, obviously they’re going to look at your outpatient records—including your previous test results—even if they aren't your primary specialist. And even if they do have access to your chart, so what? It's not like they're allowed to go around gossiping about what's written in there.

I don't get why everyone is so paranoid. Are you actually scared of another doctor reading your medical file? 🤷 Even if he reads it, he can't just blab about it to anyone, so I really don't see the big deal. If private info from your chart leaks out, people lose their jobs. Seriously. For example, once you're admitted to the hospital, a nurse on the floor isn't supposed to discuss your health status with anyone; the only person authorized to do that is the doctor. The only reason nurses even talk to patients at all is to keep them calm, which is technically overstepping their bounds.

I've personally known cases where people had terminal tumors and were dying, yet their doctors weren't even allowed to tell their own families or kids because the patients explicitly forbade it.

And yeah, I know we're totally off-topic here, but I see some people are genuinely terrified that someone will find out they had an abortion. Let me stop you right there: it's really not that easy to just stumble upon someone else's private medical information.

melloworca6 said:Wait, hold up—did you actually go see a hematologist at the clinic or what? 😕

Duh, obviously! If you're seeing a hematologist for a follow-up, they're gonna look at your outpatient records and previous labs—it’s just how it works, even if they aren't your regular doctor. And honestly, even if they *do* have access to your chart, who cares? It's all confidential anyway. They can't go around gossiping about your medical history!
.

That test had zero to do with my hematologist appointment! I just went ahead and got it done because I was feeling like crap and already knew my iron levels were tanking.
Doesn't bother me one bit! Seriously. I was just sharing my own experience, you know? I have zero clue how those credit cards actually work.
Look, I know I'm totally off base and I'm done with that topic—it was just an example, okay? But about the whole thing with whether an abortion shows up on your medical records or if doctors keep quiet... honestly, you never know what kind of person you're dealing with these days. You meet all sorts. And if you're living in a small town, it’s totally normal to be worried about people finding out. It's just how it is.

Look, doctors don't just ask if it was an abortion or a miscarriage because they're being nosy. They need that data for medical reasons.

If someone wants to stay silent because they’re too ashamed to tell their doctor, fine—that's their choice. But they need to realize that withholding information can actually be dangerous. You might end up putting your own life at risk by not giving your physician the full picture.

And I'll say it again: I don't know how things work in small towns, but a doctor is STRICTLY forbidden from gossiping about patients. If they start blabbing private details to other people, they should be kicked out of the American Medical Association immediately.

melloworca6 said:Look, doctors don't just ask about abortions or miscarriages for fun—they need that info for medical reasons.

If someone wants to hide it because they're too embarrassed to tell their doctor, fine, whatever, that's on them. But that person needs to realize they might actually be putting their own life at risk if they aren't giving the doc the full story.

And again, I have no clue how small towns work, but a doctor CANNOT go around blabbing someone's business to others. If they do that, they should get kicked out of the medical profession immediately.

I know they aren't just asking for no reason. If I had a miscarriage, I’d definitely tell them. Even if I chose to have an abortion, I'd say it. Honestly, I don't think I'd ever go that route, but hey, you never know.
They aren't supposed to, but people break those rules all the time.
Can an OBGYN actually refuse to deliver a woman? Because the doctor who first took me in at the hospital refused to deliver me, and honestly, everyone else on the floor did too. In the end, the department head stepped up and delivered me—he basically sacrificed his day off, and I'm so grateful to him for that. Thank god there weren't any complications that the other doctors were freaking out about. Anyway, I'm rambling. Done.

Look, ladies, just a heads-up. If you happen to catch wind of someone’s private medical records leaking out, report it immediately. Someone is going to get called out for that.

I'm sure hospitals and clinics deal with all kinds of chaos, but your medical data isn't supposed to be public property. If that info leaks, they lose their license. Period. Honestly, I can't wrap my head around it—what kind of idiot would risk their entire career, after grinding through seven or eight years of school and specialized training, just to gossip about some random guy's health or tell people what blood type an unnamed person has? 🤷

melloworca6 said:Just a heads-up, ladies—if you happen to notice any of your private medical records leaking out somewhere, report it immediately. Someone is definitely going to get called out for that.

I'm sure hospitals and clinics have all sorts of things going on behind closed doors—but patient records aren't exactly meant to be public property. Honestly, you’d lose your medical license over that. It makes me wonder which idiot would actually risk a career they spent seven or eight years studying and specializing for just to leak some info about an unnamed person having AB blood type. 🤷

😲Do you know anyone in the States who actually lost their license because they leaked patient privacy info?😕 I have to say—I haven’t heard of anything like that happening in this country. Around here, people don't lose their medical licenses for stuff like that—not even when things get significantly worse. We've had cases where people actually died, or mothers lost their lives during childbirth, or kids were born with severe disabilities because of doctor errors... and yet, no physician has lost their license over it. So, losing one just for "misreporting" a medical file seems a bit much.🙄 Where do you live?😲

The reality is that life in small towns can be absolutely brutal, and since those issues don't always make the headlines in major hubs like New York or Chicago, people tend to overlook them. But I know firsthand how you end up being judged for it; the gossip spreads through the local clinic like wildfire—from the doctors down to the nurses. In a place where everyone knows everyone’s business, you aren't just a patient; you become some kind of social pariah. I've heard far too many stories that prove this is a heartbreakingly accurate description of life in rural America...

placidorca16 said:😲Do you actually know anyone in America who lost their medical license just for leaking patient secrets?😕 Honestly, I haven’t heard of that happening here. In this country, people don't lose their licenses for stuff like that. We've had cases where people died, women died during childbirth, or kids were born with severe disabilities because of doctor errors—and still, no doctor lost their license. So yeah, losing one over "just" gossiping about a medical file? Unlikely.🙄 Where on earth do you live?😲

Clearly on Mars. 😲

Certain professions have strict privacy laws, and medicine is one of them. Just like a banker could get fired for leaking someone's account details, a doctor can lose their job (yes, believe it or not 😲) if they leak info from a patient's chart. But obviously, someone has to actually report them for it.

As for what happens during surgeries or births in hospitals? That’s a completely different conversation. And sure, some doctors *do* lose their licenses for being incompetent, but that only happens if they get sued. Most patients or families don't bother suing, or they just settle with the hospital for a payout and move on, letting the doctor keep working.

Besides, I want to know: what's your advice to these girls who had abortions? Should they just stay silent to their OBGYN so nothing ends up in their permanent record? 😕

boldridge92 said:The reality is, things are way worse in small towns. In big cities like NYC or Chicago, this stuff stays under the radar, but in a small community, you can't escape it. People judge you. It starts with the doctors and moves to the nurses—everyone knows everyone's business in a place like that. You end up being treated like an outcast just because of the gossip. I've heard so many stories like this. It’s unbelievable, but unfortunately, it's the truth....

Has anyone actually gone to the medical board to report this kind of thing? 😕We all know how leaks happen. Why do you think any of this would go unpunished if it actually got out?