Chapter 8
1. Is the term privacy rule accurate in describing the HIPAA legislation? Why or Why not? The privacy
rule term has been accurately described in the legislation. There are unfortunate incidents that
do occur and people feel that their medical records should be only present in the hands of
trusted professionals. This legislation will give a relief to people knowing that their data is in the
hands of good people. The system is still working towards achieving this to the maximum extent.
2. Is it ethical for covered entities to be excused from getting patient permission to use their
private information for routine purposes? Why or Why not? The patients have disclosed some
data as private and the others has public. So, it is not ethical to utilize any data of patients
without their prior permission even if it is a routine process. If it is utilized without prior
permission it defats the actual purpose of the legislation.
3. Do you think the HIPAA legislation achieves its objective of securing patient privacy? The HIPAA
has given six hundred thousand numbers of covered entities and regulatory permission to utilize
the health-related info of patients without their consent. By doing so it has failed to achieve the
notion of patient privacy.
4. How could an issue of patient privacy be handled in a more ethical manner? A patient should
be in control about who sees their health info. This will give some control over those records.
This might give rise to contradictions with the medical policy but, it is only fair for the patients to
choose who sees their health info. When trusted parties see the info it gives a sense relief to the
patient. This also gives satisfaction to both policy holders and providers.