I can't believe this happened...(LONG)

[nkjzmom]

I am a client of LA Weight Loss....well, now that I'm pregnant I had to tell them so that they could put me on medical leave from the program. So they put that in my folder...marked it confidential....all that.

Today, my mom calls me and says "Is there something you want to tell me?" (like I'm a teenager). So I get the story out of her that my sister went in today for weigh-in (she's a client also) and the manager blurts out something about me being pregnant. NO ONE in my family knew yet!!!!!!!!!! We just found out last week and weren't telling anyone yet.

Now my sister won't talk to me (she's been trying to get pregnant for 4 years)....my mom is stressed because of her being upset...AND is worried because I only have one kidney. This is why I didn't want to tell everyone yet. I am so mad.....is this a breach of confidentiality??? I am waiting for the manager to call me back.

I am already shocked and surprised about this pregnancy...it's taken me a week just to let it sink in. I knew it would be a rough time....but now it's a huge mess and I'm an even bigger mess. I feel so guilty about this being our 5th child and my sister having none yet. I just can't believe this. I wanted this to be happy...now it's just really, really sad.

 

[Wagamama]

well, first of all...congrats!!

second of all...i think thats a MAJOR breach of confidentiality. they should not under any circumstances have blurted anything out to anyone.

 

[pnelson]

Well, two issues here. I do think you need to address this manner with the manager-I would be very furious!

As for your sister, I have dealt with infertility and watched friends and my own sister get pregnant over the years. She's just going to have to be a big girl and accept the realities of the situation-as difficult as it is. Whatever you do, don't apologize for being pregnant. It's a blessing and should be looked on as such.

 

[mrsv98]

In their defense, unless you said something about not telling anyone for a while, I can see the Counselor saying something about how happy the family must be, etc etc. Maybe not professinal, but not malicious either. Perhaps you should call the manager and say how uphappy you were this happened because of underlying issues and that the counselors should be more circumspect in the future.


As much as you feel badly for you sister, try and be happy for you! Congratulations and {{HUGS}}}

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was thinking the same thing too. pnelson.

 

[shelle94]

Wow. I work in a hospital and would get fired if I did that. Confidentiality is very important. I would speak to whoever is over the manager. She might have had good intentions, but she should know better than that. If she can't keep her mouth shut then she should not be working in that type of job.

 

[FOJMO]

Actually, there's a law that they have violated --

HIPAA -- What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act.

The protection of an individual’s confidential health information has become important in today’s society. To address this concern, the federal government has passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

This law sets standards of security for the transmission and storage of health care information to ensure confidentiality. It establishes privacy standards to define appropriate and inappropriate disclosures of individually identifiable health information. It also explains how patient rights are to be protected.

This is BIG right now and if you've gone to your pharmacy, dentist, doctor, etc. you have had to sign a permission paper that states who they may share medical info with. If you haven't filled this out, or if you didn't give them permission, they are not lawfully supposed to discuss ANY information about you.

And I would think this is true for a Weight Loss program, as it is health-related.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I'd be raising a huge stink with the weight loss clinic - your information was confidential, and should have been treated as such.

At the time of my first pregnancy, I was playing on the base softball team, and one of my teammates worked in the OB clinic. After my pregnancy test, I was all of sudden not playing as much, my coach was all "How do you feel?", "You look tired", etc.

I had told no one but my husband, and I wanted it kept that way for awhile. But my teammate took it upon herself to pass my confidential information on to the team coach.

Bad, bad career move - I would definitely be all over the clinic staff about this.

 

[Steve H.]

FOMJO's right -- this is not just a little Oops on their part, but a violation of law. Yes, it was likely an innocent slip-up, but it's their jobs to keep health-related info confidential.

 

[damo]

I feel sorry that your sister is having problems conceiving but you should never feel guilty about having a baby. What a wonderful event, you should be thrilled, not feeling badly about how others feel. Your sister's infertility is not your fault and you are not rubbing her nose in the fact that you are pregnant. Congratulations!

 

[nkjzmom]

Thanks for the great opinions....when I spoke to them yesterday I explicitly told them NOT to tell my sister...that we weren't telling anyone yet. She supposedly wrote it in my folder and put it in the medical leave drawer...she told the other employee there at the time, who in turn this morning told the manager....who obviously has the BIG mouth. Can I take any action?

As far as my guilt complex goes...it's been with me my whole life and probably won't be going away for a long time. I'm just extremely disappointed in how this is turning out.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I would definitely look into whether HIPPA covers this particular instance. If your insurance company doesn't cover this type of service, it may not apply. While what they did was wrong, it may not be in violation of the law. Working in a doctor's office, clinic or hospital is entirely different than working at Weight Watchers and other weight loss places where you do not see any type of medical personnel. If they did not give you a HIPPA information brochure or have you sign that you received such information, they might not fall under that law.

 

[Jeafl]

First of all, congratulations! Please don't feel guilty about such a wonderful event!

Second of all, I would NOT let that weight loss center get away with this. The employees should not be gossiping amongst themselves about any client there to begin with. Can you imagine if someone came in with extremely private health information, such as an AIDS diagnosis? At this point, it's kind of late for the manager to do anything for you. I would contact the corporate office and let them know of this breach of confidentiality.

I'm sorry this has caused such a problem with your family

 

[jipsy]

If it is really that big a deal to you, call an attorney.

I agree with pnelson.

 

[bananiem]

I'd be mad as can be too. But contacting a lawyer? What's that going to do? Let's say they give you money. Is that going to make your Mom or sister OK with the way they found out?
The way I look at it is WW failed BIG TIME! But the words were spoken and they can't be erased from memories. You can't make this situation disapppear by contacting a lawyer. Just sitting down with your family and discussing it would be better. JMHO.
I'd really let the manager know how disappointed you are. Let them know about the Privacy Act. Then switch to another WW place and make sure you don't have to pay another start up fee.

 

[nkjzmom]

My husband just returned from the office. He spoke with the manager and she has just called me. She was in tears, apologizing about how she would never hurt me or my family like this on purpose. Over the last 8 months we've all become more like friends than counselors/clients. She had no idea that no one else knew...the girl who took my information down did not share the fact that we didn't want anyone to know with the other counselors.

So, the manager is changing how they collect information. Everything will go solely through her and will only be told on a need to know basis. I don't know how much that will help. She is also going to provide the program to me for free after the baby is born and I am done nursing. I am too soft.....I'm willing to let it go now. The damage is done....I'm done with it for now. But if DH has his way, he'd see the whole office replaced with new people.

 

[holycow]

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))


yes, this is definately a breach of confidentiality! I would complain!

good luck

Holycow

 

[shelle94]

I don't think you should have to specify not to tell anyone. They should just know not to. FOJMO is right about the HIPAA thing. It is very big now. I was told in an inservice that anyone who knowingly violates the HIPAA laws can be fined or even serve jail time. I don't know if WW has to follow HIPAA at all, but even if they don't they should still have some sort of confidentiality policy.

 

[Talking Hands]

Confidentiality is a basic right of consumers when dealing with health care professionals, realtors, educators and interpreters. If I were to break confidentiality it would be all over the deaf community so fast and they would have no trust in me. It is no one's business the you are on medical leave from the program and it should not have been divulged. Period. You are being very kind in accepting the apologies and some free time after you can return.

 

[Cinders]

The way I look at it is WW failed BIG TIME!

It wasnt WW....

I am a client of LA Weight Loss

Makes a person wonder what else they have shared with clients that is none of their concern.