Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Iowa

HIPAA violation/lawsuit??

I have recently found out that i was pregnant and had my first prenatal exam with my family doctor. A few days later my boyfriend tells me that his mom came home from work and asked him if i was pregnant because a girl she works with told her that I was. I don't even know this girl, and my boyfriend and I have not told a single person about it yet, so this girl could have only found out from someone at the doctor's office or the pharmacy, which both fall under the HIPAA laws. I'm wondering now if I have any right to file a complaint and possibly a lawsuit against either place or the girl herself. We had not decided if we were going to continue with the pregnancy since it was unplanned and we're not really in a position to have a baby now for many reasons, but now I feel obligated to continue with it or be labeled in my small town as an abortionist...which is why we specifically didn't tell ANYONE about the pregnancy to begin with. Again, just wondering what legal action I have here as far as a HIPAA complaint, and possibly a defamation of character or slander or other civil lawsuit with a HIPAA violation basis. I couldn't find a whole lot of info on it on the web anywhere, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Asked on 11/14/07, 2:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

Re: HIPAA violation/lawsuit??

There's no private right of action under HIPAA. As far as defamation or slander, what about this story is not the truth? Who would you sue, since you don't even know who spread the story?

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Answered on 11/14/07, 9:47 am


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