In theory, apps like Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Instagram can be a good way to stay connected with family and friends. In reality, they function as more of a popularity contest. Insider knowledge is glorified; those who are able to provide unique information will often garner lots of attention and can even end up flirting with fame.  

Medical professionals are no exception, with some doctors, nurses, and specialists garnering huge followings using their expertise to explain things to the masses. This can be very helpful — as long as it's done without disclosing any revealing details about specific patients and their medical history.  

When a patient's privacy is breached online, the consequences can be extreme. If you are a medical professional facing allegations of an online HIPAA violation, contact the Lento Law Firm today. Our Professional License Defense Team can help you assess your options. Reach us at 888-535-3686 or by filling out our online form. 

HIPAA Violations 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, most commonly called HIPAA, requires that individuals with access to a patient's medical information keep those details private unless the patient has given permission to share. With a few exceptions, all medical professionals are bound by HIPAA. 

Most HIPAA violations are very innocuous in nature. The offending health professional accidentally let something slip or figured that the information they were revealing was harmless.  

What might this look like on social media? Surely, healthcare workers aren't just indiscriminately posting patient medical records on their Instagram accounts for fun. It is normally inadvertent, like a technician posting an x-ray (because they find the injury interesting) and forgetting to remove the patient's name. It could also be a misguided attempt for online clout, such as a nurse posting about meeting an A-list celebrity when she came in for a surgical procedure.  

What Happens After You've Violated HIPAA On Social Media 

If a health professional shares a patient's private medical information, it ultimately does not matter whether it happened in person or online. The consequences will be the same in both cases, including discipline from the state's medical licensing board and the potential for both civil and criminal charges. HIPAA violators may be facing: 

• Termination. Healthcare facilities are very risk-averse. If one of their employees opens them to legal trouble by violating HIPAA, you can bet that they will be quick to sever ties (or at least administer some sort of discipline). 
• Medical license consequences. Because HIPAA is a federal law, all states take infractions seriously. If someone files a complaint against you for a social media post, you could be facing sanctions, fines, suspension, or even the revocation of your license. 
• Bruised reputation. Any HIPAA violation can cause irreparable damage to a health professional's reputation, but as the saying goes: “The internet never forgets.” Social media tends to spread wide and fast, making it tough for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to continue their careers elsewhere. 

Retain the Lento Law Firm 

If you are a medical professional who is or may soon be under investigation for an alleged HIPAA violation, contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team. We provide experienced legal counsel for healthcare professionals who hope to retain their medical licenses. For a consultation, call us today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our contact form.