Illinois School Nurse Ordered to Disclose Student Health Information
Our admiration for school nurses is great. After all, they stand on the front lines of child and adolescent health, helping students manage illness, infection, and injury. They perform a critical role in public health, often sharing information with both students and local health officials.
While caring for the students, school nurses remain responsible for complying with federal and state laws about health information privacy, as well as licensing and professional conduct standards. Sometimes, a nurse’s obligation to protect a student’s health information may conflict with the orders or agenda of a supervisor or a district administrator.
The LLF National Law Firm helps nurses who have been asked to disclose student health information in an illegal, unethical, or otherwise unprofessional manner.
Your young patients need a nurse, like you, who is committed to their health and health privacy. You deserve the same. Don’t let an overzealous administrator pressure you to make illegal or unethical disclosures of student health information. Call the LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Mercer County School District Superintendent Arrested After Demanding School Nurse Compile Student Health Information
It is reported that the superintendent of the Mercer County School District in Illinois has been charged with official misconduct after he directed a school nurse to compile a list of students who had Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. The nurse was reluctant to compile and disclose the students’ protected health information.
For school nurses, a senior administrator’s request for the private health information of students creates an extremely problematic challenge. In many cases, the disclosure of a student’s medical and health-related information may be prohibited by federal laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and additional state laws. Furthermore, a nurse who discloses an individual’s medical information may violate professional licensing regulations and standards of professional conduct.
The LLF National Law Firm Can Help Protect Your License and Career
You worked extremely hard to become a nurse and serve your community. As a school nurse, you protect the children under your care and their private health information. Don’t let an administrator’s inappropriate, unethical, or illegal orders jeopardize your relationship with your students or your license.
If you are a school nurse concerned that administrators are asking you to disclose student health information or to act in violation of professional conduct standards, the LLF National Law Firm can help. Our experienced attorneys can partner with you to develop a strategy to protect yourself, your license, and your students.
The LLF National Law Firm fights for nurses and other health care professionals across the United States. Our Professional License Defense Team understands your commitment to your students and their health and well-being. When an administrator tries to undermine your relationship with your students and jeopardize their health information privacy rights, we can help you protect yourself and your students. To discuss your case, call our offices at 888-535-3686 or reach us online.