I have a question re. confidentiality. A secretary was unable to read the physician's order. Instead of calling the doctor, she asked another doctor, who was not involved with this patient's care, to read for her. the RN informed the secretary that was a breach of confidentiality, the secretary turned to the Director of Nursing and asked her if she was breaking confidentiality. The Director of Nursing replied that she never heard of it. What is your opinion?

Answer from our expert:

It is a breach of confidentiality. The other physician was not involved in the case. She should have called the Doctor who wrote the order. In fact, if the other doctor mis-read it she has no legal standing. It would be the nurse's error. A better decision (if the doctor was unavailable) would have been to ask her nurse administrator who she reports to and is responsible for the day to day management. She violated HIPAA as well as the ethical principle of confidentiality.