Protecting patient privacy and confidentiality is a fundamental duty for healthcare professionals, and maintaining the security of sensitive health information is of paramount importance in healthcare settings. However, instances of unauthorized disclosure of protected health information can give rise to serious concerns about a nurse’s adherence to ethical and legal responsibilities. Such actions not only breach patient trust but also violate privacy regulations and could lead to potential legal consequences for the nurse and the facility. To navigate these complex legal matters and safeguard the RN’s rights, seeking the support of a nurse defense attorney can be instrumental in ensuring a fair evaluation of the situation and advocating for the RN’s best interests throughout the process.
At the time of the incident, he was employed as an RN at a healthcare facility in Mesquite, Texas, and had been in that position for five (5) months.
On or about June 3, 2021, while employed as an RN at a healthcare facility in Mesquite, Texas, RN posted protected health information, including dates of services and treatments, regarding multiple patients to a social media webpage, without authorization from the patients, patients’ family and/or responsible party. RN’s conduct exposed the patients unnecessarily to a risk of harm from disclosure of their confidential medical information without their written authorization and constitutes a violation of HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Regarding the above incident, the RN did not specifically respond to the allegation but provided a letter outlining safety concerns that the RN brought to the attention of facility management. The letter contains the condition, treatment, and dates of service for multiple patients.
Texas Board of Nursing Disciplinary Action
The actions described above constitute grounds for disciplinary action as outlined in the Texas Occupations Code. Following the board’s investigation, he was deemed responsible for his actions. The evidence against the RN was strong. He was unable to adequately represent himself in court because he did not seek assistance from a Texas Nurse Defense Attorney. As a result, his nursing license was placed under disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).
Seek Assistance from a Texas Nursing Defense Lawyer
Take steps to prevent a similar situation from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right defense attorney when a complaint is filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). For a private consultation regarding any allegations from the board, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented numerous nurse cases for RNs and LVNs since 2006. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.