In the dynamic and critical world of healthcare, nurses play a vital role in providing compassionate care to patients while upholding the principles of ethics and patient confidentiality. However, there are instances where healthcare professionals, including nurses, may find themselves facing legal challenges due to lapses in adhering to the stringent regulations governing patient privacy and data protection. In situations like this, always consult a nurse attorney for help. A nurse attorney is a legal professional with an in-depth understanding of both healthcare practices and the intricacies of the legal system. Through their unique combination of nursing knowledge and legal expertise, a nurse attorney can provide invaluable assistance to all parties involved in cases of alleged medical misconduct, patient privacy breaches, and violations of healthcare regulations.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an RN at a medical facility in Lubbock, Texas, and had been in that position for ten (10) months.
On or about February 18, 2021, while employed as an RN at a medical facility in Lubbock, Texas, RN accessed the medical record of a patient approximately five (5) times without authorization. RN’s conduct exposed the patient unnecessarily to risk of harm from use, accessing or disclosure of their confidential medical information without their written authorization and placed the facility in violation of HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
In response to the above incident, RN states she has never accessed the medical records of a patient without authorization. RN states she only accessed the record at the request of the Patient’s emergency contact to determine if she had contact with the patient or if she was part of the plan of care.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A)&(1)(E) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(C).
The evidence against the RN was strong. At the same time, she was not able to properly defend her case in court. As a result, her nursing license was placed under disciplinary action.
Avoid the similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right defense attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.