Are confidentiality laws ever abused by medical professionals?

Question

For example : Behind closed doors , or away from cameras , do pharmacy technicians/staff ever discuss medical information about patients who drop off and pick up their prescriptions?

Or even outside of work , two pharmacy technicians who are friends , who text each other or decide to go out for a couple of drinks after work . "You know that chick with the blond butt-length hair , she wears glasses , Bridget Jones ???? .... She takes so & so for genital warts"

Or a doctor who has practiced for many years at a reputable heart hospital , do these professionals ever go home and share patient information with their spouse and kids ..... ? even though this is all illegal....

Answer 1

Yes! The Confidentiality Law is to protect the Patient. You see your Doctor say with a STD, he prescribes the drugs and no one knows, except the Doctor. However if for example, you see a Doctor because you are in pain and he prescribes drugs, which you fill, then the following day see another Doctor, who also prescribes drugs, the Pharmacist might get suspicious. The Pharmacist is within right to telephone one or both Doctors, to state he/she has got two prescription for the same drug. Likewise, if the Doctor thinks the Patient is at risk, they have a legal right to inform others about them, Psychiatrists, Health Care People and so on, just in case the Patient takes an over dose, or kills another person.

As for discussions, they will take place but no names mentioned. I doubt the wife. kids, or husband, kids would be told anything, as it is work and who wants to talk about work?

Pharmacists have billions of prescriptions everyday, so I doubt they are really going to remember what Patient has what problem. They are only interested in making sure they get the prescription correct and do not allow people to scam them. Best of Luck