What would be the best way to handle this situation?

Question

Ok so this is the deal. I go the health department to get my birth control every couple of months. Apparently there is this girl that I used to go to school with ( I graduated 06) and she has told quite a number of people that she looked through my file and that she read that I had a "treatable STD" well obviously this is not true because anyone that takes birth control will know that the health department or any other place will not facilitate you birth control if you in fact have an STD. I'm not worried about what people say . . . that is very much "whatever" but I do feel very much violated with the fact that anyone who is anyone like her can just go through my personal medical file. Everyone knows that those are private and that they are not supossed to be used for personal reason such as these to speard rumors. She is and adult the girl is 18. I guess my main question is how should I go about dealing with this? I want this to be very effective. I know that I cannot sue her for defamation or libel because my job or potential job is not at risk. I have not lost any money due to this but I know there has to be something that I can do. I know that lawyers will usually have no problem just writing a letter to almost scare the person but there has to be more? On what grounds can I get her fired? What can I do to prevent this from happening again. I should not have to stop going to the health department just because an employee of theirs is tampering with personal information and then publically releasing it. I need ideas and opinions and if possible real life experiences.

Answer 1

file a report with their HR, I'd start calling the incident slander if I were you, or possibly sexual harassment- that should turn some heads. You can also take legal action against the Health Department. Don't go after her initially, especially if she's employed and was there working at the time...

Answer 2

go **** her up. and **** up the people who showed her your file

Answer 3

Go to the head of the public health department you are using (it could be city, county, or state) and file a 'report' on what this person has said about you and include people who have heard her say this.  They WILL investigate, and this young woman will probably be fired and have a serious 'black mark' if she ever tries to work in any 'medical field' again.  It is ILLEGAL to look at a person's medical files, and it is also illegal to 'pretend' you did an report 'false information' to the public ... she's broken the law, and may go to jail, but she will most certainly be fired.  

Answer 4

well, if it's not true then dont worry. What you should do is bring it to the attention of her superiors and log a complaint against her. Start the process the grown up way if she wishes to play games.

Answer 5

Ask to speak with her superior and make a complaint in person and in writing. Make sure the complaint is added to her personnel file.

Did she have any legitaimate reason to see your file? If so she should be repremanded for breaching patient confidentiality. If she didn't, the entire clinic deserves a repremand for not securing your records properly.

Answer 6

I would suggest you move, it sounds to me like you may very well live in the smallest town in America.

Answer 7

Well a way that you could deal with this problem is simply to tell her that that is a violation of property.You would not want to choose violence in this if you are a minor and anyways that will be no good.It might be good to stand up for your rights.So that makes you strong and her weak.Go and spread the word thats its not true.And people will realize this and keep speading the word and the rumor might eventullay go away! good luck!!!

Answer 8

Contact an attorney and sue her for defamation.  She is responsible for slander because she maliciously spread a lie about you AND since it's concerning STDs (communicable diseases), you won't need to prove special damages to recover huge money (legally it's a Slander Per Se case).  You may also have a case for intentional infliction of emotional distress.  

You can easily sue for defamation as the Slander Per Se (slander is one of two forms of defamation) does not require "Special Damages."  That means you just need to prove that 1) The defendant did publish [tell a third person] 2) a statement that is not fact and that she 3) knew it was not a fact or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.  You'll recover quite a bit and the burden of defense falls on her, not you!

Keep in mind that she will also be held responsible for "republications" and possibly liable if someone writes down the lie she "published."  This makes her potential liability (i.e. what she will pay you) huge.

If she actually looked through your file you would also have a major suit for malpractice (against her), malpractice (against the clinic since it didn't secure your file appropriately), and intentional infliction of emotional distress (against her).  

Seriously, contact a lawyer, it's an easy win and it clears your name.