An Excerpt from the course on Medical/Legal and Ethics

Improper Release of Information:

Improper release of confidential or inaccurate information can result in liability in two areas: (a) Invasion of privacy and (b) Defamation.

Invasion of privacy is releasing, without legal justification, details about a patient’s private life that might expose the person to ridicule, notoriety, or embarrassment.

A Defamation suit can be charged with: (a) Defamation (b) Libel or (c) Slander.  Defamation is a statement made about a person’s character or behavior that is either untrue or made without legal privilege or the person’s consent. Libel refers to false information about a person, made in writing or through the mass media, with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the falsity of the statements. Slander is false verbal statements about a person made with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the falsity of the statements.