Originally Posted By: AKSAR

I doubt the fact that they are hush hush means anything much. Because of the Health Information Privacy rules in HIPAA, hospitals and other medical providers are generally prohibited from releasing much of anything specific in any medical case. Unless the patient specifically signs a release, they can't give out much information.


Whatever else may be going on, the effect of HIPPA is exactly as AKSAR describes it, and even extends to prohibit the release of medical information about a spouse to their own spouse! We (DW and I) have run into this problem on several occasions. Please make sure you read, understand (if you don't, ask) all the forms you sign at the Doctor's office and hospital: you must specifically authorize info to be released to your significant other. The "default" is no information to anyone.
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