Question

Discuss how the federal statutes protect individual's rights (e.g. privacy and self-determination) and how does it affect healthcare?

Answer 1

The federal statutes protect individual's rights of the citizens of the USA. The Privacy Act of 1974 covers nearly all personal records including the health records that are maintained by federal agencies. Thus all the information pertaining to a patient is covered under the privacy act. HIPAA requires most doctors, nurses, hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare providers to protect the privacy of the patients’ health information. Only with the consent of the patient can this information be shared. Thus the healthcare industry has to be sensitive to the privacy of the information apart from this it has to be sensitive about the consent of the patient in all medical interventions.