Health Information Management

Nurse enforcing HIPAA slapped with obstruction-of-justice charge

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, March 29, 2004

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Nurse enforcing HIPAA slapped with obstruction-of-justice charge

A nurse at a Wisconsin hospital, who snubbed a police officer in an attempt to protect a patient's rights under HIPAA, was charged with obstruction of justice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported March 23.

The nurse, Gerard A. Baumgartner, pleaded not guilty to contempt of court and the obstruction charge. Baumgartner prevented the officer from serving court orders that forbid the patient, who is involved in a domestic abuse case, from contacting his wife, says the Sentinel.

Baumgartner told the officer he would not give him any information on the
patient, but instead would alert the patient and instruct him to call his
wife. The officer told Baumgartner that would violate the court order, but
Baumgartner ignored the officer and walked away.

Baumgartner is due in court April 29, according to the article.



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