Health Information Management

Fight over release of medical records moves to court

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, April 25, 2005

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Last month, Planned Parenthood of Indiana filed suit to block the Indiana attorney general from obtaining documents concerning patients younger than 14. Now the debate moves to the courtroom.

Deputy Attorney General Thomas Fisher argued Monday that he needs those records to make sure those patients were not physically abused, reported the Indianapolis Star. In Indiana, children younger than 14 who have sex are considered victims of sex crimes.

Kenneth Falk, the Planned Parenthood attorney, told the Star that granting this request could be extremely problematic. "These are extraordinarily private records of extraordinarily sensitive persons," he said before the hearing.

The judge has yet to rule on the case. Go to the Indianapolis Star Web site for more information.



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