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OBGYN’s Sarcastic Facebook Post About Pregnant Patient Sparks Confidentiality Debate

Feb. 7, 2013 4:51pm Liz Klimas

In late January, Dr. Amy Dunbar, an OBGYN at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, wrote a Facebook message complaining about a pregnant patient three hours late for an appointment and later divulging that the same patient had previously had a still birth has started a debate about if this information violated any confidentiality laws.

The Facebook post was brought to public attention when someone took a screenshot of it and posted it on the more public “Mercy Mom’s to Be” Facebook page. The patient’s name and other personally identifying information were not in the post, causing some to say that while Dunbar’s message might have been a poor choice, it didn’t violate HIPPA laws. Others said they can’t believe she’s still employed.

St. Louis OBGYN Amy Dunbar Posts Patient Information on Facebook But Its Found Not to Violate Privacy Laws

Heather Tiedemann wrote on Facebook her thoughts regarding Dunbar’s post:

I just want say the lack of professionalism by Dr. Amy Dunbar is beyond words at this point. She should not be allowed to work with patients if she callously talks about them on her own facebook page. While she does not name patients on her page she gives personal information about patients which could identify who she is talking about. I hope the hospital takes swift action against this doctor and all the other doctors who joked about the patients she was referring to. As a woman who has had a full term still birth if I found out my doctor was posting that information on her page and other doctors were joking about it I would go straight to the top of hospital leadership to ensure this doctor was fired. It is appalling that you would employ someone like this on your staff.

Here’s a look at some of the posts of those who don’t believe Dunbar violated any privacy restrictions with her message:

The hospital responded to Tiedemann’s comment first saying they’re sorry such an incident occurred but also noting that their privacy compliance review found no breach of privacy laws. The hospital acknowledged though that the comment was “ inappropriate and not in line with our values of respect and dignity.”

“We cannot comment on specific disciplinary actions, but we will use this as an opportunity to reinforce our standards through additional education of our physicians and co-workers, including appropriate use of social media,” Mercy Moms to Be posted on Facebook.

Watch this report from KMOV:

More frequently, people are getting fired for things they write on personal Facebook pages. This woman was fired for saying perhaps President Barack Obama would be assassinated during this term and another was fired for posting a photo of herself flipping off the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Featured image via 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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Comments (41)

Raisingmy3boysright
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:15pm
” later divulging that the same patient had previously had a still birth ”

OK that is info that is PRIVATE and should not be said by the DR on social media….

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Raisingmy3boysright
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:08pm
By the way, How many times I went to my OBGYN appt and waited hours to be seen. Very uncomfortable when you are told not to urinate before your ultrasound and you have to sit and wait 1 hour beyond your appt time ( preggo women urinate a lot more often than normal folks!) But, I still always showed up on time because that is the way I am. It is better to show up early rather than late.

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Raisingmy3boysright
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:05pm
Poor judgment on the Dr’s part. Do you all see how social media can get you into trouble? I do not have a facebook account, I do not have a twitter account, or any other media account. I do not have a smart phone, just an old flip phone that makes nothing but phone calls ( Imagine that!) Employers love to look at your accounts so everyone better be careful out there!

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EnigmanDen
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 3:34pm
It may have been a poor choice to air her grievances, but she was totally justified to be irritated at such a load for a patient. God bless the poor baby who happens to be saddled with this slacka$$ for a mother.

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FreedomMom
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 2:15pm
It is a violation of patient privacy laws, to even release the name is a violation of federal law.

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- toto
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:18pm
  NO NAME was released!
  
  Report this comment
summitday113
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:02am
There is NOTHING WRONG with what she did. NO IDENTIFYING information was given.

As a doctor myself, I really get tired of being held to such a higher standard. We are expected to take all kinds of abuse from patients and not say a word. For those of you who write judgemental responses, you try walking in our shoes. It’s not humanly possible to maintain idealized perfection at all times.

Patients think that when we are running late for their appointments, we are just lollygaging about, with wanton disregard for their time. REALLY? Office schedules are often pretty tight. All it takes is one patient saying, “Oh, by the way, doc, one more thing..” at the END of the appointment to create cascade effect of lateness. And guess what? If we are running late, we won’t be able to get home until later too.

The entitlement patients feel is mind numbing. Everybody wants their stuff done RIGHT NOW. Even if it’s not urgent. And no matter how hard you try, you can’t please everybody. On the same day, one person will complain that you aren’t friendly enough and then the next might complain that you are overly friendly and not professional enough. They’ll complain if you don’t give the treatment they demand from their research on the internet- even if it’s not appropriate. Some hover over every move you make, taking copious notes, just waiting for something to go wrong so they can sue. These are just some examples

I never would have gone into medicine if I had known a

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- missdagnytaggart
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:18am
  I’m a med/surg nurse and I couldn’t agree with you more regarding the entitlement mentality.
  
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- deskjockey
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:34am
  Summit: I agree with much you say. It is difficult to be a physician. I am one too. But this idea that “As a doctor myself, I really get tired of being held to such a higher standard.” Give me a break. We are a professional society. We ARE held to a higher standard than what has become the typical behavior of a callous society. And rightfully so. I think what you are really upset about is that everyone should be held to a higher standard. This woman’s continuous tardiness was inexcusable. The people who commented saying she should be fined or have her appointment canceled were correct. Actions should have consequences. But two wrongs do not make a right. Going on a social website to whine like a baby is just stupid. It is unprofessional. I think even the physician would admit that she was frustrated and it was a bad choice. Was it termination worthy? No. But let’s not take our professional reputation that we as a group of people have worked centuries to build and decide to throw it in the gutter with some of our patients.
  
  Report this comment
- Honestybefore truth
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 1:45pm
  And how often are patients left sitting in waiting rooms for half hour or an hour (sometimes many)? I once showed up for an appointment (on time) and expecting a wait I brought a book. 3 hours later they still had not called me in to see the Doctor and were closing the office. The receptionist had forgotten to pull my file before she left early for the day, later they tried to charge me for a “missed appointment. Doctors and their staff all to often forget that, though highly trained, they are a service industry and the customer/patients are the reason they exist as a business.
  
  Report this comment
- FreedomMom
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 2:28pm
  You are completely wrong, this is a blatant violation of HIPAA and patient privacy laws. To even mention a patients name is a violation, to then talk about privious health issues makes it even more actionable. She will lose her license periode. But any of her other patients should leave her practice immediatly while they wait for the law to catch up with her. If you were really a Doc. as you claim, you would know this. You should be held to a higher standard, you don’t only have lives in your hands, but patients very private information. Having a tantrum on Facebook, is not only unprofessional but unlawful. I’m only a CNA, but even I know that federal law prohibits what this Doctor did. I flat out call you a liar, any Doc. would know this most basic Federal law. It’s even against the law for medical employee’s to discuss their patients with those they work with unless that person is also taking care of them, and it better be in a private place. Your stupidity just ****** me off, if a patient is late, then move them to the end of the line, anyone who has worked in a an office knows this. See the patients who show up first, first, and if they are late, then they wait, or you reschedual them. Easy to claim you are something on the internet when no one can verify it. But your ignorance defeats you. Plus if you are a Doc. as you claim you are getting paid well for these little inconviences, suck it up, any one who goes into this field knows it’s long days.
  
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drmarkr
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 10:04pm
To be complete…let’s point out that although we don’t KNOW for certain, statistically this pregnant female is on the state Medicaid program, and therefore isn’t paying for her care anyway….the taxpayers are.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 8:31pm
Facebook is where crazy people go to make a fool of themselves or get into trouble.

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 8:29pm
So how is this guy going to feel when he is waiting for the doctor for his appointment, and the staff can look up his social media timeline – without him knowing it? When you are smarter and stronger than other people, are you there to protect them, or make fun of them?

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jackact
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:46pm
There are ethics in medicine.
This doctor compromised patient confidentiality.
The bigger problem is FACEBOOK.
Time to put dangerous toys away and learn that act of self promotion masks an extremely insecure and deviant behavior pattern.
Besides, inviting Big Brother into your lives is the act of uneducated fool.

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- blazer809
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 12:02am
  who’s confidentiality? No one was named….
  
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- missdagnytaggart
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:19am
  This Dr didn’t compromise anyones confidentiality. She didn’t give away any identifying characteristics of the patient.
  
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Saff SGT
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:29pm
1st amendment rights better not get infringed upon ragrdless of who said what??? do you all get this???

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 7:24pm
  she hasn’t been arrested.
  
  Report this comment
- Relic61
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 8:10pm
  1st amendment doesn’t even apply here. The Government isn’t involved in this. Have you even read it?
  
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midnightvelvet
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:27pm
As long as a name or address isn’t given, I don’t see what the problem is.

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New.World.Fastfood.Order
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:08pm
She won’t be fired unless she’s prolife.

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RaydocX
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:06pm
HIPPA isn’t activated here… no pertinent information to identify the patient.
try being the doc, with a patient dnka (did not keep appointment) repeatedly, not caring for herself, and then when you do your best in the delivery and the kiddo has a problem, it’s all the physician’s fault.

trust me, it happens.
this wasn’t necessarily the smartest thing to do, but it did not call out the patient and we all say things we don’t mean (and don’t do)… social media just leaves some such statement there indelibly.

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Locked
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:49pm
Speaking as someone who has worked with HIPAA laws for years, this is definitely NOT a violation. However, depending on the regulations of where she works she could definitely be let go for unprofessional conduct. It’s really up to her employer.

That said, I very much sympathize with her.

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- SgtB
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 6:12pm
  I don’t sympathize with her at all. So what if her patient is late? She is a service provider and they are her customers. I am going through the process of seeing doctors with my wife constantly because she is pregnant, and even if we have an appointment and arrive early, there is always a wait time of more than 30 minutes. I’m really pretty sick of it to tell you the truth. If doctors and hospitals want to over schedule, they can sod off. I’m about ready to just call a midwife and say screw it to the whole medical community.
  
  Any guess as to how much an ultrasound now costs in one of the lowest cost of living states? The bill before insurance adjustments is over $1,100 for no more than a half hour of an ultrasound tech taking measurements, and a doctor to review a short list of those measurements and view 30 or so pictures from the machine. Doctors are not Gods and if it weren’t for their unions, the AMA, Department of Health, etc., we’d have real healthcare at a decent cost.
  
  Hey, maybe I’ll just quit my job and get “free” healthcare and food.
  
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- TumbleBumble
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 7:17pm
  I also sympathize with her. I find nothing wrong with her posting the basic scenario on her facebook page and looking for a little moral support.
  
  SGTB ~
  
  I have been in the same situation as you describe many times. One of those times was at an optometrist’s office. My daughter had a babysitting job a couple of hours after the appointment yet we were waiting in the office for over an hour. I went up to the desk and complained. Told them it was ridiculous that a doctor thinks he could make us wait this long but they have a policy that if I am over 15 minutes late, my appt will be cancelled and I will be charged a fee.
  
  I don’t know why some doctors think they are so special.
  
  Then again, I don’t know why some patients think they are special. I wouldn’t put up with anyone who routinely came late or has been known to be a no-show. I’d tell them to find another doctor.
  They are also to blame for why appointments get backed up. That behavior is rude and self-serving.
  
  Report this comment
- Fonebone
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 9:28pm
  SGTB,
  
  Do you not get that it is disrespectful not only to the doctor to be late, but also to the doctor’s other patients? Maybe your doctors have been late seeing you and your wife because some of their other patients were late, but the doctor still saw them and gave their visit the time that it deserved.
  
  Whatever happened to not judging someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes?
  
  By the way, doctors don’t have unions. You seem pretty uninformed about the things that you choose to criticize so harshly.
  
  Report this comment
- VetMike
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 10:39pm
  SGTB, I can see her point actually. A patient who is consistently a no show is both a nuisance and a danger. She is not getting proper prenatal care and any difficulty with the delivery or the child falls back on the Doctor. Juries don’t care if the mother never showed up, drank and did drugs; they very often side with the mother and baby. Edwards (the presidential candidate) would tell juries he was channeling the baby and they believed him. That is just how gullible juries. As for sitting and waiting, often what happens is that someone comes in and has a much bigger problem than then the staff thought and this takes more time. As for cost, well tell you Senator to make substantive changes to the malpractice laws. A med school buddy left the practice of ObGyn because the amount paid by the state for medicare patients did not cover his malpractice costs much less his office expenses.
  
  Report this comment
- bigdaddyt46
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:00am
  @sgtb
  
  i feel ya bro. took my mom for a dermatology appointment once. we arrived 20 minutes before her appointment, and sat there for 2 and a half hours past her appointment time before being called. we were ushered into an exam room and sat there another 25 minutes without a dr. or a nurse even coming into the exam room. my mom finally agreed and we left, but only because it was getting close to lunch (she’s a diabetic and has to keep a rigid eating scedule as she needs to use insulin and other meds) and it was a half hour drive home. i swore right then an there to NEVER step foot in that office again, and ended up with a much better dermatologist for her.
  
  Report this comment
- missdagnytaggart
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:22am
  SGBT: Wahhh cry me a river pal. You big babies are the type of people we nurses talk smack about in the break room.
  
  Report this comment
DiamondDog
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:38pm
Medical books publish patient information without using names all the time.

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msconstrue
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:28pm
while i don’t think the doctor broke any HIPPA regs, it was definately poor form to post this information.
any health care professional should know NEVER to discuss their patients in a public forum (social media or anywhere else), you simply never know who might overhear you.
should she loose her job? absolutely……her oath says “do no harm”…..and by my standards, she has harmed her patient…….and her reputation….i bet her patient list will deteriorate quickly.

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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:26pm
She should be working in a movie theater not an OBGYN clinic.

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circleDwagons
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:14pm
I don’t see anything wrong with the post. Doctors are people too and deal with difficult situations all the time. I however do refrain from posting on facebook about clients and work.

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Bill Wallace
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:14pm
I’m sorry, but I must have missed the part where the identity of the person is released, and as a result, how it breaches any confidentiality.

To me, it is a public service announcement. If anything, Dr. D needed to break the patient-doctor relationship by telling this inconsiderate patient to find some other doctor.

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spirited
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:11pm
…”if I found out my doctor was posting that information on her page and other doctors were joking about it I would go straight to the top of hospital leadership to ensure this doctor was fired”
~~~~~~~> ha ha ha

People really are (capital) d (capital) u (capital) m (capital) b!

People are now forbidden to speak facts about their lives or their jobs or people?

>Doctor Benjamin Carson rocks!

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gryffn
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:06pm
How about a backlash on the inconsiderate pregger? What kind of mother is she going to be – or already is – Heaven forbid. I am tired of having to accept bad or rude behavior.

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Cavallo
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:03pm
Wasn’t this the same area that a system doctor decapitated a newborn infant?

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Eastinfection
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:02pm
She should use a catchy secret identity like “Eastinfection” if she’s going to post potentially offensive material.

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:18pm
  Exactly. Yeasty.
  
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- hi
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 5:51pm
  Haha! Exactly!
  
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