I believe that HIPAA prohibits talking to the family unless there is some sort of health care proxy, but almost every doctor visit asks you to fill out the health care proxy. I know it prohibits us from sending an email reminder of appointments for a travel health clinic without express written permission from the patient.
I should know better since I actually have to take a test on this every year, but I don't work in patient care, although I am technically an employee of a medical center.
EDIT: anecdotally, my grandma's doctor would not talk to anyone except her, even when she ran away claiming my mother was trying to poison her and that my mother had already killed my uncle (who was alive and well).
In random news, if you enjoyed the Olympics and/or enjoy Go Fug Yourself, you should enjoy this post/
Clinton's starting now, if you're interested. (Contra MSNBC, which said he was coming on at 10 Eastern.)
Go Bill!
(Also, he's got a missed calling in standup.)
I accidentally caught Bill! I miss him.
Mom! The New York Times is taunting me with shiny new digital SLRs that I can't afford!
[link]
God DAMN, do I miss Bill Clinton.
And I gotta say, well done, Big Doggie. Well done indeed.
Me, too, Jesse. I just caught the end of the speech. Also, in completely shallow observation: Chelsea turned out to be a gorgeous young woman.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Heh.
Mom! The New York Times is taunting me with shiny new digital SLRs that I can't afford!
Sue, I'm not even going to click that link. I'm dying to get a digital SLR, but I'm trying to be fiscally responsible for the first time in my life, so for right now, I'm holding off.
Though I should start doing some research on DSLRs so that I can mention it to Mom Santa for Christmas.
