Disclosure Of Medical Records?

Q: I have recently discovered that my employer's company doctor made an unauthorized release from my medical records to my manager who then faxed it to many other locations in the company. This "diagnosis" was very damaging to me and has been proven to be incorrect. I have obtained a copy of this fax. Subsequent to my retirement I signed an agreement with my employer releasing the company, its employees and its agents from civil liability in return for pension and benefit payments. As the company withheld this information from me do I have any civil or criminal recourse against any of these people? Have I blown it?

A: Medical records in Georgia are covered by Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia, Annotated. You do have recourse. If these were mental health records there are federal laws prohibiting unathorized release. This is covered in CFR 42 and there can be criminal penalties for this misconduct. Ask him to contact the Georgia Attorney General's office and also the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Do not attempt this your self as AT&T is a big company with much money and influence. AT&T's medical department is a joke. They hire the poorest retired doctors they can find and they know every other quack in town. There

is no thought given to the privacy of mediacal records. In 1982 they gave information from my medical records to a criminal who quoted them at his preliminary hearing! I have a transcript of this hearing and may put it up on one of my web pages. Unfortunately for the criminal AT&T's medical department does not keep records which are unfavorable to the company and my attorney had a copy of the real records from the emergency room and the judge thought he was lying and bound him over for trial. The thing to remember here is that when the medical department gets any information about you the company doctor will be out in front of the building blabbering to the wino's!