When Students Become Patients, Privacy Suffers
For college students receiving medical treatment on campus, patient privacy may suffer due to weaknesses in state and federal laws. In a recent case, a Yale student was treated for depression and anxiety, and eventually hospitalized when her condition worsened. Despite a strained relationship with her parents, the university notified them about her hospitalization without her knowing. If she had not been a student, the clinicians treating her would have sought her permission before sharing information on her condition or medical care.
"There’s no doubt in my mind that the schools are trying to strike the right balance," said Paul Lannon, a Boston attorney who advises colleges on legal issues. "They care for the students. They want the students to do well. They want the students to be healthy."