Technology | Academics | Policy - HIPAA’s Failure to Provide Enough Patient Control Over Medical Records

Technology | Academics | Policy - HIPAA’s Failure to Provide Enough Patient Control Over Medical Records.

A Not-So-Far-Fetched Seinfeld Episode

In a Seinfeld episode called “The Package” from 1996 (click here to see the scene), airing just months after HIPAA was passed, Elaine goes to see a doctor for a rash. 

She discovers that her medical record says “difficult,” so she complains to her doctor.

The doctor says that he’ll erase it, and he starts to erase. But Elaine notices that the notation is written in pen and accuses the doctor of lying about erasing the notation.

The doctor then starts scribbling notes in Elaine’s file. Elaine asks: “What are you writing?" The doctor walks out.[...]