Re: HIPPA rights

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Unless you specifically opt out of it, hospitals can confirm
that you are (or aren't) a patient at their facility.

In the fine print of all the forms you signed, there is
usually a whole set of clauses under which information can
be disclosed. You usually sign off on all of this when you
sign your consent for treatment. Included in these clauses
is usually a clause allowing release of info for continuity
of care, which includes releasing information to individuals
who can be considered caregivers. This includes family
caregivers.

This is usually used when someone is actually providing
hands-on care, but it wouldn't be surprising for a staff
member to say more than he/she should because they assume a
family member may be giving care after discharge.

That being said, I'm surprised the hospital sent you an
apology letter -- particularly if it acknowledges
wrongdoing. Does it acknowledge wrongdoing? Or does it
just say "Sorry you weren't satisfied with your experience?"

In the end, it does come down to "we said/they said"...your
mother cannot identify who she allegedly spoke with, and
there's nothing preventing the hospital from suggesting that
she actually obtained the info from your or your spouse and
that you're colluding to sue the hospital. There's
absolutely no paper trail of this sort of situation, and
your mother's phone bill indicates only that she called a
facility at which she thought you were being treated...not
what was disclosed at that facility.

So if you're looking for the big lawsuit because you feel
guilty about having a tubal, and you feel extra-super-duper
guilty because now your mom knows about it...you're likely
out of luck. In addition to having trouble demonstrating
that the info was improperly released, the hospital could
just as easily argue that your depression is related to your
religion and the procedure itself -- and that your mother
knowing about it isn't the source of your guilt.