[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Release of Info on "Terminally Inconvenienced" Persons



Recently we have learned of the passing of the Health Information Personal
Privacy Act (I think I got it right) also known as HIPPA.  My understanding
of it is that information about a persons health contained in public records
cannot be released and this also applies to people who are "nonviable" (as
the politically correct would say), or more simply and accurately "dead".

Now let me put forward the example my supervisor came up with.  While it is
fictional ,it is surely representative of real letters found in our Civil
War correspondence:

Dere Govinner of Maine  -  I want you to git me out of this ridgerment and
let me com home because I have the diaree and bin sick ever sinse I got
here.  also whin I went to Worshintin on my furlow I gut me a case of the
clap.  And Besides, the orficer says I am useless for a soljer anyways.
Plese to take keer of this and I will remane yore

ob't servint
Pvt. Clarence Potlatch  20th Mane somewheres in Vaginier june 1 1863

Can anyone chip in on how this would be handled under HIPPA?  Would a state
Archives be exempt as it would not be an agency covered under HIPPA?  Are we
going to have to examine every record patrons wish to see to censor health
information on Revolutionary War pension applicants ("I am 80 yeres old and
not well.")?  Who's ready to see the second "Lord of the Rings" movie?

Would be glad to hear any opinions.

Art Dostie

Maine State Archives

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>