Talking to a parent's doctor: what HIPAA allows
Does my parent's doctor have to tell me anything?
No, unless you're your parent's personal representative. HIPAA allows a doctor to share with family; it doesn't require it.
HHS says: “The Privacy Rule does not require a health care provider or health plan to share information with your family or friends, unless they are your personal representatives.”
So a doctor is allowed to talk to family in the situations HHS describes (can I talk to my parent’s doctor?), but it isn’t obliged to. A personal representative is different: HHS says a provider “must allow your personal representative to inspect and receive a copy of protected health information” it holds, generally.
More questions caregivers ask
- Does a health care power of attorney let me see my parent's records?
- Can I talk to my parent's doctor?
- Can I get a copy of my parent's medical records?
- All the questions
From Centis, a free care notebook you talk to. This is general information from HHS’s own pages, not legal advice; state law can make a difference.
Further reading
- Family Members and Friends (opens in a new tab), from the US Department of Health and Human Services: when doctors can share information with family under HIPAA
- Personal Representatives (opens in a new tab), from the US Department of Health and Human Services