[Mrs. Xtrmst]

The HIPAA law could really hurt us if a bio weapon is used. What is that?

[Domestic Church]

HIPAA (however it's spelled) stands for the new privacy regulations that make releasing patient info to anyone, even to family members a new series of legal hoop jumping.

If your mother,1000 miles away, gets admitted to a hospital in an emergency you can't just call up and find out what happened, her diagnosis and what is being done for her...they need to verify who you are first.

If your mother is awake and able to speak she can tell you herself but the nurse can't tell you anything until your mother verifies you are her daughter and she wants you notified.

This presents a major problem when a patient can't communicate. All sorts of legal documents are now filed in patients charts. With elderly patients these papers are often prepared in advance but for the average citizen caught in a disaster it is a nightmare for family.