In fact, from what I’ve heard doctors say many of them have a sort of resentment about the overreach of HIPAA and how it sort of tongue-ties them thus hindering the process of normal patient care. I heard one doctor say that he follows his conscience and will gladly explain himself before a judge.
Could be this resident thought the same thing. Imagine a HIPAA case against him, and how far the court could look into this case.
Residents are generally discouraged from thinking. But aside from that, this is not that situation at all.