We all know there is a shortage of doctors...but on the other hand we need all the skilled physicians we can get...at least this brought privacy to the main light...and how important it is, as well as how easy it is for the hospital to track! BD
When penalties were handed out for snooping in UCLA's medical records, it paid to have an M.D. after your name.
As a group, doctors at UCLA hospitals who wrongly peeked at the records of pop star Britney Spears got off lighter than other staffers, according to reports released Friday by state health inspectors. All told, at least 53 UCLA staffers -- including 14 physicians -- looked at Spears' medical records on the two occasions, even though they were not treating her, according to statistics from the state and UCLA officials. Eighteen non-doctors resigned, retired or were dismissed after their prying was discovered, according to data provided to The Times by UCLA. No physicians quit or were fired.
Doctors got off lighter in UCLA snooping case - Los Angeles Times
In general, the doctors are usually not employees of the hospital, but independent practitioners. Thus they can't be fired by the hospital, since they aren't employed by the hospital. They can be disciplined by either the hospital medical staff organization or by the state's medical licensing board. One possible exception are medical residents. They are usually employees of the University itself, or the VA who shares payment responsibility for them. Their discipline actions will likely not be made public since they have both student and employee protections.
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