Ok so there was no HIPAA back then, but even in the 1960's was it acceptable for a doctor to tell a relative about a patient's diagnosis before telling the patient herself? That seems like some sort of ethical breach even prior to the statute.
shareNo. It was very typical, and that's how it was done then, and believe it or not, is still done that way depending on the family's wishes.
The law now is the law, but it's bent all the time.
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It reminds me of the last few episodes of Mad Men, which took place around the same time. Betty's doctor wants to speak to her husband about her diagnosis, though she's sitting right in front of him. When the husband arrives he and the doctor talk as though she's not there. I'm sure things like that must have happened all the time.
shareDefinitely happened. For some reason, they thought it was bad to tell people they had cancer. When I was in nursing school, I had a patient with liver cancer, and the doctor was abiding by the _family's_ wishes that she not be told. Drove me nuts. (Not violating HIPAA, as there's no identifying information)
shareQuite common back then for the doctor to tell the Husband first about a grave condition involving his wife. As sexist as it seems- that's the way it was done.
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