I have to agree with fanatic on this one. I had to sit through hours of HIPAA videos to work at Big Lakes Developmental Center (best job ever), and was constantly reminded by the HIPAA Hippo.
You may know the difference between libel and slander, but you obviously do not know the meaning of the word. Libel and slander have to do with things that intentionally harm a career and that are untrue. This seems to be a matter where no one is denying that a mistake was made--thus the accusation that a doctor misdiagnosed a patient is 100% true. (I know about libel and slander--I was accused of it in high school after calling KU head football coach Mark Mangino "Fatgino." Was it libelous? No. He's fat. Was it in poor taste? Probably. Was it hilarious? Absolutely.) Take a high school journalism class and you should get things straightened out.
Perhaps I can have this hit closer to home. You have two kids, both wrestlers, correct? Would you want your child wrestling someone who had a signed doctors note from someone who has a history of misdiagnosing patients with skin diseases? Are you willing to pay the medical bills and risk your sons' eligibility at future tournaments because a bad doctor okayed someone to wrestle?
I have herpes. It isn't pretty. The medicine is up to $100 a bottle. (Yikes.) It is breaking no law to release the doctor's name in this situation, or in any situation where a doctor is at fault. Even doctors are held accountable for their actions, especially if they are true.
