The guy didn't sneak into the hospital, steal medical documents, then disclose information within those documents. He walked up to an individual, asked what was wrong, then told people. The information went from personal protected information to public information when Burkes told him what was wrong with him. Unless the person posting is in a field with client privilege and Burkes is his client, there were no laws violated.
This statement is entirely accurate, HuskerJen you are looking at this as an employer allowing a person in the know (HR or management) openly discuss with others the health issues they are privy to of an employee.
In the social realm any and all things freely shared can be shared either by mouth or in print. By this same token, it would be illegal for anyone to report injury information if it didn't come in the form of a press release.
This is just not true, if it is freely offered it has entered the public domain and therefore is not in violation of HIPPA unless you are violating patient privilege. HIPPA does not concern those not bound by its guidelines, hence a person asking a question and getting a direct answer from source is in no way a violation and neither is the progression of it through the public forums be it media or a message board.
Sometimes we all get too caught up in legalities, hence the legal action against the home owner by the criminal who fell in the garage he broke into.....