Are you aware of the medical privacy laws? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, the Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. These laws definitely protect your privacy, but they can as well keep your family from getting medical information on you in the event of an emergency. Even a spouse or eighteen year old child, without proper paperwork in place can leave you in the dark as far as their medical condition. Consider getting the appropriate paperwork in place before you your family have a condition that can cause you stress during medical emergencies. There are a few documents that can be executed that can allow your medical information to be shared with your loved ones.

1. HIPAA Disclosure Document – Specifies who can be disclosed your medical information.
2. Medical Power of Attorney – Specifies who can make medical decisions on your behalf
3. Living Will – Specifies your wishes regarding prolonging life medical treatments

You can contact Julia Nickerson Attorney at Law to help you with these documents and give you suggestions to help you plan for your family.