Do staff at opticians sign any kind of privacy policy?

LegacyUser

I am part of a large group of girls for many years. There is one girl amongst the group who I wouldn't describe as a friend, she is more of a tag-along. In the past circa 2 years, her behaviour has caused me to distance myself from her and I have little to do with her but she remains friendly with a couple of other girls in the group and invites herself everywhere.

We're all around 27 - 29 age group.

It all started about 3 years ago with her relationship ending, she was treated very badly by her ex but to this day has still never uttered the word 'ex', she is still completely obsessed with this guy. He cheated on her and treated her like dirt and while we all first supported her fully her behaviour since has caused many of us to distance ourselves from her.

Now the reason for my thread.

Around the time she was dumped she worked in the reception of a busy doctor's surgery in our town, and she started dropping tidbits of personal info she had learned from her job about her ex's new girlfriend, and her ex's family. One night in particular she became very drunk and told anyone who would listen about a very private issue her ex's new girlfriend had. I don't know whether she overheard the info or looked it up in a file but it disgusted me.

Fast forward to current, and she is working at the biggest branch of opticians we have, (not sure if I can name them?), and she was able to tell us how her ex was in for new lenses a few weeks ago and they found an issue with his eye while he was there. I jumped on this asking if she had seen this happen or if she had been there at the time but she wasn't.

I can make assumptions as to how she gained the info and it's not the first time she has done this. My reason for starting the thread is I want to know if there is any patient confidentiality with opticians/glasses companies? I know that a doctor has to be confidential about what they are told but are there any rules for temp staff in a doctor's office?

She has caused several of us in the group, myself included, to avoid dealing with that doctor's practice, and as of yesterday I have moved to a small local optician that seems more private.

It's got me concerned about staff members in general medical type places. I do not want my eye prescriptions being discussed in a pub by a jealous ex on a Saturday night. This girl is a nosey gossip and I can imagine we are only hearing the icing on the cake.

Do staff members at large opticians sign any sort of privacy document? What about temps at Doctor's practices?

I know people may think I am being O.T.T. about privacy, but that's just how I am. If this girl is busy looking up her ex, his family, and his girlfriend, then I'm sure she's looked up my files too.

I am a friend

Yeah girls I know are in the radiography dept in a midlands hospital and one was less than discreet even telling a friend that they suspected, from scans, that another person we know had a drunk problem. There is no way on this planet I would attend that hospital because of this. It's obviously highly unprofessional but it is human nature.

LegacyUser

I'm sure somebody will be able to give you more accurate information then me but I'm pretty sure somebody working in an opticians would have to sign a confidentiality clause. There could be medical issues on your file in an opticians!

I am an An Post employee and also had to sign a confidentiality clause and the amount of sensitive information that one can come across in ones job is staggering............however at no stage would I even think of discussing information gained from doing my job..........this girl sounds like she has one hell of a big mouth but is in the minority.

The vast majority of people who work with sensitive information do not mouth off like this girl!

LegacyUser

Well that's pretty much exactly what I'm talking about.

I work in a far less critical area (builders supplier) but I would never, ever discuss customer accounts with anyone. I could easily tell friends about specific customers who are having a hard time paying their bills, but I never would as I am professional in my work. And I wouldn't like anyone discussing my accounts with any company, be it with a DVD Rental place or eBay!

The girl in question has been discussing a potentially very serious medical issue discovered with her ex boyfriend's eyes during a recent eye-test, and telling everyone in our large group about this. Chances are her ex has not even told his family about this, yet she's going around shouting her mouth off about it.

The information she was gaining while working for the doctor was vile. She was able to tell us about so-and-so having an STI and someone else having problems with depression and anxiety, and an ex of one of the girls in the group having a problem down below. I don't want to know this information and I certainly don't want to think that half of the secretaries at doctor's offices in Ireland are abusing their position by accessing such information.

Distorted

If you're that concerned, and she is part of your group of friends (even though you don't like her), why don't you speak to her about it? And if she gives you the brush off, get one of the other concerned friends to do the same.

To be honest, I feel a bit sorry for the poor girl. She's obviously devastated at the break up with her ex and is struggling to replace him. You might even say she's suffering from a bit of mental illness right now. She hasn't murdered anyone, so I hope that you keep this is perspective and don't do anything that will make her lose her job or anything. It can be hard to understand people when they are being annoying like this but at the moment, it sounds like even people she thinks are her friends are her enemies.

Just have a quiet word with her. She's probably doing it in a misguided attempt to make herself popular by providing salacious gossip. I guess if you made her feel part of the group more, she might not feel she had to try so hard?

Danniboo

Distorted wrote: »

If you're that concerned, and she is part of your group of friends (even though you don't like her), why don't you speak to her about it? And if she gives you the brush off, get one of the other concerned friends to do the same.

To be honest, I feel a bit sorry for the poor girl. She's obviously devastated at the break up with her ex and is struggling to replace him. You might even say she's suffering from a bit of mental illness right now. She hasn't murdered anyone, so I hope that you keep this is perspective and don't do anything that will make her lose her job or anything. It can be hard to understand people when they are being annoying like this but at the moment, it sounds like even people she thinks are her friends are her enemies.

Just have a quiet word with her. She's probably doing it in a misguided attempt to make herself popular by providing salacious gossip. I guess if you made her feel part of the group more, she might not feel she had to try so hard?

You cannot be serious, feel sorry for her???? You've obviously never had anyone who has access to sensitive information about you share it with the general public. I have anything but sympathy for her, her behaviour is despicable,she should be pulled up on it. We all go through bad breakups that isn't the slight excuse for her behaviour. She deserves to lose her job, as she cannot carry it out professionally, how many thousands of people that are down the dole queue would give the right arm for her job and carry it out properly. Make her feel part of the group??? I'd put as many miles as possible between myself and this malicious piece of work as possible.

curlzy

I actually agree with Distorted. I think the way you discribe her, i.e. not a real friend, a tag along, invites herself everywhere shows she reallly isn't someone you respect, at all. I would wonder why you socialise with someone that you have so little respect for? You say you all know each other years and are socialising years but you honestly sound like you despise the girl, not a very nice trait in someone who is supposed to be her friend. So maybe have a look at yourself and your behaviour too.

If I were you I'd have a word with her and say that it's come back to you through other people that word is spreading about her gossiping about people's private business and that she should knock it on the head before it gets her into trouble.

Either way I would go to other practises if you want to ensure she doesn't access your information.

dilallio

I agree with Danniboo here.

To answer your original question, doctor's surgeries or other health care practices, should have a code of conduct for all employees which in this case should have a statement regarding client confidentiality. Some workplaces however are very lazy and do not do this.

If it was myself, I would find the name of the manager and call them. You can do this anonymously if you wish and explain that you do not wish to mention your name or any specific employee names. You can even write a letter marking it confidential & private.

Ask them if they have a code of conduct in place regarding confidentiality. If they do, you can tell them nicely that they need to explain it again to their employees, as you have heard other client's private information discussed publicly.

If I were the manager, while I would be shocked to hear this, I would be glad that this was brought to my attention.

There is a good chance that her workplace or manager has never explained this rule in detail, or the penalties that can happen as a result, and if the manager does this now, it should resolve the issue.

edit: The girl in question could be doing this because she is depressed, or she is craving attention. If you are sympathatic towards her, or if any of your friends are, then you or they should have a quiet word with her also. She may need to take some time out of work. However, the optician's clients deserve and are entitled to full confidentiality, and this girl is 27-29 years of age - she should know better.

LegacyUser

Wow Distorted, I didn't expect that kind of response..

As regards speaking to her about it, I have expressed my opinion on her actions directly to her in the past. After 1 year of her continually hounding her ex, I pulled her aside in the kindest manner I could and told her she ought to consider counselling, that she was going to end up getting in trouble for not leaving her ex alone. He actually lodged a complaint with the Gardai about her harassing him.

When the private info from the doctors started surfacing (she was laughing loudly in the pub about an embarrassing issue which her ex's girlfriend had), I told her that it wasn't right to discuss this and made me feel uncomfortable, I was a lot more understanding about this at the time (though I would never do this myself) but 3 years on there is no excuse for her behaviour.

Several other friends spoke to her about this in the past.

I'm not very close to everyone in the group but I don't think any of us want to hear this info and nobody has encouraged it. I'm sure others have told her to stop since things got further out of hand though I've distanced myself from her to the level that I rarely speak to her now.

I think of some of the things I have gone to the doctor about in the past few years and it makes me feel ill to think that there could be a temp. at the desk snooping through my files afterwards and sharing my info. People trust their doctors with very sensitive matters and it is nothing short of disgusting that this info can be discussed loudly in a crowded pub on a Saturday night.

My sympathy for this girl ran out when the Gardai asked her to stop harassing her ex so she stopped calling him constantly and started being more underhand about it, spreading details of his private health issues to others. I do believe she needs help to get over her ex but it's mostly extreme nosiness that is her problem.

Everyone agrees her ex treated her badly all of those years ago, but his current girlfriend did NOTHING to this woman and she has no reason to suffer. The ex has long since moved on from his past mistakes and I don't understand how anyone could justify this girl's actions.

Others can do as they please but I can't bring myself to become closer to her or make her feel more welcome in the group.

The information she gathers hasn't stopped short of her ex and his girlfriend, she may only be working at the opticians now but she still has access to sensitive information, and while some may frown upon me for it, I am very close to reporting her for what she is doing but I'm not sure what the best way to go about this is. And I don't know if there even is a privacy/confidentiality agreement for staff in place.

Lollipops23

Distorted wrote: »

Just have a quiet word with her. She's probably doing it in a misguided attempt to make herself popular by providing salacious gossip. I guess if you made her feel part of the group more, she might not feel she had to try so hard?

She's a big girl, almost everyone deals with break ups and moves on. Her behaviour is not ok, she knows full well the position she has put herself in by relaying confidential info to all and sundry. I'd have very limited sympathy for her tbh. The fact that she brought this alarming habit with her to her new job shows she doesn't care about what she's doing.

LegacyUser

Deninitely agree with Dilallio. Report her. To both practices, the Opticians and the Doctors. What she is doing is deeply unethical.

LegacyUser

curlzy wrote: »

I actually agree with Distorted. I think the way you discribe her, i.e. not a real friend, a tag along, invites herself everywhere shows she reallly isn't someone you respect, at all. I would wonder why you socialise with someone that you have so little respect for? You say you all know each other years and are socialising years but you honestly sound like you despise the girl, not a very nice trait in someone who is supposed to be her friend. So maybe have a look at yourself and your behaviour too.

If I were you I'd have a word with her and say that it's come back to you through other people that word is spreading about her gossiping about people's private business and that she should knock it on the head before it gets her into trouble.

Either way I would go to other practises if you want to ensure she doesn't access your information.

To be honest, no, I wouldn't consider her a real friend, and perhaps that does make me a bad person, but I am looking for advice here on confidentiality agreements in a workplace rather than my behaviour.

I would not like to see this done to me. I have trusted my doctor and even my optician with private info (concerns about my eyesight, etc) that I would not discuss with my friends, family, neighbours or publican. I would have thought it was my right to keep my medical business private if I so wish, and I shouldn't have to worry about temp staff sharing my business with people who aren't even very good friends.

I am now dealing with different practices but it's not a very big town (Sligo) so there isn't a hundred different doctors/opticians I can deal with.

I thought I made it clear already that I don't aim to socialise with this girl. We are a large group of people, most I have known since childhood though this girl has only been part of the group since around college years.

We all socialise in the same place on many Saturday nights but I don't necessarily talk to her from one week to the next, she just happens to be amongst the general group of circa 12 to 18 girls depending on the weekend.

I am closest to 3 girls in the group and the rest I will chat to if standing beside them but they are not my best friends, or even very good friends, we just happen to know each other for a long time. She is friendlier with a couple of the other girls who I wouldn't know for a very long time.

I was closer to the girl in question until I started to find her behaviour unsettling, at which point I distanced myself, as did several others in the group.

She is never directly invited that I am aware of, she just turns up. And I have no problem with that, I just don't want her turning up and feeling the need to spread private info amongst the entire group loudly where total strangers at the bar are also overhearing it.

thefeatheredcat

When someone is in employment that deals with confidential and private or sensitive information about people, there is usually a confidentially clause that has to be signed, as an agreement that whatever information about an individual's condition or personal and private details, are not to be shared with the general public, friends and family, whether they know the person or not.

It isn't limited to medical areas - even in a call centre I worked in, because we dealt with sensitive information (including medical information) and also financial information, we had to sign confidentially agreements. Even for example, a relative of mine worked in catering for a hospital, had to sign one for the patients they met and couldn't even talk about who they knew was in the hospital as a patient as part of the agreement.

your friend, effectively is like a bunch of medical records having being dumped in a ditch with no respect of the consequences of the information being found, or who might find it, or what private and sensitive information is being passed on.

I would be in agreement with Dilallio to approach management and make them aware that sensitive information is being passed on - this will perhaps account of the loss of business and will eventually devastate the business if more business is lost. And it's not your friend's reputation that is on the line - it the the people that she works for that will be held accountable and will loose their reputation.

As for your friend herself - her behaviour is appalling and immature, and comes across as seeking revenge against her ex and his new girlfriend. Anyone can be compassionate towards the ending of a relationship, and being support, or for her seeking to boost herself with having this information or getting negative attention in seeking validation from her social grouping to be known for being "interesting" but she seriously needs to be taken aside or to realise that spreading sensitive information like that is not the way to deal with a break up and needs to be pointed in the direction of what is and I think as a group together, you need to approach her collectively to address the issue.

LegacyUser

dilallio wrote: »

I agree with Danniboo here.

To answer your original question, doctor's surgeries or other health care practices, should have a code of conduct for all employees which in this case should have a statement regarding client confidentiality. Some workplaces however are very lazy and do not do this.

If it was myself, I would find the name of the manager and call them. You can do this anonymously if you wish and explain that you do not wish to mention your name or any specific employee names. You can even write a letter marking it confidential & private.

Ask them if they have a code of conduct in place regarding confidentiality. If they do, you can tell them nicely that they need to explain it again to their employees, as you have heard other client's private information discussed publicly.

If I were the manager, while I would be shocked to hear this, I would be glad that this was brought to my attention.

There is a good chance that her workplace or manager has never explained this rule in detail, or the penalties that can happen as a result, and if the manager does this now, it should resolve the issue.

edit: The girl in question could be doing this because she is depressed, or she is craving attention. If you are sympathatic towards her, or if any of your friends are, then you or they should have a quiet word with her also. She may need to take some time out of work. However, the optician's clients deserve and are entitled to full confidentiality, and this girl is 27-29 years of age - she should know better.

Good advice here, I may send an anonymous letter.

This is a very large optician, the biggest eyecare company we would have in Ireland, so I am sure they would have some kind of agreement in place for staff and would clearly brief their staff, but I can't be sure, so I think to discreetly alert the manager would be the best option.

I don't think she is depressed or anything like that, just disillusioned about her ex and getting some level of pleasure from being privy to his private info. She is very bitter about how he treated her though he has moved on several years ago.

Distorted

northwestsurf wrote: »

Good advice here, I may send an anonymous letter.

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action? By all means, do so if you speak to her personally and warn her and she blatantly continues, but why not leave it a last (or at least second) resort? You are supposed to be her friends fgs. Maybe if you offered her some support like the rest of us are fortunate enough to get from our friends in difficult times, she wouldn't indulge in action which is so obviously calculated, albeit misguidedly, to make you find her interesting to be around.

People assault others and are given second chances. You are actively trying to make someone lose their job and possibly home and lifestyle and future because of this. At times like this, I am reminded of how bitchy and unkind girls of this age can be, its like ganging up on the weakest member of the herd.

This girl could well have a minor depressive illness, and is probably quite unhappy and lonely as it is. How awful for her friends not to have a quiet word with her to try and put her back on the right track but instead hope to ruin her life!

I am a friend

Did you personally hear her spread this information?

deisemum

Distorted wrote: »

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action? By all means, do so if you speak to her personally and warn her and she blatantly continues, but why not leave it a last (or at least second) resort? You are supposed to be her friends fgs. Maybe if you offered her some support like the rest of us are fortunate enough to get from our friends in difficult times, she wouldn't indulge in action which is so obviously calculated, albeit misguidedly, to make you find her interesting to be around.

People assault others and are given second chances. You are actively trying to make someone lose their job and possibly home and lifestyle and future because of this. At times like this, I am reminded of how bitchy and unkind girls of this age can be, its like ganging up on the weakest member of the herd.

This girl could well have a minor depressive illness, and is probably quite unhappy and lonely as it is. How awful for her friends not to have a quiet word with her to try and put her back on the right track but instead hope to ruin her life!

The OP and other people have already spoken with her about it and this individual has chosen to continue spreading peoples private business around the place.

She should be reported or at the very least both practices should be given a heads up that a member of staff has been spreading patients private details around the place. It's disgraceful behaviour.

dilallio

Distorted wrote: »

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action?

The OP has said that this girl is more of a casual aquaintence rather than a friend.

The OP does not need to name this girl in the anonymous letter.

That way, the opticians will be able to speak to all employess about this.
While the other innocent employees may not be happy to be reminded of their obligation to confidentiality, if nothing is done, they could lose a lot of business and perhaps jobs.

If this girl is revealing confidential information to people who aren't her close friends, then she may respond better to her employers than to advice from aquaintances down the pub.

She's also old enough to know better, despite any issues she has as a result of the breakup in her previous relationship.

LegacyUser

Yes, I have personally heard her spread this information.

I would not name her on a letter if I do send one to her place of work. I would simply state that I would like staff to be reminded of confidentiality agreements, if there is in fact one at her place of work.

It has been said to her, as I've already stated, and she has continued to do this.

Perhaps this does make me a bad person, but I stand by finding it disturbing that someone would spread my private medical info about.

One of the other reasons for my concern is that she is hoping to get another position at a doctor's surgery in the coming months and while she may not have a very interesting range of info available to her at the opticians, she will have if she returns to the doctor's.

The only reason I mentioned her inability to get over her ex was because he is the main focus of her unprofessionalism. I do not feel that she is being driven by anything other than bitterness towards him. She is perfectly well able to function in other areas of her life. She is not a teenager. She has been working many, many years and should know better.

I do not want her to be fired, I just want her to be aware that it is not nice or professional to spread info like this about people. I do not feel that she paid any heed when spoken to by us, her actions certainly didn't change, so perhaps hearing it from her manager would work better.

I just wanted to know if employees in such an industry are bound to being confidential.

Danniboo

Distorted wrote: »

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action? By all means, do so if you speak to her personally and warn her and she blatantly continues, but why not leave it a last (or at least second) resort? You are supposed to be her friends fgs. Maybe if you offered her some support like the rest of us are fortunate enough to get from our friends in difficult times, she wouldn't indulge in action which is so obviously calculated, albeit misguidedly, to make you find her interesting to be around.

People assault others and are given second chances. You are actively trying to make someone lose their job and possibly home and lifestyle and future because of this. At times like this, I am reminded of how bitchy and unkind girls of this age can be, its like ganging up on the weakest member of the herd.

This girl could well have a minor depressive illness, and is probably quite unhappy and lonely as it is. How awful for her friends not to have a quiet word with her to try and put her back on the right track but instead hope to ruin her life!

She could have a minor depressive illness ? Well then ask her would she like everyone in the pub laughing at her depressive illness on a Saturday night? The only bi***h here is the girl in question. It has been pointed out several times that this girl is not much of a friend. Why on earth would any right minded person consider spreading peoples information in such a sick manner something that could make you interesting? She's ruining her own life. It's this very victim, take no responsibility, poor mouth attitude that has the country gone to the dogs. Distorted I hope you are never on the receiving end of something like this, as you wouldn't be long about changing your tune.

LegacyUser

Distorted wrote: »

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action? By all means, do so if you speak to her personally and warn her and she blatantly continues, but why not leave it a last (or at least second) resort? You are supposed to be her friends fgs. Maybe if you offered her some support like the rest of us are fortunate enough to get from our friends in difficult times, she wouldn't indulge in action which is so obviously calculated, albeit misguidedly, to make you find her interesting to be around.

People assault others and are given second chances. You are actively trying to make someone lose their job and possibly home and lifestyle and future because of this. At times like this, I am reminded of how bitchy and unkind girls of this age can be, its like ganging up on the weakest member of the herd.

This girl could well have a minor depressive illness, and is probably quite unhappy and lonely as it is. How awful for her friends not to have a quiet word with her to try and put her back on the right track but instead hope to ruin her life!

You're missing the point. It's not just about the girl who is disclosing patients details. What about the patients?

They are the ones who are being compromised here.

The only ethical thing to do is to report her. OP is not ruining the girls life. She did that herself. A misguided attempt to 'protect' the girl would be enabling the continuation of the compromisation of the patients privacy.

They come first. The girl is the author of her own misfortune and has no-one to blame but herself.

Distorted

Danniboo wrote: »

She could have a minor depressive illness ? Well then ask her would she like everyone in the pub laughing at her depressive illness on a Saturday night? The only bi***h here is the girl in question. It has been pointed out several times that this girl is not much of a friend. Why on earth would any right minded person consider spreading peoples information in such a sick manner something that could make you interesting? She's ruining her own life. It's this very victim, take no responsibility, poor mouth attitude that has the country gone to the dogs. Distorted I hope you are never on the receiving end of something like this, as you wouldn't be long about changing your tune.

Funny you should say that! I had a serious cycling accident, and cut my upper lip badly and had to get surgery to fix it. The surgeon who did it was a well known cosmetic surgeon and also did Botox etc.. I was a bit annoyed to hear from a friend that I had been in for Botox - turns out her friend was a receptionist there (was also slightly flattered as it meant the scar I was being treated for wasn't that noticeable).

I was annoyed but wasn't tempted to phone up her employers and complain. There are more important issues in the world and its only human nature to gossip at times, and I don't want to ruin someone's life. If you must do something and have already spoken to her, then simply send an anonymous letter stating your concerns without identifying her. Why create trouble for someone when its not necessary?

And is it really beyond you to try and be friendly towards her? All of this sounds so much like a cry for attention on her part.

Danniboo

Distorted wrote: »

Funny you should say that! I had a serious cycling accident, and cut my upper lip badly and had to get surgery to fix it. The surgeon who did it was a well known cosmetic surgeon and also did Botox etc.. I was a bit annoyed to hear from a friend that I had been in for Botox - turns out her friend was a receptionist there (was also slightly flattered as it meant the scar I was being treated for wasn't that noticeable).

I was annoyed but wasn't tempted to phone up her employers and complain. There are more important issues in the world and its only human nature to gossip at times, and I don't want to ruin someone's life. If you must do something and have already spoken to her, then simply send an anonymous letter stating your concerns without identifying her. Why create trouble for someone when its not necessary?

And is it really beyond you to try and be friendly towards her? All of this sounds so much like a cry for attention on her part.

Oh for god sake saying someone had botox is hardly the same as informing the general population of a serious illness/embarrassing medcial condition. You don't get it and clearly never will, I give up.

Taltos

Danniboo and all - please let's take the emotion out of this before we have to start issuing warnings.

Please keep all posts pertinent to the OP and civil. Conjecture and arguments are just pulling this off topic and any further attempts (irrespective of intent) will be dealt with accordingly.

Taltos

Danniboo

Taltos wrote: »

Danniboo and all - please let's take the emotion out of this before we have to start issuing warnings.

Please keep all posts pertinent to the OP and civil. Conjecture and arguments are just pulling this off topic and any further attempts (irrespective of intent) will be dealt with accordingly.

Taltos

Apologies.

OP, if I were you i'd distance myself from this girl, you don't want to be associated with that kind of carry on. I would advise her if she carries on with her behaviour i'd contact her job/the people involved as its a truly nasty thing to do. Best of luck with it.

Neyite

Op,

It seems like no amount of taking to her will work - you and others have tried and failed -I suspect that even a refresher on ethics where she works for all staff will not stop her. I would contact the employers involved - even the previous ones- with specific information to allow them to investigate the access to the records. You are not risking her job - she is. I would be beyond furious if someone was gossiping about family medical information.

The only medical reason I would excuse the gossipers behaviour is to be officially declared insane. Depression is not the cause of gossip (assuming she may have it) I have had bouts of depression while working in a clinical environment and also working in a medical customer service environment and my depression never "made" me disclose others confidential information. Depression does not turn a person into a poisonous gossip like this.

Whatever about being obsessed by the ex, its disgraceful that she has gossiped about the current girlfriend, and now her family? what did they ever do to deserve it? What happens when she falls out with you, or one of your group? You are her gossip fodder, as is your family.

beks101

What vindictive, disgusting behaviour. I'm not surprised you're worried OP. To be quite frank even I find it worrying that people like this exist. As Neyite said, what happens if you or another one of your friends gets on her bad side?

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even bother with the vague letter. You've spoken to this girl, your friends have spoken to this girl, she doesn't give a crap and I doubt she'd even realise some wishy-washy lecture on ethics from her boss was directed at her. It doesn't really sound like this girl thinks she's in the wrong, or cares for that matter, which is pretty dangerous.

I think you should contact her current and previous manager and mention her as the culprit of this confidentiality breach. I know you probably won't do this, but this is such a serious issue that her job is already on the line IMO and it's completely 100 percent her own doing. People get fired for less than this and her behaviour is very, very damaging to the business she works for. They're already losing business over it, as you mentioned you've turned your back and sought out another opticians.

And if this girl has been divulging this sort of confidential information about patients for years, you can be sure it is not going to stop any time soon. Please, please report her.

lazygal

I've just had some very invasive hospital appointments and I've recently found out I'm pregnant. We're not telling anyone in real life till I'm 12 weeks gone. My GP's receptionist is a family friend and I'd be beyond annoyed and livid if she was on to my parents telling them "Did ya hear Lazygal is knocked up, she doesn't know how many weeks she is, what do you make of that". I'd be into the GP tomorrow and I wouldn't be very reasonable about it if I was told "Ah sure she's got depression". That's no excuse.


I'd have no hesitation getting onto the company in question and naming and shaming the person.

I have to maintain a high level of confidentiality in my line of work (child care) and there's no way I'd be blabbing about the children in my care to friends and family. If this woman is not being professional, it's HER grave she's digging. Frankly, I think she's been tiptoed around enough.

thefeatheredcat

northwestsurf wrote: »

I do not want her to be fired, I just want her to be aware that it is not nice or professional to spread info like this about people. I do not feel that she paid any heed when spoken to by us, her actions certainly didn't change, so perhaps hearing it from her manager would work better.

I just wanted to know if employees in such an industry are bound to being confidential.

^ On that note, with doctors and patients records, the answer is yes, according to this link, (if it can be posted) http://www.medicalprotection.org/ireland/booklets/medical-records/confidentiality-of-records

There are standards to be maintained on professional conduct and her behaviour of passing on an individual's sensitive information (regardless of whether this is an ex, the neighbour down the road, the attendant at the petrol station or the local publican) would be in breech of any agreements that she has signed. Perhaps consulting terms and conditions relating to the optician as per confidentiality on their website might give an answer on that side.

If you do go ahead and inform them, yes, it is possible that she might lose her job. But if she has signed an agreement, and she is in breech of it, then for the safeguard of the business that might be a last resort disciplinary action that is taken. They might perhaps inform all employees of their professional code of conduct or that their activity will be monitored for any excessive and unnecessary access to records or information held on systems or in passing as part of their role in the job. If she is personally identified they might perhaps remove her from activities she currently does to restrict access, or restrict access to anything pertaining to sensitive information.
It will be up to their discretion as to what they do.

In any case, like all gossip it always has a way of getting back to the individual being gossiped about. Or could be overheard by the wrong people, who might take forward a complaint over what they overheard, and be taken further down a legal route by someone.

All gossip is malicious and always has a chance that others will spread it around with their own interpretation of it that distorts the reality of what was said that results in being even more hurtful than the original gossip spread and damaging for the company involved.

I recall a situation whereby in a call centre, a customer overheard people discussing another customer's medical conditions in a gossipy manner.... the customer quite correctly rang back and made a complaint of what they overheard and it was taken seriously and investigated. Nobody lost their job over it, but it did prompt action to be taken by the company to consistently remind staff of their obligation re professional conduct both inside and outside working hours regarding sensitive information dealt with during work hours.

Seraphina

northwestsurf wrote: »

The information she was gaining while working for the doctor was vile. She was able to tell us about so-and-so having an STI and someone else having problems with depression and anxiety, and an ex of one of the girls in the group having a problem down below. I don't want to know this information and I certainly don't want to think that half of the secretaries at doctor's offices in Ireland are abusing their position by accessing such information.

REPORT HER REPORT HER REPORT HER.

Call the surgery. Tell them you want to remain anon but you are a friend of x and you know she has been discussing personal information. Or write them a letter. Include details of the information she has given you to confirm the story. PLEASE REPORT HER. Otherwise, she will continue to be given positions in which she can breach confidentiality etc. Tell them she is doing it again in her current position and that you think they should know in future, in case they are asked to provide a reference for her.

Call her current workplace too. You could even claim to have just overheard her, say you think it is incredibly unprofessional conduct and you will be informing your friends and family not to use the optician in question. If they think they are losing customers over mouthy staff they will do something about it quick sharp.

I work in a doctors surgery. I found out some VERY sensitive information about friends of mine, which I will take to the grave with me. It is a basic right to confidentiality with the doctor. This girl NEEDS to lose her job. I'm sorry if it sounds harsh but there is NO WAY she should be working somewhere like that.

LegacyUser

Thanks for your replies guys. I think anyone who has had invasive procedures understands why I find it uncomfortable that there are people out there who share this kind of sensitive info.

One piece of info that was shared with all of us in the group in the past was about a young family member of her ex's girlfriend who had issues following a terminated pregnancy and that was when I first expressed my shock at sharing such info, but I think people made allowances for her at the time as she was bitter and just out of a breakup, (I didn't, but others did) but that is a long time ago and she has no excuse for her behaviour now.

The first thing that ran through my mind was, what will she say to the world about my private life if I pull her up on how I feel about her sharing such information.

I don't want to have any connections to someone who spreads this type of information so that's why I wouldn't consider myself her friend. I find it disturbing to overhear such info, it's not my business and I don't need to know.

Either way, this has made me very cautious about who I will choose as my doctor/optician in future. If this girl does get another position with a doctor (she is hoping to) I will absolutely let the doctor know what she's like before she gets the position.

I'm still thinking an anonymous letter to the optician might be the best way to go, but as it's a big international company, I can't find a manager's name for our branch online. I'm concerned that she would be the one opening the letter unless it's addressed specifically to the manager. More research required I guess.

LegacyUser

Hey Op,

I knew someone who did very similar things. This person had her exs passwords and had unlimited access to his emails, bank accounts and online texting, which she repeatadly used in to see where he was at the weekend and who he was calling (after they had broken up).

Afew years ago she worked for a bank and knew all of our transactions, and even commented when a persons dad was in a huge amount of debt.

No one told her it was wrong because, to be honest we were all scared of her. I regret not doing anything about it.

So if you can stop her now, do it.

CrazyRabbit

I've no legal background, but I would have imagined that this would be a breach of data protection laws. Any private information gathered about a person by a company must be protected and not released to the public without that persons permission.

Where I work, I have access to some private information, such as home addresses, financial details, medical history etc, and I know that I am legally obliged to keep that information secure and that I cannot discuss it with people who do not have permission to see/know about it.

beks101

northwestsurf wrote: »

I'm still thinking an anonymous letter to the optician might be the best way to go, but as it's a big international company, I can't find a manager's name for our branch online. I'm concerned that she would be the one opening the letter unless it's addressed specifically to the manager. More research required I guess.

Call them directly and ask for the manager's name, they're obliged to tell you.

I still think you should name the girl in your letter, that way they will have the full picture and it takes the owness off you and on them deal with the situation. A vague letter is just that - vague - one would hope enough to kick the manager into action, but there's also a chance it could be overlooked.

Penny Dreadful

curlzy wrote: »

I actually agree with Distorted. I think the way you discribe her, i.e. not a real friend, a tag along, invites herself everywhere shows she reallly isn't someone you respect, at all. I would wonder why you socialise with someone that you have so little respect for? You say you all know each other years and are socialising years but you honestly sound like you despise the girl, not a very nice trait in someone who is supposed to be her friend. So maybe have a look at yourself and your behaviour too.

If I were you I'd have a word with her and say that it's come back to you through other people that word is spreading about her gossiping about people's private business and that she should knock it on the head before it gets her into trouble.

Either way I would go to other practises if you want to ensure she doesn't access your information.[/QUOTE]

No one should be forced to change their medical practitioner because they are worried that the receptionist/other staff are going to gossip about their health and private business on a Friday night in the pub!.
Privacy, confidentiality, a code of ethics all trump whatever upset this girl is feeling after her break up 3 years ago. 3 year ago, not last week.
I'd have it out with her straight away OP and if she doesn't stop (and probably won't to be honest) I'd report her straight away. If she can't get a job because of a bad reference on foot of this she has no one to blame but herself.

ilikepears

northwestsurf wrote: »

Thanks for your replies guys. I think anyone who has had invasive procedures understands why I find it uncomfortable that there are people out there who share this kind of sensitive info.

One piece of info that was shared with all of us in the group in the past was about a young family member of her ex's girlfriend who had issues following a terminated pregnancy and that was when I first expressed my shock at sharing such info, but I think people made allowances for her at the time as she was bitter and just out of a breakup, (I didn't, but others did) but that is a long time ago and she has no excuse for her behaviour now.

The first thing that ran through my mind was, what will she say to the world about my private life if I pull her up on how I feel about her sharing such information.

I don't want to have any connections to someone who spreads this type of information so that's why I wouldn't consider myself her friend. I find it disturbing to overhear such info, it's not my business and I don't need to know.

Either way, this has made me very cautious about who I will choose as my doctor/optician in future. If this girl does get another position with a doctor (she is hoping to) I will absolutely let the doctor know what she's like before she gets the position.

I'm still thinking an anonymous letter to the optician might be the best way to go, but as it's a big international company, I can't find a manager's name for our branch online. I'm concerned that she would be the one opening the letter unless it's addressed specifically to the manager. More research required I guess.

beks101 wrote: »

Call them directly and ask for the manager's name, they're obliged to tell you.

I still think you should name the girl in your letter, that way they will have the full picture and it takes the owness off you and on them deal with the situation. A vague letter is just that - vague - one would hope enough to kick the manager into action, but there's also a chance it could be overlooked.

That is completely out of line. I would strongly urge you to follow beks101 advice. You have to report this girl to her current employer. This girl should not be allowed to work where she has access to any confidential information. I assume she had receptionist/ office admin experience so she will be able to find work outside of her current line of employment. Dont worry about her because she doesn't care about anyone else. The scary thing is that there are these kind of people all over the country talking about others private medical information. I know of one nurse who used to do it and I think its despicable. The worst thing is that the ex and his girlfriend are probably oblivious to this. I feel extremely sorry for them.

qwertytlk

I think what this girl is doing is not on. If i were you i would discreetly call or write to the company and tell them what she is doing. Its a disgrace and if she cant be professional then she shouldnt be working in this typ of job

gubbie

northwestsurf wrote: »

Thanks for your replies guys. I think anyone who has had invasive procedures understands why I find it uncomfortable that there are people out there who share this kind of sensitive info.

One piece of info that was shared with all of us in the group in the past was about a young family member of her ex's girlfriend who had issues following a terminated pregnancy and that was when I first expressed my shock at sharing such info, but I think people made allowances for her at the time as she was bitter and just out of a breakup, (I didn't, but others did) but that is a long time ago and she has no excuse for her behaviour now.

The first thing that ran through my mind was, what will she say to the world about my private life if I pull her up on how I feel about her sharing such information.

I don't want to have any connections to someone who spreads this type of information so that's why I wouldn't consider myself her friend. I find it disturbing to overhear such info, it's not my business and I don't need to know.

Either way, this has made me very cautious about who I will choose as my doctor/optician in future. If this girl does get another position with a doctor (she is hoping to) I will absolutely let the doctor know what she's like before she gets the position.

I'm still thinking an anonymous letter to the optician might be the best way to go, but as it's a big international company, I can't find a manager's name for our branch online. I'm concerned that she would be the one opening the letter unless it's addressed specifically to the manager. More research required I guess.

I beg you, not for yourself or your friends, but for the good of everyone to report her. Do it anonymously. Who knows what else she'd do if someone else did something bad to her

LegacyUser

When I worked in a large commerical opticians(non optician job) I'm pretty sure I never had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Also, everyone who worked there would have access to your file etc. In saying all that, the only thing an optician will know is your current perscription which I don't really see the big deal about but understand you not wanting this wagon to look at.

Also, you don't need the manager name to write a letter, just address it to the manager and he/she will be the only one who will open it.

Fluorescence

This woman cannot and should not be allowed hold a job in an environment where she is privy to confidential information ever. She's been gossiping about this kind of stuff for around 2 years now? No excuses, that's out of line. Downright disgusting. I would advise you ring up and ask for the manager's name directly and deal with this asap. If she does apply for position in the doctor's surgery later on and you don't inform her current employers then she'll have access to much more private information than she currently does.

She seriously needs to find a new line of work. Being a filthy gossip is not conducive to professional behaviour in such a workplace.

I never really gave much thought to who has access to my personal information before, but by god i do now.

I had an ex of mine quote me my bank balance when i bumped into him one night, he had being promoted to the "card section" of the bank where i held my account. Needless to say, i changed my bank and im sorry now that i didnt report the incident, but that was years ago. Medical information is much more sensitive im my opinion. I dont know the receptionist at my doctors and she doesnt know me so i dont give it much thought, but i totally understand why the OP switched doctor, jesus! a poster made the point about all the unemployed people in the country that would jump at the chance to have that job, an abide by the code of ethics, Maybe the OP should point that out to this girl.

I work as a bookkeeper and have access to information which depict the finances of many local traders and the like. I Could tell stories which people would not believe , but i would never ever betray a clients trust, i wouldnt even tell my OH, id very extremely ashamed of myself, this girl in question sounds like she has absolutely no shame, breaking up with her ex is no excuse for this behaviour no matter how people try to defend it.

misschoo

northwestsurf wrote: »

One piece of info that was shared with all of us in the group in the past was about a young family member of her ex's girlfriend who had issues following a terminated pregnancy

OP - I'm not sure that you should be divulging this kind of information on this site? You've also said where you're from too - Ireland is a small place & if anyone from your area is reading this they could put two & two together - just a thought.

For the record I work in pharmacy & never had to sign a confidentiality clause but ethically it's built into me never to divulge any customer information - it's just not on. For example if my friends Mum came into the shop for even a cough bottle I would never say it to my friend - that's just how it is - obviously not all people are like that & that's awful. I would contact the surgery/opticians & let them know what has been said.

I am a friend

Yeah op, at this stage, the general consensus is to advise the company.

Kevin Duffy

Distorted wrote: »

Well with friends like this, she's not going to need enemies, is she? I'm not at all trivialising what she has done or saying its right, but why would writing an anonymous letter be your first action? By all means, do so if you speak to her personally and warn her and she blatantly continues, but why not leave it a last (or at least second) resort? You are supposed to be her friends fgs. Maybe if you offered her some support like the rest of us are fortunate enough to get from our friends in difficult times, she wouldn't indulge in action which is so obviously calculated, albeit misguidedly, to make you find her interesting to be around.

People assault others and are given second chances. You are actively trying to make someone lose their job and possibly home and lifestyle and future because of this. At times like this, I am reminded of how bitchy and unkind girls of this age can be, its like ganging up on the weakest member of the herd.

This girl could well have a minor depressive illness, and is probably quite unhappy and lonely as it is. How awful for her friends not to have a quiet word with her to try and put her back on the right track but instead hope to ruin her life!

You for real? The girl has a history of it in two jobs, not some isolated incident. If she's reported and loses her job, that's her fault, not the OP's. Lots of people go through breakups and worse without committing serious breaches of professional ethics, so her personal life is no defence.

LegacyUser

Distorted wrote: »

If you're that concerned, and she is part of your group of friends (even though you don't like her), why don't you speak to her about it? And if she gives you the brush off, get one of the other concerned friends to do the same.

To be honest, I feel a bit sorry for the poor girl. She's obviously devastated at the break up with her ex and is struggling to replace him. You might even say she's suffering from a bit of mental illness right now. She hasn't murdered anyone, so I hope that you keep this is perspective and don't do anything that will make her lose her job or anything. It can be hard to understand people when they are being annoying like this but at the moment, it sounds like even people she thinks are her friends are her enemies.

Just have a quiet word with her. She's probably doing it in a misguided attempt to make herself popular by providing salacious gossip. I guess if you made her feel part of the group more, she might not feel she had to try so hard?

OP - do not heed the above advice!


You need to report this woman. Going through a breakup years earlier is NO excuse, no matter how vulnerable a person is. Everyone goes through breakups, some find it harder than others to get over, but to continue to abuse one's profession in order to dig up info on the ex THREE YEARS ON is just sick, as far as I'm concerned. Do all of us who trust our doctor's and opticians with private info a favour, and report this woman!

LegacyUser

SavingSpecs wrote: »

When I worked in a large commerical opticians(non optician job) I'm pretty sure I never had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Also, everyone who worked there would have access to your file etc. In saying all that, the only thing an optician will know is your current perscription which I don't really see the big deal about but understand you not wanting this wagon to look at.

Also, you don't need the manager name to write a letter, just address it to the manager and he/she will be the only one who will open it.

I think this is the most important reply here. There is no confidentiality agreement, so surely there is no point reporting this girl. She isn't doing anything wrong, other than morally. It's not morally right to disclose private info like this in the pub on a Saturday night, but if she hasn't signed any agreement to keep the information she learns through her job confidential, then she's not really doing anything wrong.

The doctor job may be a different case, but my sister worked in a doctor's reception and she didn't sign any agreements to confidentiality, she was however told to keep anything she overheard to herself.

I don't think there is much point taking any action unless you see your friend applying for another job in a doctor's office, at which point you ought to either have another word with the girl in question or send an anonymous letter to the doctor alerting him to this girl's lack of discretion.

I don't think the optician will be able to take any action against their employee when there is no rule about confidentiality in place to begin with.

Fluorescence

dfdsfdsfdsf wrote: »

I think this is the most important reply here. There is no confidentiality agreement, so surely there is no point reporting this girl. She isn't doing anything wrong, other than morally. It's not morally right to disclose private info like this in the pub on a Saturday night, but if she hasn't signed any agreement to keep the information she learns through her job confidential, then she's not really doing anything wrong.

The doctor job may be a different case, but my sister worked in a doctor's reception and she didn't sign any agreements to confidentiality, she was however told to keep anything she overheard to herself.

I don't think there is much point taking any action unless you see your friend applying for another job in a doctor's office, at which point you ought to either have another word with the girl in question or send an anonymous letter to the doctor alerting him to this girl's lack of discretion.

I don't think the optician will be able to take any action against their employee when there is no rule about confidentiality in place to begin with.

Even if there is no official confidentiality agreement, I would be very surprised if the woman in question was not severely reprimanded and/or fired after directly ensuring many customers would not be going there again. Her employers would sit up and take notice if they learned their employee is a haemmorage to the business.

fungun

SavingSpecs wrote: »

When I worked in a large commerical opticians(non optician job) I'm pretty sure I never had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Also, everyone who worked there would have access to your file etc. In saying all that, the only thing an optician will know is your current perscription which I don't really see the big deal about but understand you not wanting this wagon to look at.

Also, you don't need the manager name to write a letter, just address it to the manager and he/she will be the only one who will open it.

hmm, if you worked in an opticians, surely you are aware of the amount of diseases that actually become evident in eye exams....a number of STIs for instance are detectable during optical examinations. Definitely information available here that people would not want to become public.