Q: Is it illegal for my doctor to give out my name and number even if it's not a medical inquiry?
I was leaving my doctor today and the driver who picked me up hit the vehicle next to his. He got out to check damage and didn't see any so we left. Several hours later I got a text from the owner of the car saying he saw what happened and if I did not give his information to the driver he would call the police. I gave the information to the driver as he was not trying to hide or had the intention to hit and run in any way. I asked how he got my name and number and he said he had the footage of the accident and the license plate of the car who hit him. However, my name or number are not associated with the that vehicle and there was no way he could have gotten my information that way. I inquired more and after I accused him of getting my information from my doctor he stopped responding. I called my doctor who said they would investigate the matter. However, there is no other way he could have gotten my name and my number anywhere else other than my doctor's office.
A:
UNDER HIPPA A DOC CAN NOT RELEASE YOUR MED INFO.
IF IT IS REGARDING A CRIMINAL ACT OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT A DOC COULD PROVIDE YOUR INFO AS A SUSPECT.
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