LOS ANGELES — Emergency responders wrongly accuse civilians filming medical patients of HIPAA violations in two separate southern California incidents.
In a July 20 encounter, posted to YouTube the following day, personnel reported to be from L.A. County Fire Department tell a neighbor filming a patient being wheeled to the cot that he is violating a law. “I don’t think you are able to tape people’s medical information,” a firefighter is heard saying. “There is a law against that.”
“So you are saying it is a violation of a law for me to be recording on a public sidewalk,” asks the man videoing.
The incident ends when the two firefighters walk away from the man as he tells them to “f--- off.”
In a video from a June 13 incident, posted to YouTube on June 15, medical personnel reported to be from the L.A. Fire Department tell a man to stop videoing and photographing a woman with a bleeding wound. The photographer is heard explaining he is a friend of the patient and is documenting her life. He also claims to be a certified EMT.
“Destiny (the patient), is it OK if I take pictures,” the photographer is heard asking.
“It’s OK,” Destiny is heard replying.
The emergency responders continue to ask the photographer to move away and tell him “it is a HIPAA law violation.”
The man moves away from the patient, but continues to video and photograph the incident. The video ends when the personnel who told him to stop filming tell the man where his friend is being transported.