Doctor disciplined for revealing patient info on Facebook

Check your privacy policies for medical staff--a Rhode Island case shows they may need some tightening. An R.I. physician was just reprimanded this week for inadvertently identifying a patient on Facebook, according to the Providence Journal.

The physician didn't use the patient's name or other identifying information. But in recounting some of her experiences in a hospital ER, she included enough detail about the patient's injuries that a third party was able to identify the patient, the Journal reports.

The doctor, Alexandra Than, who practices at Westerly Hospital, deleted her Facebook account when she discovered the breach, but still was found guilty of unprofessional conduct and fined $500 by the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, according to the Journal's blog, Projo.com. Officials at Westerly Hospital told the Boston Herald that they have terminated Than's privileges at their facilities.

To learn more:
- check out the Providence Journal story
- get more details from Projo.com
- see the Associated Press article
- learn more from the Boston Herald