HIPAA doesn't protect you from the doctor lecturing you. Or from his disapproval, if he's not fully informed on cannabis' risks and benefits, which few are. That's what stops most people from fessing up about weed.

If you've signed any sort of HIPAA release authorization in his office, which you're usually asked to do routinely, the doc can and will release that information if he needs to to others. Chances are he won't. But say you're coming to me for your heart and another doc like an internist or a pulmonologist for your lungs. You tell one of us you suck up a gram of weed a day in a bong. You better believe that's pertinent history that, with your signed release, we'll be sharing between ourselves. Not with your parents or your friends. But with other doctors and even with a hospital if you were about to be treated there, too. You tell me you smoke like a chimney and then suffer sudden cardiac death a week later at home or in the hospital while you're having a procedure. I damn sure want it on the official record between me and my colleagues and hospital that you liked your weed just like I want it on the record if you like tobacco.

So-called "federal health care offenses" defined under HIPAA are the criminal violations where fines can range up to $250K and even carry 10-year jail penalties. A fine for a doctor disclosing information without authorization might be $25K max, if that. Doctors who follow the guidelines and have you sign that authorization form don't have anything to fear.
Dave Byrd Reviewed by Dave Byrd on . vaporizer and heart/cardiac issues Ok, so here goes. I have a heart condition, a fairly serious one, for which I have an implanted cardiac defibrillator. in the past, on two or three separate occasions, after smoking cannabis, I have suffered attack-like symptoms, including loss of consciousness (after a 3 foot bong session lasting an hour or so) and had arrythmia (irregular heartbeat) and basically symptoms of my condition. i have begrudgingly come to the conclusion that i cannot safely smoke cannabis. however, my suspicion is Rating: 5