Update: Mercy Says OB/GYN's Facebook Comments 'Inappropriate'
Mercy says Dr. Amy Dunbar's reported comments on the social media site about a patient were "inappropriate and not in line with our values."
People love to vent on Facebook, but a Des Peres-based Mercy OB/GYN is under fire following comments she's made about a patient who was late for appointments.
"So I have a patient who has either chosen to no-show or be late (sometimes hours) for all of her prenatal visits, ultrasounds, and NSTs. She is now 3 hours late for her induction," Amy Dunbar posted January 28. "May I show up late to her delivery?" she wrote.
Dunbar's post suggests that the reason why she hadn't cancelled the appointment was because the mother had a previous stillbirth.
People have been posting on Mercy's Moms To Be Facebook page calling for disciplinary action, concerned that enough information had been disclosed in the posts to violate patient privacy.
KMOV reports that Mercy officials are reviewing the comments. In a statement Monday, a system spokeswoman said "While our privacy compliance staff has confirmed that this physician’s comments did not represent a breach of privacy laws, they were inappropriate and not in line with our values of respect and dignity."
The statement added that the incident would be used to reinforce standards about the "appropirate use of social media."
Patch is also in touch with Dr. Dunbar's office for comment and will update that as it becomes available.
jimmiebigballs
1:46 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
I agree with Dunbar....it is ridiculous that patients always want the best of service yet can't keep an appointment for the life of them!
Scott Simon
3:53 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
jimmiebigballs, do yourself a favor. Read the Hippocratic Oath and HIPAA laws before you write. It's just better that way. This doctor needs a wakeup call and this is it.
Melinda Clark
12:25 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
I am confused.....was this on her personal Facebook page or the office/company page? If it was her personal FB page, she has every right to vent and express her opinions.
Scott Simon
5:48 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
No she doesn't! She's bound to follow HIPAA laws. If someone figures out who the patient is, this doctor is in big trouble.
Beth
9:57 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
If these comments had been made by a non medical staff employee at Mercy on a Facebook page, you can guarantee that that employee would have been terminated immediately. Disciplinary actions against a physician who generates revenue for the hospital are most certainly going to be merely a slap on the wrist. Besides, how many patients are kept waiting for hours by their doctors and never receive an apology.
jimmiebigballs
3:39 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Scotty boy, I am sure some greedy trial attorney will file a suit for a violation of HIPAA if they can pick up a few bucks. No identity given? No violation.