Gay students HIV status revealed in student council smear campaign

[WillParkinson]

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2013/04/gay-students-hiv-status-revealed-in-student-council-smear-campaign/

HOUSTON — Campus police at the University of Houston-Downtown have launched an investigation over flyers that surfaced on campus that detailed private medical information about a gay student’s HIV status.

Kristopher Sharp, a third year student who is running for student body vice-president, was called into the UHD Dean of Students Tommy Thomason’s office last week and given a copy of the flyer that had been found at numerous locations around campus.

The front of the flyer had the words “WANT AIDS?” above a picture of Sharp with a large “x” on it, and “Don’t support the Isaac and Kris homosexual agenda” at the bottom. (Isaac Valdez, also a junior at UHD, is Sharp’s running mate.) On the back of the flyer was Sharps’s medical information from a physician visit, including his HIV status and prescribed medication, along with his home address and telephone number.

Sharp told the Houston Press that he was “really devastated” by the incident and, and that his first reaction was, “How quickly can I transfer?” to another school.

(More at link)

[still_one]

1. The smear campaign is disgusting enough, displaying his personal medical records is criminal.

Whoever is involved in this needs to be expelled and should do time

[tblue]

2. Get him the hell out of there.

What an ugly thing to do. Damn! That is so mean!!!!!! Those students should be kicked out of school and arrested too. Seriously. Criminal and civil charges.

Poor guy. I hope he'll come to California. Highly unlikely you'd see that BS here.

[Initech]

3. I hope he sues the living shit out of the school and presses hate crime charges.

[SoapBox]

4. Stunning.

Expel and JAIL the scum responsible.

[beyurslf]

5. What student works at his doctor's office?

HIPPA violations upwards of $10,000 each.

[pinto]

6. +1

[closeupready]

7. If this were France, there would definitely be jail time. However,

the HIPAA does not include provisions for imprisonment, from what I understand - only monetary fines.

Senators and House members talk long and hard about how their own privacy should be respected, but when it comes to their constituents, they don't care. It's that simple.

This fact is one among others that people need to consider in making big decisions about their health care.

EDIT - sorry, I'm mistaken. Apparently, you CAN get jail time for violating the HIPAA.