Read the scenario and then type responses to the questions directly below each question.

You leave your computer to go to lunch. As you step away from the computer, your coworker Jeremy, another medical assistant, gets on the same computer. Upon returning from lunch, you notice that you did not properly log off the system, and someone accessed a patient’s chart through your log-in ID. This particular patient’s chart was not your patient and you have no reason to access this chart. You notice the patient is a young female, age 24 years. Later that day, in the break room, you overhear a conversation between two staff members who observed Jeremy being very friendly with a young female patient this morning, and they noticed that Jeremy has been having somewhat personal conversations with young female patients, even when they are not assigned to him. You begin to suspect Jeremy may have accessed this patient’s chart for personal reasons.

1.    Cite specific HIPAA provisions that may have been violated. Use at least 2 online sources to justify your response. Make sure you provide complete website addresses, including the http://’ (such as http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.aspx ) of each source.
2.    If there is a HIPAA violation, are you liable? Is Jeremy?
3.    What should you do now?
4.    Does this violate the ethical guidelines for your profession? Provide an online source supporting your answer.