Cc: [Former!] Robert Cancro, MD, Chair, Psychiatry Department, New York
University Medical Center; Mark Brady, Chief Compliance Officer, New
York University Medical Center

Medical Patient Privacy Issue
July 8, 2004

Dear Dr. Lenard Adler, MD:
    I write you now under strictest confidence, which the NYU Medical
Center community and Federal government guarantee me.
    Today, July 8, 2004, I contacted the NYU Ethics Consultation
Service regarding my concerns that my medical confidentiality has been
violated; Esther Chanchkes, Ph.D., Social Work Department, advised me
to contact the relevant treating department directly, as well as the
patient representative department.
    Because my issue concerns the NYU Adult ADHD center, you appear to
be the relevant contact person, as you are Director.  If this is
incorrect, please advise me to the appropriate department within the
NYU Medical Center.
    I am a female adult, with a diagnosis of adult ADHD.  In September
1999, I visited the NYU adult ADHD service, then located at the
Hospital of Joint Diseases.  I received excellent care from Dr. Matthew
B. Smith.  I still see Dr. Smith in his private practice, and I have
always been exceptionally pleased with his medical care, sensitivity,
and expertise; I intend to continue seeing Dr. Smith in the future, as
he provides excellent care.
    However, I am contacting you now regarding a different healthcare
provider.  In April 2002, for psychotherapy, I began seeing a
psychologist in your department.  Although I have seen her in her
private practice office, rather than the NYU offices, she gave me the
standard "NYU School of Medicine NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
ACKNOWLEDGMENT" form from the Neurology ADHD Program, 530 First Avenue,
Suite 5A, New York, NY.
    Therefore, I believe that this is an NYU Medical Center issue, and
I am pursuing this issue through appropriate NYU Medical Center
channels, as well as appropriate Federal channels.  Further, all
written correspondence with the treating psychologist has been within
the domain of the NYU Medical School e-mail server.
    I have serious concerns that my private medical information --
regarding sensitive material I divulged in psychotherapy with my
psychologist, as well as my ADHD diagnosis -- has been divulged and my
privacy has been violated.  As of May 2004, for a variety of reasons, I
have formally terminated treatment with the treating psychologist.
    I am also an official volunteer member of the NYU Medical Center
community, active since spring 2003.  In my formal professional career,
I earn my living as a medical writer.  Accordingly, as a volunteer, I
work for the NYU Child Study Center, contributing articles for the
Aboutourkids.org website. I enjoy this work immensely, and I have
immense respect for all professionals in that department.
    From the beginning, in 2003, I reported to Robin F. Goodman,
Ph.D., and Anita Gurian, Ph.D.; since the departure of Dr. Goodman from
the Child Study Center, in early 2004, I have reported directly to Dr.
Gurian.  It has been a great pleasure working with both, and I have no
complaints or concerns about either Dr. Goodman or Dr. Gurian.
    I do, however, have serious concerns that my private medical
information -- regarding material I divulged in psychotherapy with my
psychologist -- has been passed along to Dr. Goodman and Dr. Gurian.
If this has occurred, I consider this a serious breach of my medical
privacy, as protected by Federal guidelines.
    I consider my mental health information an extremely personal
issue, which I guard due to professional concerns.  Public knowledge of
an ADHD diagnosis can potentially impact my professional career in many
adverse ways, affecting my earning ability and credibility as
professional.  I do not make this information public, nor will I in the
future.
    My work for the NYU Child Study Center, while performed on a
voluntary basis, is an important aspect of my professional career as a
medical writer.  This Volunteer Service commitment is list on my
CV/resume;  I refer potential clients/employers to the website to
review my work;  and if appropriate, I utilize Dr. Goodman and Dr.
Gurian as professional references.
    Further, because I work in the medical communications industry
(eg, continuing medical education, pharmaceutical advertising, medical
journalism, etc.), it is not uncommon for members of the NYU medical
community to overlap with my professional contacts in the medical
communications industry.  It is standard procedure for me to consult
regularly with medical opinion leaders in diverse therapeutic areas.
Therefore, it is crucial that my medical privacy be maintained within
the NYU volunteer community.
    Understandably, it is imperative -- and within my rights -- that
the Child Study Center community regard me in the same untarnished
light as my formal professional colleagues;  additionally, it is my
Federal right that my medical mental health information remain
unavailable to both communities.
    It is my understanding that, despite the fact that I am an
official NYU Medical Center volunteer, my private medical information
-- divulged in psychotherapy -- should remain private, should remain
unavailable to my reporting chain of command within the NYU Medical
Center volunteer structure.
    I understand that I am protected, without fear of reprisal or
retribution, to pursue this issue for clarification, under NYU Medical
Center compliance guidelines, as well as Federal privacy protections
for medical information.  It is also my understanding that my decision
to clarify this issue will not further affect my medical privacy or
affect my standing as an official NYU Medical School volunteer.
    Once again, I remind you that the NYU Ethics Consultation Service
(212.263.5018) directed to the department head of the relevant
department, which in this case, appears to be you, Dr. Adler.  If this
referral is incorrect, I appreciate your guidance and attention in
directing me to the appropriate venue within the NYU Medical Center.
Thank you for your respected attention and assistance.
    Please note that I am also copying this correspondence to Robert
Cancro, Psychiatry, Chairman, and Mark S. Brody, CHIEF COMPLIANCE
OFFICER, NYU.

Sincerely,
Virginia Hooper
401 East 34th St. 16GN