HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 -- US)

source: www.cdc.gov/phlp/publicatons/topics/hipaa.html

HIPAA = a federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge (signed into law by then Pres Bill Clinton)

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act

"Individuals have the right to access all health-related information, including health condition, treatment plan, notes, images, lab results, & billing information. Explicitly EXCLUDED are the PRIVATE PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES  of a provider, & information gathered by a provider to defend against a lawsuit."

>"un-encrypted email" -- information may be intercepted & examined by others

 >NB: "In any case, when a covered entity [entities that must comply with HIPAA requirements] discloses a PHI (personal health information), it must make a REASONABLE EFFORT to disclose only the MINIMUM NECESSARY INFORMATION required to achieve its purpose." (Code of Federal Regulations # 45. Public Welfare)