OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Students: Consider powers of attorney
By Daintry Cleary | Oct. 8, 2007In light of violent events at Virginia Tech and on other campuses, students and their parents should be aware that if a person is 18 or older, their parents might be unable to obtain medical information about their child, even in an emergency situation. This is because federal law requires physicians and health care facilities to keep a patient's medical information confidential, pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). There are severe penalties for those who violate these provisions.
