HIPPA laws question...

I have a girlfriend who is having a tummy tuck done for cosmetic reasons. She is trying to keep this as secret as possible. Even thought her surgeon has filled out all her Short term disability paperwork, HR is asking alot of questions about who decided this surgery was necessary...blah blah blah.  Since this particular HR person is not the person who will be the final decider in approving her short term disability, can he do this? I told her to tell them that she was having personal issues and self referred.  The surgeon is going to correct it.

Your friend is under no obligation to disclose any medical information to her employer. The employer may only require a statement from a physician regarding her fitness to work or not work, specifically, her ablility to perform the required duties of her job. 

Thanks Eddie! That's what I thought...and what I told her. Anyway, someone must have let this guy in on that because he called her back and said he did not need the "additional" information after all.  (The plastic surgeon put down that she had a hernia anyway.  I don't know why he didn't think that was enough.  ) Our HR department is a little off. 

HR departments can be so frustrating!  They are the ones that screwed up and did not tell me about having to work at least one day in Sept to have my insurance covered and that I was not intitled to my sick leave that I worked for and would not get paid for when I left.  They finally decided to blame my old boss and keep my termination date as Sept 4th.  Anyway back on track. Your friend does not have to tell her HR department a thing.  All she has to say is medical reasons and leave it there.  If the HR person pressed further, she needs to ask why and advise him that he may be envading her privacy and it is none of his business.   Plus is the HR person is male, just tell her to tell him she is having female problems, that usually shuts the men up. I hope things work our for your friend. Julie