Will med schools look down on me for using patient names?

[gingham]

Hi all, would appreciate some advice.

I used two fake patient first names in my medical school essay, but did not put quotes around them (used Mary Anna instead of "Mary Anna" and another name). I did not say anything about their condition, just that they were in the unit I volunteered in, and described how I interacted with them while volunteering (e.g. In the clinic, Mary Anna taught me how to crochet). I did put the name of where I volunteered in my work/activities section.

I know this is not a HIPAA violation b/c no one will be able to find out who they were, but will admissions officers look down upon the fact that I seemed to use their real names? Already submitted so can't change it now, but would appreciate some insight.

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[cubsfan95]

Hi all, would appreciate some advice.

I used two fake patient first names in my medical school essay, but did not put quotes around them (used Mary Anna instead of "Mary Anna" and another name). I did not say anything about their condition, just that they were in the unit I volunteered in, and described how I interacted with them while volunteering (e.g. In the clinic, Mary Anna taught me how to crochet). I did put the name of where I volunteered in my work/activities section.

I know this is not a HIPAA violation b/c no one will be able to find out who they were, but will admissions officers look down upon the fact that I seemed to use their real names? Already submitted so can't change it now, but would appreciate some insight.

Poor judgment on your part. You are done.

 

[M&L]

Hi all, would appreciate some advice.

I used two fake patient first names in my medical school essay, but did not put quotes around them (used Mary Anna instead of "Mary Anna" and another name). I did not say anything about their condition, just that they were in the unit I volunteered in, and described how I interacted with them while volunteering (e.g. In the clinic, Mary Anna taught me how to crochet). I did put the name of where I volunteered in my work/activities section.

I know this is not a HIPAA violation b/c no one will be able to find out who they were, but will admissions officers look down upon the fact that I seemed to use their real names? Already submitted so can't change it now, but would appreciate some insight.

i mean, nothing you can do now..... just cross your fingers and hope for the best. Next time say "Lets call her Mary Anna"

 

[Sky138]

Why didn’t you just say Mary if not to save characters....

 

[akg0119]

I'm extremely confused by the responses on this thread. How is it a problem to use a fake name in an anecdote without giving any identifying characteristics? Sure you can say "Let's call her Mary Anna," but that seems unnecessary if you can just name the patient as Mary Anna (without quotes) in the first place. I can't imagine how this would be interpreted as a potential HIPAA violation in any way?

 

[Tyrese]

Remember that the whole med school app process is like walking on eggshells.... if you had an unsure feeling about this, then you shouldn't have mentioned their names. Hoping for the best.

 

[Belphegor]

I'm extremely confused by the responses on this thread. How is it a problem to use a fake name in an anecdote without giving any identifying characteristics? Sure you can say "Let's call her Mary Anna," but that seems unnecessary if you can just name the patient as Mary Anna (without quotes) in the first place. I can't imagine how this would be interpreted as a potential HIPAA violation in any way?

Seems pretty necessary to say it's a fake name, imo.

All medical facilities avoid any sort of HIPAA violation. They are big no-no's, as we all know. What if the person reviewing the essay doesn't interpret it as a fake name? They could think OP could be a potential liability by using a patient's name, one of the most protected PHI's (if not the most), in their essay.

Let's hope the people reviewing OP's essay assume it's a fake name or assume that the clinic didn't teach volunteers properly about PHI and HIPAA and give OP a pass.

EDIT: Technically, using a patient's first name is a HIPAA violation. However, OP didn't using the full name or mention anything such as, age, location, medical history, or any other PHI, so, after thinking about it some more, I think adcoms might ignore it. However, I am not an adcom so I don't know what they think about this sort of thing.

 

[LizzyM]

Always best to put the name in quotes and to use a fake name of as few letters as possible (to save space). Anthropologist do this all the time and while they don't operate under HIPAA they do have a code of ethics that respects the privacy of the communities where they do their work.

Ana, Ida, Nan, Lou, Mae, Bob, Dan, Don, Rod, Tom, Ian, Stu, Tim, Joe.

 

[GoBlue2019]

Just to lighten the mood of this thread, I referred to a patient in my personal statement in this same way and had absolutely no issues with it...

 

[Goro]

Hi all, would appreciate some advice.

I used two fake patient first names in my medical school essay, but did not put quotes around them (used Mary Anna instead of "Mary Anna" and another name). I did not say anything about their condition, just that they were in the unit I volunteered in, and described how I interacted with them while volunteering (e.g. In the clinic, Mary Anna taught me how to crochet). I did put the name of where I volunteered in my work/activities section.

I know this is not a HIPAA violation b/c no one will be able to find out who they were, but will admissions officers look down upon the fact that I seemed to use their real names? Already submitted so can't change it now, but would appreciate some insight.

Take two of these:

 

[lireur]

@Goro made my day with that joke. Thanks for your input. Wishing the best to this applicant 🙂

 

[DrStephennmnm]

The problem is OP used a first/last name, which makes it seem like it may be a real patient. To give reference, none of the personal statements I read while applying had this issue, so I'd imagine adcoms may potentially think OP is violating HIPPA

 

[LizzyM]

The problem is OP used a first/last name, which makes it seem like it may be a real patient. To give reference, none of the personal statements I read while applying had this issue, so I'd imagine adcoms may potentially think OP is violating HIPPA

He didn't say he used a first and last name. He had a patient with a double name like Juan Carlos or Mary Anne.

 

[LunaOri]

I really don't think the AdComs will hold this against you. Please try not to stress about this!

 

[Med Ed]

Hi all, would appreciate some advice.

I used two fake patient first names in my medical school essay, but did not put quotes around them (used Mary Anna instead of "Mary Anna" and another name). I did not say anything about their condition, just that they were in the unit I volunteered in, and described how I interacted with them while volunteering (e.g. In the clinic, Mary Anna taught me how to crochet). I did put the name of where I volunteered in my work/activities section.

I know this is not a HIPAA violation b/c no one will be able to find out who they were, but will admissions officers look down upon the fact that I seemed to use their real names? Already submitted so can't change it now, but would appreciate some insight.

If you're going to use unnecessarily elaborate fake names you need to go all out. I suggest Percival Cedar and Moxie Philomena.

 

[stayathomemom]

If you're going to use unnecessarily elaborate fake names you need to go all out. I suggest Percival Cedar and Moxie Philomena.

If I used Faye Kname, will it go over readers' heads?

 

[GeneticsGirl]

I used fake names about patients in my PS without any quotations and I am attending medical school in a month. No one questioned me about this in my interviews, as no one seemed concerned (I had 3 interviews). I thought it was common knowledge that everyone changes names in personal statements. OP, I really don't think you have anything to worry about.