Ohio reproductive clinic seeks to shield medical records from state

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?...

8/23/2005, 3:13 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A clinic that provides birth control and abortions has sued to block the state Health Department's attempt to review the medical records of 224 patients.

The Ohio Department of Health sought access to the records of every patient who visited the center in May and June as part of an investigation of an undisclosed complaint.

The Central Ohio Women's Center said that releasing the records could violate federal medical privacy laws. The center, affiliated with Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, said it is not aware of any complaints against it.

The records include such sensitive information as type of birth control used, number of sexual partners and type of intercourse practiced, said Lisa Perks, the center's executive director. She called the Health Department's request a "fishing expedition."...