Conniving boss cancels employee's doctor's appointment without their consent, so they file a formal complaint and kickstart a HIPAA violation investigation: ‘I did not authorize these changes”

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Apr 24, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

If you were to create a tier list for the most important things in your life, where would your work life fall? Surely, you'd put your health and relationships with others above a superficial job that deems you disposable, right? As we get older, health scares transform into expectations of sickness instead of "just being carefuls". That's the way the aging cookie crumbles, so it's important to stay on top of your health, even if your boss tries to gaslight you into thinking it's not important to do so. Work can wait for anyone, but keeping tabs on your body can't.

In this next story, a woman's boss changes her appointment time without their consent, and the employee tries to file a complaint with HR. This didn't work, likely because higher-ups have all of their underlings just where they want them. As a result, this employee files a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Maybe that'll teach boss a lesson on control and privacy. Scroll to read.

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  • Bosses believe they're entitled to know every facet of their employees' private lives, but that's not the case. Even in this story's case, where work is technically affected, she doesn't reserve the right to know why an employee is taking a sick day or personal day. One day doesn't require a note, nor does it require a boss's annoying voice calling your doctor's office to cancel your appointment. Oop… 

  • Cheezburger Image 10496679424
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "Boss Canceled My Doctor’s Appointment Without My Consent – HIPAA Violation?"

    I work as an administrative assistant at a hospital. After speaking with my primary care provider, I scheduled several follow-up tests related to ongoing health concerns. I notified my supervisor that I would be taking a day off to attend these appointments.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • My supervisor is the director of my department and she has tried to tell our office that no one is allowed to request any Mondays or Fridays off for any reason. I already confirmed with HR that she cannot enforce this policy and it is especially not applicable to my role.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • I stood up for myself and told her she cannot tell me to cancel or change my medical appointments and we ended up in an argument with me getting emotional. Later that evening, she texted me to
    via ChopsNewBag
  • apologize and said she would like to meet with me in the office on Monday and look into reaching out to her "scheduling guru" to see if she could have appointment moved to a sooner
    via ChopsNewBag
  • date. I said I would be okay with this (meaning if we met in person and she reached out to her contact to see what could be done) I never really wanted to change my appointment but I felt intimidated into considering the idea.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • Cheezburger Image 10496679680
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Then, without notifying me or obtaining my explicit permission, my supervisor contacted the hospital's scheduling department and canceled my medical appointment, rescheduling it for
    via ChopsNewBag
  • another date and time that did not work for me. I only found out later when the provider sent me a confirmation that the appointment had been cancelled and changed. This was done
    via ChopsNewBag
  • entirely without my consent, knowledge, or involvement. I had to call my provider's office back and tell them I did not authorize these changes and they weren't able to give me my original appointment back until I escalated things to the dept manager.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • I reported this to the hospital's compliance officer, who initially said they would investigate. A couple of days later, I was told the matter was closed and that my supervisor would face no
    via ChopsNewBag
  • consequences. I also reported it to HR, but several of my colleagues and I have made many complaints to HR about her behavior over the past year and she never faces any consequences.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • Cheezburger Image 10496680448
    via airfocus for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • My supervisor told them that I said I was "okay" with her making this change even though I clearly meant only if we were to meet in person and discuss options together. I have screenshots of
    via ChopsNewBag
  • the text messages, of my voicemails saying my appointment had been cancelled and moved. They never even asked me for any of these documents after I told them I had them all. They simply took her word over mine.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • I have since filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights citing potential violations of
    via ChopsNewBag
  • HIPAA. I've also requested a written email from the compliance officer explaining how they came to this finding during their "investigation."
    via ChopsNewBag
  • This is a pattern of behavior. My boss is very controlling and intimidating. She is always treating people like garbage and acts like she is allowed to do whatever she wants. And
    via ChopsNewBag
  • apparently, the hospital agrees. I feel so violated and like I have no options. It is awful knowing I still have to continue going in to work to face her. I've been trying to find another job but there are not many options with similar wages in my field.
    via ChopsNewBag
  • Do I have legal grounds for further action here? Could this also cross into other categories (e.g., employment retaliation, privacy violation)? I'd appreciate any advice on next steps. Location: New Hampshire
    via ChopsNewBag
  • Lindseye117 You also need to file intermittent FMLA. That way, they can not refuse you time off for an appointment.
    via Lindseye117
  • Responsible_View_285 You need to report the violation to the state board of health. The state board has to investigate all complaints. What your supervisor is doing is against the law. You cannot access any employee medical record in a health care facility. Contact your state board.
    via Responsible_View_285

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hipaa doctor appointment boss workplace-stories terrible-bosses bosses work reddit story toxic-boss entitled people karma workplace Horrible Bosses entitled reddit thread bad bosses Reddit entitled people
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