Privacy

Guiding Principle on Access and Use of Collections

The Medical Archives is open and accessible to the Johns Hopkins community as well as to the general public, welcoming both online and on-site visitors. The Medical Archives advocates open intellectual inquiry as the primary means for advancing new knowledge. The policy attempts to make holdings accessible for use whenever possible, consistent with applicable law and Johns Hopkins' institutional policies.

Learn more about Your Options:  Conditions for Access to Legally Protected Information

Staff and patrons are required to comply with applicable ethical, legal, and regulatory codes for protecting the rights of privacy of individuals who are represented in the archival collections.

HIPAA Privacy Rule Information

• The Implications of HIPAA for Archives
• The HIPAA Privacy Rule – Options for Access and Use of Archival Materials (pdf)
• Chronology of HIPAA Legislation 1996 –2006 (pdf)
• HHS - Health Information Privacy Website

Patron Privacy

The Medical Archives is committed to protecting the privacy of your individual transactions with the staff including those done through the website. Please be aware, however, that in some circumstances government or law enforcement personnel could assert a right to obtain this information.

Commitment to Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Codes

Staff and patrons are required to comply with ethical, legal, and regulatory codes for the protection of individual rights to privacy.

• Visit the Society of American Archivists' Code of Ethics (You will be leaving the Medical Archives website.)