When a student goes to a university’s health center to discuss private information, it should be kept confidential.
Last week, the University of Oregon reportedly released a student’s medical records to its lawyers. The student had sued the university for allowing three basketball players to finish the season after sexually assaulting the plaintiff, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education last week.
These records included counseling that the student underwent after she reported the sexual assault, and the university intended to use them against her in the ensuing litigation.
UO cited the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act to defend the student therapy record disclosure. According to UO, an exception in FERPA allows the school to release the information should the student sue the institution.
The 1974 law is actually mean to protect student records from being released, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Linda Peña, a campus sexual assault advocate, said that CSULB is definitely more student-centered, and that the students are of the utmost importance.
“Students are safe,” Peña said. She said the CSU system would never want this to happen.
Mary Ann Takemoto, Director of Student Health Services, said she found the UO decision to release the student’s records unethical.
“There’s been some confusion on what is kept private,” Takemoto said. She said she believes that the students at CSULB should feel like their information is being kept confidential.
When something like this happens at a university, students begin to question whether their own school can be trusted.
Student health centers provide students with an affordable and convenient way of seeking help.
The student at UO was looking for help after her traumatic experience, and rather than finding a helpful ear she could trust, she found a public loudspeaker.
Universities should not be allowed to release student medical records under any circumstances.