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Randall Jeppesen reportingPolice say it's frustrating that some criminals are being allowed to use HIPAA laws to hide from authorities.
HIPAA laws protect personal medical records. Salt Lake County Sheriffs Sergeant Paul Juroscak says some suspects are using the laws to remain hidden.
A recent case involves a man suspected of throwing a rock at his wife, then lighting her house on fire. He was injured and taken to the hospital, but the hospital wouldn't tell police when he was to be released. So the suspect checked out and went to another hospital.
Sergeant Paul Juroscak: "We hadn't known from this informant that he had gone to another hospital. We never would have found out where he was at. This could allow dangerous criminals to escape."
