I do believe you could put that boy in jail and have him dispense vaseline to the prisoners for asking questions like that. His questions may have had good intent but his invasion of privacy and total lack of a need to know could put him in front of a judge's bench for violating privacy laws.
With this one you have to laugh at nys as it allows caregivers to ask questions like that but does not mandate answers from patients, relatives, etc.. The mental health and general healthcare systems usually become very nosey and intrusive when given the liberty of asking questions like that but you need not answer. They can ask you not to return to the facility, clinic or whatever if you choose not to answer, and then you can sue their butts for that (discrimination you know, which is also another word they don't like) but the best part is that even if it is some nosey social worker who says it is to determine the danger level in the home has no authority to push it beyond that one question and all you need ask them is if they would like to go to jail for a few months and get to know someone incarcerated on a very personal basis and they will either shut right up right then and there or try and squirm their way out of it with "oh that's not what I meant, etc." and all you need do is repeat your question.
Not even federal medicare or medicaid require that question of participating hospitals and since the privacy laws came into effect, mental health providers as well as others can face federal courts and jail time for their intrusive violations of privacy.
That doctor had absolutely no business asking those questions and the lady's husband was right about calling a lawyer. I think they should go right ahead as he is now discriminating against that family. And besides, he looks like the kind of sweetheart who wouldn't mind jail time as long as he can help someone and in jail you know he won't be asking that question.....................
