<p>For the common app essay I chose choice four and I described the hospital where I volunteer as where I feel most content.
I'm aware of the HIPAA law for patient privacy. In my essay I don't say any names, I am very general. I want to provide some examples of stories that patients have told me. Would it be breaking the law if I wrote about these stories and how they impacted me?</p>
<p>Did you sign any HIPPA forms? If so you should read them before deciding what you are allowed divulge.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s breaching any laws if no names are said.</p>
<p>Agree with texaspg, but I think this is a textbook case for a “creative narrative” approach. I think it’s OK to - not lie, not exaggerate, not make things up - but to simplify your story and perhaps include some things out of time order. A good example might be this… suppose you want to talk about some people in your life and talk about some of their characteristics. You might bring in the traits of several people and combine them into a single “character” in your story, ESPECIALLY if it will make your point much more quickly without the complications of describing multiple people.</p>
<p>In your case, it also helps protect people’s privacy.</p>