Mishmeres HaSholom: Ask the Rav

Q: I work as a secretary at a well-known girls’ high school. An anonymous parent called to inquire about a girl in reference to a shidduch. Among other things, she wanted to know if there were any medical problems. As part of my job, I’ve filled out her private insurance form and was privy to the girl’s serious medical issue. How should I reply?

A: If you have no idea who the people are, you should not divulge any medical information. If the questioners are familiar to you or you know who the proposed young man is, there are guidelines for replying.

One way would be to say, “All information from my workplace is strictly confidential and cannot be shared with outsiders.” From the above answer they will deduce that they should approach other sources for serious inquiries.

The questions and answers above were taken from the Mishmeres Hasholom pamphlet in Israel. For details and inquiries please e-mail us at office@hasholom.org or call 972-2 5379160.

The views expressed are of the individual author. Readers are encouraged to consult their own posek for guidance.