Which of the following is NOT considered a violation of HIPAA?

Using Protected Health Information (PHI) for internal research is generally allowed under HIPAA as long as certain conditions are met. Specifically, HIPAA permits the use of PHI for research purposes, provided that appropriate measures are taken to protect the privacy of individuals. This may involve obtaining an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or a waiver of authorization, depending on the nature of the research. The intent behind allowing the use of PHI for internal research is to promote advancements in healthcare while maintaining the confidentiality of patients' information.

In contrast, sharing PHI with unauthorized individuals, accessing PHI for personal reasons, and dumping patient records in unsecured trash are all actions that directly contravene HIPAA regulations. Sharing PHI without consent breaches privacy standards, accessing information for personal use constitutes misuse of data, and disposing of records improperly exposes sensitive patient information to potential breaches, all of which could lead to significant fines and legal repercussions. Understanding the permissible uses of PHI is essential for compliance with HIPAA regulations.