Transcription (of iMessage exchange): “Hi, is this Paul?
Who is this
This is Erica from the dentist’s office. I got your number from your file
Pretty sure this violates Hippo but shoot your shot I guess
I’m not flirting with you. We have you on video stealing thousands of dollars of x-ray equipment”
That’s how it works actually - if you break the law while making the case, your case is invalid.
Thats why this needs to change.
If you commited murder and someone breaks the law to get you, you should still get convicted.
But the person breaking the law should have no immunity either and face the consequences of their actions. But if the person abused a position of power (police, politician, etc) they should face twice the punishment, one time for breaking the law and a second time for doing so in a trusted office.
The person you’re replying to isn’t correct. Police and prosecutors can’t break the law to make a case. If you exceed the speed limit while trailing a killer, they don’t get to go free.
No, that’s not true at all. Police and prosecutors can’t (legally) break the law to make a case.
If a citizen breaks the law catching another citizen breaking the law there will probably be charges for both parties.
Erica from the dentist’s office didn’t “blow the case” by texting the thief.
Finally - and this is the most important bit that everyone seems to be missing - Erica didn’t commit a HIPAA violation. She used his phone number on file to text him, something my dentist’s office does to me as well. She didn’t share any personal information with a third party.
This is a gentle reminder that reading something in a meme does not make it factually true.