A nurse’s ex-boyfriend from high school just had an appointment with a psychiatrist in the health care facility where she works, and she wants to sneak a quick peek at his medical paperwork. And perhaps because it’s so alluring to look at another’s health records, it’s happening a lot more than we think, health care data privacy experts say.

“It’s not just when the VIPs or celebrities are involved,” said Neal Eggeson, a plaintiffs lawyer who focuses on privacy and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violations. “I think a shocking percentage of us would do it without too much hesitation.”