Question

Patient sues Northwestern Medicine after medical records posted on social media

Mackenzie Garrity - Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 Print | Email

  

A patient at Winfield, Ill.-based Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group is suing the health system and a former employee for allegedly accessing her medical records and posting them on social media, according to CBS Chicago.

In the lawsuit, Gina Graziano alleges a Northwestern Medicine employee gained access to her medical records and illegally sent them to her ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend then posted the her medical information on Twitter, the lawsuit charges.

Northwestern Medicine sent a letter to Ms. Graziano confirming there had been “inappropriate access” to her medical records. The employee, who has since been fired, allegedly accessed the medical records March 5 and 6, 2018.

The lawsuit claims the former employee viewed the medical records for 37 minutes before sending them to the Ms. Graziano’s ex-boyfriend. Police are investigating the incident.

Northwestern Medicine issued the following statement, according to CBS Chicago:

“Protecting the confidentiality of patient information is essential to our mission. Employees are trained to comply with privacy laws and face disciplinary action in accordance with our privacy policy for any violation. Regarding this specific incident, we do not comment on pending litigation.”

1. is it legal?

2. Is it balance?

Answer 1

1.Pending litigations are one which cannot be disclosed to others or public before the case is cleared .Hence the statement commented by the management or healthcare sector is legal at this time as a matter of protecting the confidentiality of the organization.

2.Though it is legally acceptable it cannot balance the criticism to be laid by the media and external sources by raising a question why the management has not commented on the litigation.