Hospital Workers Suspended for Peeking at George Clooney's Medical Info

[student456]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3710322&page=1

Staff members at Palisades Medical Center have been suspended for allegedly peeking at actor George Clooney's confidential medical information after he was hurt in a motorcycle accident last month.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

They absolutely should be suspended. That is exactly the situation that confidentiality laws were written to prevent.

[smk1, LPN]

I am a bit concerned that 40 people were initially suspended when it was deemed only 27 were at fault. 1 month is a long time to be without pay in Pacific palisades. Those who were truly in the wrong deserve what they got, but I can't help feeling bad for those who didn't do anything wrong.

[zenman]

Why didn't they just peek at George?

[mom4josh]

I am a bit concerned that 40 people were initially suspended when it was deemed only 27 were at fault. 1 month is a long time to be without pay in Pacific palisades. Those who were truly in the wrong deserve what they got, but I can't help feeling bad for those who didn't do anything wrong.

This didn't happen in Pacific Palisades. It was in NY or NJ according to the article.

But I agree that they should be disciplined if found to be true.

[Noryn]

I personally think they should be fired if confirmed. This isnt some grey HIPAA area. This is a blatant confidentiality breech with the potential for serious consequences or embarrassment. This creates a mistrust for healthcare providers and if any nurses are involved it really hurts our credibility and professionalism.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Why didn't they just peek at George?

LOL....I'd be much more interested in a chat with him than looking at his CT results!

[EmmaG, RN]

I personally think they should be fired if confirmed. This isnt some grey HIPAA area. This is a blatant confidentiality breech with the potential for serious consequences or embarrassment. This creates a mistrust for healthcare providers and if any nurses are involved it really hurts our credibility and professionalism.

Absolutely.

That union spokeswoman should be relieved of her duties, too.

"But none of (the union members) are charged with violating confidentiality, but rather with looking at the records."

That IS violating confidentiality. Idiot.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Absolutely.

That union spokeswoman should be relieved of her duties, too.

"But none of (the union members) are charged with violating confidentiality, but rather with looking at the records."

That IS violating confidentiality. Idiot.

I wonder if that representative would feel the same way if HER records were used for light reading and conversation in the lounge?

[EmmaG, RN]

I'd like to see the ANA (and state association) come out and blast these nurses and the union for this. Truly.

[bethin]

The union takes issues of privacy very seriously, whether the patient is George Clooney or John Doe. But none of (the union members) are charged with violating confidentiality, but rather with looking at the records.

And that makes it ok? I thought looking at records that you have no business looking at is violating confidentiality.

Those who participated in this should be ashamed of themselves. I love George but I don't think I would stoop so low as to look at his records and then go to the media. How can the public trust us when we do things like this?

George doesn't seem too upset over this, which is good I guess. Still, this is a blatant violation and they should be punished. I wonder if the feds will get involved?

[AlabamaBelle]

This is an out and out HIPPA violation. Do I feel badly for these 27 people? Absolutely! However, they knew what they were doing. HIPPA rules are very, very clear. If you aren't directly involved in a patient's care, you are violating that person's privacy. And that Union person is a complete, utter idiot.

I had an MRI done at my facility. . I admitted to my NM that it was absolutely driving me nuts that I could access the films in the computer as well as the reading. She is well aware of some of the health issues/other issues in my life. I also knew that immediate termination was the consequence. We sign, on a regular basis, a letter that is written in plain english -no legalese- a HIPPA letter, ackowledging that we understand the policies and consequences for accessing our own information & that of our family (must go through usual channels). I know that several people have been fired from our facility/system for violation of HIPPA.

Our privacy was violated years ago by a resident surgeon who in the OR with my baby. Of all people, he told the church gossip exactly how bad my baby's defects were and her outcome looking might grim. So, this is a touchy subject. Even pre-HIPPA, there was an expectation of privacy.

Cindy RN