Dive Brief:
- On the 4th of July weekend, New York Giants pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul injured his hand in a fireworks-related accident.
- He was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he had his right index finger amputated.
- Last Wednesday, Adam Schefter, a reporter for ESPN, posted a photo of Pierre Paul's medical record on Twitter.
Dive Insight:
The hospital is conducting an "aggressive internal investigation" in an attempt to find out who leaked the NFL player's record to the press. "If we confirm Jackson employees or physicians violated a patient's legal right to privacy, they will be held accountable, up to and including possible termination," Jackson CEO Carlos Migoya said in a statement, "We do not tolerate violations of this kind."
Because the HIPAA law only applies to healthcare providers, health insurance companies and healthcare clearing houses that handle patient data, Schefter cannot be prosecuted for posting the medical record. However, the hospital could be in for a hefty fine and the person responsible for leaking the information could be prosecuted.