New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has filed a lawsuit on Wednesday for allegedly violating HIPAA privacy laws by releasing his private medical records online without permission. He has specifivially named Adam Schefter and ESPN as the defendants.
In a report by USA Today, the lawsuit was filed in Miami Dade County in Florida. Pierre-Paul alleges that his privacy was violated by the report Schefter and the publication, ESPN, released. The said documents revealed the details of his right hand injury in a fireworks accident last July 4.
New York Magazine also reported that the lawyers of Pierre-Paul, Mitchell Schuster and Kevin Fritz, claim that Schefter improperly obtained the medical chart of their client. The medical chart showed that his right index finger was amputated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. As per the Florida statute 456.057, patients' medical records could not be given to or discussed with anyone not involved in their care.
The reporter has posted a photo of the medical chart last July 8 on Twitter wherein he has more than 4.5 million followers.
The lawsuit also states that Schefter's "blatant disregard for the private and confidential nature" of Pierre-Paul's medical records is the main reason for the lawsuit being filed, Inquisitr reported. The lawsuit mentioned the amputation of the plaintiff's finger might be of "legitimate public concern" but the chart was not.
The suit did not specify, however, how much the plaintiff is asking for and what are the specific damages.
Schefter, on the other hand, said in an interview after facing backlash of the released medical record, that he should have done more to protect the sensitivity of the situation. However, he noted that all that he saw in the record was the name, the age, the gender, and the patient's finger being amputated. He pointed out that there was nothing else considered to be sensitive.
