Indiana’s Top Legal Official Files Lawsuit Against Major Hospital Chain for Breaching Patient Confidentiality of Ohio Minor Seeking Abortion Services

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Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita has initiated legal proceedings against Indiana University Health and IU Healthcare Associates, the largest healthcare network in the state. The lawsuit accuses the hospital system of failing to uphold federal and state privacy laws when Dr. Caitlin Bernard publicly disclosed the case of a 10-year-old girl from Ohio who came to Indiana for an abortion.

This legal action, which was filed in the federal court in Indianapolis, represents the latest in a series of efforts by Attorney General Rokita to impose disciplinary measures on Dr. Bernard. The physician’s revelation about the young rape victim seeking abortion services in Indiana ignited a heated discussion on abortion rights, particularly after the United States Supreme Court reversed the landmark Roe v. Wade decision last summer.

Attorney General Rokita, a member of the Republican Party with strong anti-abortion views, has been a prominent supporter of Indiana’s recent abortion restrictions, the first to be enacted following the Supreme Court’s momentous ruling. These restrictions, which constitute a near-total ban on abortion, recently became law after overcoming numerous legal challenges.

According to the lawsuit, neither the minor nor her mother granted permission to Dr. Bernard to share their medical information with the media. Instead of safeguarding the patient’s privacy, the lawsuit alleges that the hospital system opted to protect its own interests and those of Dr. Bernard.

The lawsuit contends that the healthcare network violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) at the federal level, as well as relevant state privacy laws, by not safeguarding the minor’s confidential information.

Earlier this year, Indiana’s medical licensing board issued a reprimand to Dr. Bernard, asserting that her public comments about the minor’s medical treatment were in violation of privacy statutes. Although this fell far short of the suspension of her medical license that Attorney General Rokita had pushed for, the board’s decision nonetheless drew widespread disapproval from medical associations and other interested parties, who viewed it as an attempt to discourage physicians from speaking out.

In response to the lawsuit, officials from Indiana University Health have maintained that Dr. Bernard has not breached any privacy laws. The hospital network stated, “We continue to find it regrettable that the Attorney General’s office insists on dedicating the state’s limited resources to this issue. We will formally address these allegations directly with the Attorney General’s office.”

In a separate but related development, a 28-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment in July for the rape of the 10-year-old girl.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Indiana Attorney General Lawsuit Hospital Patient Privacy

More about Indiana Attorney General Lawsuit Hospital Patient Privacy

• Indiana Attorney General’s Official Statement on the Lawsuit
• About HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
• Recent Changes in Indiana Abortion Laws
• Overview of Roe v. Wade and Its Reversal
• Indiana Medical Licensing Board Decisions
• Indiana University Health Official Response
• Legal Precedents on Patient Privacy