Hospital probes violation of Clooney’s privacy

Hospital probes violation
of Clooney’s privacy

NEWARK, N.J. — Several hospital staffers have been suspended for allegedly peeking at George Clooney’s confidential medical information after he was hurt in a motorcycle accident last month. Clooney, 46, suffered a broken rib and scrapes in the Sept. 21 crash, while his passenger, Sarah Larson, 28, broke her foot. Both were treated at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen. WCBS-TV in New York reported Tuesday night that as many as 40 staffers, including doctors, were suspended without pay, accused of accessing Clooney’s medical records and possibly providing information to the media, a violation of federal law. The Jersey Journal of Jersey City reported that 27 employees, but no doctors, had been disciplined, and only for looking at the records without authorization. The investigation was not prompted by a complaint from Clooney, who said he only learned of it on Tuesday. “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Clooney said in a statement. “And while I very much believe in a patient’s right to privacy, I would hope that this could be settled without suspending medical workers.” A spokeswoman for the union representing some of the workers said they had been suspended without pay for four weeks. Federal law mandates that only direct caregivers — including doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff involved in a patient’s care — see such information. Clooney and his companion were injured when the actor’s motorcycle and a car collided on a narrow road in Weehawken, across the Hudson River from New York City.

Today’s birthdays

Author Elmore Leonard is 82. Singer-musician Daryl Hall is 58. Football Hall of Fame player Steve Young is 46. Actress Joan Cusack is 45. Rock musician Scott Johnson (Gin Blossoms) is 45. Actor Luke Perry is 41. Country singer-songwriter Todd Snider is 41. Actress Jane Krakowski is 39. Rapper U-God (Wu-Tang Clan) is 37. Rapper MC Lyte is 36. Singer NeeNa Lee is 32. Actress Emily Deschanel is 31. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg is 22. Golfer Michelle Wie is 18.