Cedars-Sinai Fires 6 In Patient Privacy Breaches
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com/AP) — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has fired five workers and a student research assistant for peeping on patients' private medical records in the days after reality television star Kim Kardashian gave birth to her daughter there.
The hospital said in a statement that 14 patient records were inappropriately accessed between June 18 and June 24.
"At Cedars-Sinai, we have a high standard for security, and in this case that standard was violated. Unauthorized access to any patient's medical record is, quite simply, completely unacceptable. In this case, a few individuals did not live up to our expectations," the statement read in part. "We have already begun to take appropriate actions, as this behavior was a clear violation of Cedars-Sinai policy."
The hospital declined to identify the patients involved to the Los Angeles Times, but a spokeswoman said all patients involved were notified of the breach.
Kardashian gave birth June 15. Representatives for Kardashian and the baby's father, Kanye West, did not provide comment to the Times.
Four of those fired were employees of community physicians who have staff privileges at the hospital, one was a hospital medical assistant and one was an unpaid student research assistant.
The hospital said the six individuals involved will not be given future access to Cedars-Sinai information systems even if they are employed with another other health care provider, KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reported.
Cedars-Sinai Fires 6 In Patient Privacy Breaches
Violations can lead to fines or criminal charges.
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