Hospital workers suspended over Clooney 'privacy breach'

Several US hospital workers have been suspended for allegedly looking at George Clooney’s confidential medical information after he was injured in a motorcycle accident last month.

The 46-year-old actor suffered a broken rib and grazes in the crash on September 21, while his passenger, Sarah Larson, 28, broke her foot. Both were treated at the Palisades Medical Centre in North Bergen, New Jersey.

WCBS-TV in New York reported last night that as many as 40 employees, 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 staff, but no doctors, had been disciplined, and only for looking at the records without authorisation.

The investigation was not prompted by a complaint from Clooney, who said he only learned of it on yesterday.

“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 employees said they had been suspended without pay for four weeks.

“We believe this is a harsh penalty and an over-reaction,” said Jeanne Oterson, of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, adding that a grievance could be filed pending further investigation.

Eurice Rojas, the hospital’s vice president of external affairs, told The Jersey Journal that hospital officials do not believe any employees leaked Clooney’s medical information, but some did improperly access his records.

Federal law says that only direct caregivers – including doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff involved in a patient’s care – can 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.