A former Jackson Health System secretary who was fired for allegedly accessing the medical record of NFL player Jason Pierre-Paul who received treatment at the hospital has filed a libel and defamation lawsuit against the health system, reports the Miami Herald.
Mr. Pierre-Paul, who plays for the New York Giants, had his right index finger amputated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami last July following a fireworks accident. An ESPN reporter obtained and posted a photo of Mr. Pierre-Paul's medical record to Twitter.
Brenda Jackson, a former secretary at Jackson Health System, and Immacula Richmond, a clinical staff nurse in the operating room, were fired for allegedly inappropriately accessing Mr. Pierre-Paul's medical record. Ms. Jackson filed the lawsuit, according to the report. Ms. Richmond is not involved in the lawsuit.
Health system administrators have not made it clear what role they believe Ms. Jackson played in leaking Mr. Pierre-Paul's medical record. They fired her for violating policies and procedures related to patient privacy, confidentiality and disclosure of information, reports Miami Herald, citing court filings.
An internal audit from July 21, 2015 indicates Ms. Jackson accessed Mr. Pierre-Paul's health record four times "without any necessary reason and authorization to do so," according to the report.
Ms. Jackson denies any wrongdoing. In her lawsuit, she says administrators made false accusations against her, which have triggered a "sudden and unexpected illness," according to the report. She is seeking at least $15,000 in damages.
Ms. Jackson has been with Jackson Health System for 14 years, according to the report.
Mr. Pierre-Paul has filed a lawsuit against the ESPN reporter and ESPN for violating his privacy rights.
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