Sun Sep 17, 2023, 03:11 PM

Indiana attorney general sues hospital system over privacy of Ohio girl who traveled for abortion

Source: NBC News/AP

Sept. 17, 2023, 2:45 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s attorney general has sued the state’s largest hospital system, claiming it violated patient privacy laws when a doctor publicly shared the story of an Ohio girl who traveled to Indiana for an abortion.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in Indianapolis federal court, marked Attorney General Todd Rokita’s latest attempt to seek disciplinary legal action against Dr. Caitlin Bernard. The doctor’s account of a 10-year-old rape victim traveling to Indiana to receive abortion drugs became a flashpoint in the abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.

Rokita, a Republican, is stridently anti-abortion and Indiana was the first state to approve abortion restrictions after the court’s decision. The near-total abortion ban recently took effect after legal battles. “Neither the 10-year-old nor her mother gave the doctor authorization to speak to the media about their case,” the lawsuit stated. “Rather than protecting the patient, the hospital chose to protect the doctor, and itself.”

The lawsuit named Indiana University Health and IU Healthcare Associates. It alleged the hospital system violated HIPPA, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and a state law for not protecting the patient’s information.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/indiana-attorney-general-sues-hospital-system-privacy-ohio-girl-travel-rcna105491

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23 replies	Author	Time	Post
Indiana attorney general sues hospital system over privacy of Ohio girl who traveled for abortion (Original post)	BumRushDaShow	Sep 17	OP
*HIPAA	Qutzupalotl	Sep 17	#1
I was wondering if anyone else would catch that.	Chellee	Sep 17	#7
It's a 10 year old girl, ferchrissakes, and making her the center of...	TreasonousBastard	Sep 17	#2
Doctors linign up to protect	Old Crank	Sep 17	#3
You're misunderstanding the situation. The girl's privacy was not breached.	SharonAnn	Sep 17	#6
She came to Indiana because of Ohio's draconian laws.	Chellee	Sep 17	#9
EXACTLY! GOP AG trying to punish doctor for pointing out horrors of abortion ban	Attilatheblond	Sep 17	#12
The doctor didn't breach anyone's confidentiality.	cab67	Sep 17	#8
I am pretty sure the doctor never released the patient's name.	TNNurse	Sep 17	#16
This is not true	Lulu KC	Sep 17	#20
Did they violate the girl's privacy?	LeftInTX	Sep 17	#4
No.	Chellee	Sep 17	#10
WTF? I sure hope this case is tossed!	LeftInTX	Sep 17	#11
In a fair and just world, it would.	Chellee	Sep 17	#13
At least it's not as hot.....	LeftInTX	Sep 17	#14
But our politicians are just as awful...	Chellee	Sep 17	#15
Along with much worse	moniss	Sep 17	#21
This Fella Needs An Attitude Adjustment	The Magistrate	Sep 17	#5
That's not how HIPAA works	angrychair	Sep 17	#17
How much time and taxpayer money will this AG spend trying to criminalize a doctor who helped	Timeflyer	Sep 17	#18
Just another attempt to terrorize doctors and keep information	marybourg	Sep 17	#19
Ummm, if they had the girl's permission and her parents' permission, then there is no breach of	Martin68	Sep 17	#22
This "religious" piece of shit MAN	nwduke	Sep 17	#23