George Clooney Supports Suspended Hospital Staff

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

Is this guy amazing or what?

George Clooney never ceases to shock me.

The actor, who was injured a couple of weeks ago during a motorcycle crash in New Jersey is now coming to the rescue of medical employees who were suspended without pay for allegedly leaking his and girlfriend Sarah Larson's private medical records to the media.

In a statement released yesterday Clooney addressed the reports that claimed as many as 40 hospital workers leaked confidential information to various media outlets.

"This is the first I've heard of it," Clooney said. "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."

The entire situation came to light following reports that detailed Clooney and Larson's medical conditions shortly after they were treated. (Providing confidential medical information without proper authorization is a violation of federal law.) According to WCBS-TV, hospital employees who were not treating Clooney themselves allegedly accessed his medical records via the hospital computer system, with one security guard going so far as to give out the phone number of one of Clooney's family members.

Once medical staff managers heard about the alleged violation they immediately disciplined the employees in question.

Yesterday, a union spokeswoman who represents some of the workers who are accused of looking at Clooney and Larson's medical records without authorization told news reporters, "It was inappropriate but they are paying a steep price ... The apology to him for his privacy rights [is necessary], but I think, in fact, the hospital is overreacting."

Clooney said he agreed and asked those investigating the matter to go easy on the employees in question.

The spokesperson went on to say that some of the workers had been suspended without pay for four weeks.

Whose side are you on? Do you think the punishment fits the crime?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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