Indiana AG sues Indiana hospital system alleging violation of privacy laws in rape case

According to the Associated Press, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed suit against Indiana University Health (IUH), the state’s largest hospital system. The lawsuit alleges that the hospital system violated patient privacy laws when IUH employee and abortionist Caitlin Bernard made an apparent attempt to swing public opinion in favor of legal abortion by informing the press about a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled from Ohio to Indiana for an abortion.

Bernard was investigated by the state medical licensing board, which reprimanded her and fined her $3000. However, officials at IUH, which had already conducted its own investigation exonerating Bernard, have continued to insist the abortionist did not violate privacy laws. 

“We continue to be disappointed [that] the Indiana Attorney General’s office persists in putting the state’s limited resources toward this matter,” IUH said in a statement. “We will respond directly to the AG’s office on the filing.”

The attorney general’s lawsuit states: 

The 10-year-old’s treatment was a very private and sensitive matter, as was the abuse she suffered that resulted in her pregnancy. Neither the 10-year-old nor her mother gave the doctor authorization to speak to the media about their case. 

Rather than protecting the patient, the hospital chose to protect the doctor, and itself.

In addition, it alleges that IUH “has sanctioned non-physician employees with termination for far less egregious patient privacy violations,” adding: 

By publicly contradicting the Medical Licensing Board by contending [Bernard’s] actions were “in compliance with privacy laws,” and through its inconsistent application of its privacy policies and sanctions among its 36,000 member workforce, IUH has created confusion regarding what conduct is permitted under HIPAA privacy laws and the Indiana Patient Confidentiality rule. The inconsistencies and confusion threaten the privacy of its Indiana patients.

The suit seeks “injunctive relief, statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, and the costs of this action against Indiana University Health, Inc. and Indiana University Healthcare Associates, Inc.”

Particularly since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion advocates and their media allies have seized upon the heart-rending stories of children who have been sexually assaulted, exploiting these children in order to promote a pro-abortion agenda. They have shown little real concern for alleviating these children’s suffering, instead choosing to use their circumstances to promote the killing of preborn childrren without limits.