Dozens of women Sue San Diego Hospital over hidden cameras

CALIFORNIA: Lawsuit was filed by dozens of women to sue San Diego hospital over hidden cameras at a women’s health center in El Cajon, California.

Lawsuit was filed on 29 March that alleges Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego for secretly filming appointments of over 1,800 female patients.

Lawsuit filed revealed the recordings took place between July 17, 2012, and June 20, 2013.

The women were secretly filmed in inside three labor and delivery operating rooms.

The complainants claim they were recorded in several types of operations which included hysterectomies, sterilizations, and c-section births.

The women were also recorded by the hidden cameras while undressing.

Eighty-one women are suing the Sharp Grossmont Hospital as they feel they were violated after learning the hospital’s cameras recorded them during their gynecological surgeries.

Court documents suggest the hospitals claims the cameras were installed for the security of the patients and to investigate the cause of missing drugs.

STATEMENT FROM SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL

Between July 2012 and June 2013, Sharp Grossmont Hospital installed and operated one hidden camera on the anesthesia cart located in each of three operating rooms in the Women’s Center. The purpose of the three cameras was to ensure patient safety by determining the cause of drugs missing from the carts. A initial lawsuit alleging privacy violations and other claims stemming from the video recording was filed against Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Grossmont Hospital in 2016. The case remains active and Sharp is not in a position to comment further about the matter. Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Grossmont Hospital continue to take extensive measures to protect the privacy of its patients.

The Suit States

The motion-activated cameras were installed on drug carts in each of the three operating rooms.
The cameras continued to record after motion stopped.
The devices were placed at an angle where patients’ faces were recorded and were identifiable.
At times, patients had their most sensitive genital areas visible.
Recordings had easy access for non-medical personnel and strangers
Hospital did not maintain any log or track for those who accessed the recordings, why, or when.
Depending on operation there are images of women of very private nature.
Patients suffer anguish, fright, horror, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, shock, humiliation, embarrassment, shame, mortification, hurt feelings, disappointment, depression, and feelings of powerlessness.
The hospital refreshed the computers but did not ensure proper deletion of records.

Sharp HealthCare officials have said

“The initial lawsuit alleging invasion of privacy and other matters was filed in 2016 against Sharp Grossmont Hospital. The case remains still active.
Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Grossmont Hospital continue to take extensive measures to protect the privacy of its patients,”