Patient privacy has become the latest front in the Hepatitis C outbreak at Exeter Hospital.
As part of their ongoing investigation, the State’s Division of Public Health is seeking access to the private health records of Exeter patients. But the Hospital says the request violates privacy laws, and is asking the courts to intervene.
Exeter released a statementon Wednesday saying they are seeking judicial guidance on the "challenging intersection" between individual privacy and the request for confidential medical records.
Former hospital employee David Kwiatkowski is accused of reusing needles at Exeter, infecting at least 32 patients with Hepatitis C. He denies the charges.
Earlier this month, Exeter balked at the State’s request to have over 500 employees tested for the virus. Instead, Exeter has made employee testing voluntary.
