Alaska Hospital Sees Intentional Data Disclosure Suit Revived

An Alaska patient won a second chance to hold a hospital liable for a former employee’s unauthorized and intentional disclosure of his private health information when the state’s top court found the trial court used the wrong liability standard.

The trial court improperly instructed the jury on the standard for vicarious liability in a case alleging the hospital breached a contractual duty of nondisclosure, the Alaska Supreme Court said. The court overturned a decision absolving Providence Alaska Medical Center of liability for the disclosure.

Courtney Guy was admitted to Providence in 2013 following an assault by a group of men. ...