Three patients who were allegedly photographed without consent by employees at Jay Hospital while they were asleep or heavily medicated have filed lawsuits against Jay Hospital and Baptist Healthcare.
The alleged victims are being represented by Zarzaur Law. The firm says its investigation into the incidents has “revealed deeply troubling details about the conduct of hospital staff” as well as the hospital’s response to the allegations.
According to the complaint, in February several employees at Jay Hospital took “unauthorized and degrading” pictures of the patients without their consent or knowledge because they were incapacitated.
Attorney Joe Zarzaur says the images were reportedly circulated on the social media platform Snapchat and his clients became aware of what happened when hospital representatives recently approached them and offered money, as much as $50,000, in exchange for signing legal releases.
He said they were not shown the pictures but were told the images were “horrible.”
One of Zarzaur’s clients reported that she woke up without clothing after being medicated and recalled a staff nurse making a crude and humiliating remark, stating that her body had been visible throughout the night and that staff members were able to see her as they passed by in the hallway.
“She says she woke up without her clothes being on after being medicated,” Zarzaur said. “One of the staff nurses made a crude comment about how all night she was showing her body parts basically, and that they all were able to see them in the hall.”
Zarzaur said she did not know that employees of the hospital had photographed her and posted it on Snapchat.
In a statement, Jay Hospital said when they became aware of what happened they “terminated” the individuals involved and are also investigating the incidents.
“We are committed to protecting the privacy, safety and dignity of our patients. As this matter involves patient privacy and is currently under investigation, we are unable to share further details at this time,” Jay Hospital said in the statement.
Zarzaur said that despite being aware of the incident for months, Jay Hospital failed to take “immediate and transparent action,” and that the patients were never shown the images or given a clear explanation about the extent of the violations.
Zarzaur Law is offering a $5,000 reward to the first person to provide photographs that can be corroborated and verified as authentic.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Patients sue over ‘degrading’ photos taken by Jay Hospital staff, shared on social media
Reporting by Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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