Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter behind a December murder in Midtown, is claiming that prosecutors are violating his health privacy rights by accessing confidential medical information. His defense team filed a court document Thursday seeking a hearing and sanctions against the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
According to the filing, prosecutors obtained some of Mangione’s private medical records from Aetna, his insurance provider, but claim they only reviewed limited information as part of their investigation. However, the defense argues that this is not enough, stating that the district attorney’s office has no right to possess or review these documents.
The issue arises because Mangione was not covered by UnitedHealthcare, the company whose CEO he allegedly shot, Brian Thompson. The defense claims that prosecutors are trying to access confidential information that is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which his attorneys claim is motivated by a desire to send a message about corporate greed rather than any personal connection to UnitedHealthcare. The defense team is now seeking access to more information from prosecutors and Mangione’s insurer, Aetna.
The district attorney’s office has yet to formally respond to the allegations, but prosecutors claim that they only requested limited information from Aetna and that the mistake was caused by a miscommunication between the parties involved. Despite this, the defense team is pushing for sanctions against the prosecution, arguing that they have violated Mangione’s doctor-patient privilege and his right to health privacy.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/luigi-mangione-prosecutors-violating-health-privacy-rights-defense/story?id=123863209