The London Clinic, the hospital where the Princess of Wales recently underwent abdominal surgery, says it has no place on its staff “for those who intentionally breach the trust” of any of their patients or colleagues.
The medical center in Marylebone, London, came under attack on Tuesday after the Daily Mirror reported that at least one member of staff attempted to illegally access Catherine's private medical records amid the storm surrounding the health and wellbeing of the British princess after her surgery in January. On Wednesday, the Mirror and ITV News reported that “up to three people” could be involved in the alleged access to the princess's medical records and that they face “disciplinary action.”
“All of us at The London Clinic are acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties regarding patient confidentiality,” hospital CEO Al Russell said in a statement to the Times on Wednesday.
“We are very proud of the excellent care and discretion we aim to provide to all of our patients who rely on us every day,” Russell added. “We have systems in place to monitor the management of patient information and, in the event of any non-compliance, all appropriate investigative, regulatory and disciplinary action will be taken. “There is no place in our hospital for those who intentionally violate the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.”
Russell made no direct reference to the princess or her case. The Mirror reported that an investigation had been launched into the breach, but a hospital spokesperson did not respond to the Times' request for confirmation.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, underwent unspecified abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in the English capital in January.
(Kin Cheung / Associated Press)
Representatives for Kensington Palace did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times' request for comment. However, in a statement to the Associated Press, the palace said: “This is a matter for the London Clinic.”
The princess formerly known as Kate Middleton has chosen not to reveal details about her condition, wanting “her personal medical information to remain private” as she announced her hospitalization in mid-January. In a handful of statements relating to his whereabouts (and his withdrawal from royal duties until after March 31), Kensington Palace confirmed to the AP that his condition was not related to cancer and that he had been recovering at home. in Windsor since she was released from the hospital. London Clinic on January 29 after 13 nights there.
But the dearth of concrete information provided by the palace and the royal's lack of public appearances has fueled rampant speculation, frenzied Internet obsessions, conspiracy theories and intense public interest in the princess's well-being. The crisis was further exacerbated by the palace's misstep in publishing a doctored photograph of the royal family earlier this month, now affectionately known as “Kate-gate”, sowing widespread distrust in each and every Kate's sightings and sources. Her husband, Prince William, heir apparent to the British throne, has continued to perform his public duties and was seen with her over the weekend, but deflected questions about his wife's health.
Prince William also replaced his father, King Charles III, whose treatment for an enlarged prostate at the hospital overlapped with Catherine's time there. The 75-year-old monarch also took a break from public duties due to an undisclosed cancer diagnosis. (She was discharged from the London Clinic a few hours after her daughter-in-law.)
The Mirror reported on Wednesday that hospital bosses dismissed concerns that the king's medical information was also compromised and informed Buckingham Palace that the breach did not involve him.
It is a criminal offense for staff in the UK's National Health Service or its private healthcare settings to access a patient's medical records without the consent of the organisation's data controller, the Mirror reported. The outlet said hospital bosses at the facility, known for discreetly treating members of the royal family as well as British government officials and celebrities, launched an investigation into allegations that the princess's confidentiality was breached after that a staff member was “said to have been murdered”. “Caught trying to access 42-year-old's notes”.
Senior hospital officials then notified Kensington Palace about the incident, prompting “a full investigation,” the Mirror said.
“This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging to the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family,” the outlet reported, citing an anonymous source.
The Information Commissioner's Office, a government-run privacy watchdog that defends information rights in the public interest, confirmed in a statement Wednesday that it had “received a breach report and [was] evaluate the information provided.” On Wednesday, the Mirror reported that London's Metropolitan Police could also be called in for a possible criminal investigation alongside a COI investigation.
According to the BBC, 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's office, said there are “strict rules on patient data that must be followed.”
“I think we all want to support the Princess of Wales, and indeed the Prince of Wales, and obviously wish him the quickest recovery,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman told the BBC.
The Mirror also reported that Catherine is understood to have been “informed of the alleged incident. The AP reported that Health Minister Maria Caulfield asked police to investigate the allegations.
“Whether they take action or not is their business,” Caulfield told LBC radio.
“But the information commissioner can also take legal action,” he said. “So there are particularly important implications if you're looking at medical record notes that you shouldn't be looking at.”
