According to an attorney representing the family of George Floyd, his confidential medical records have been breached multiple times since his death. In a statement to CBS News, attorney Antonio Romanucci said that Floyd’s family received a letter from the Hennepin County Medical Center alerting them of the breaches.
“The Floyd family and attorneys were recently made aware of a data breach of George Floyd’s confidential information at the Hennepin County Medical Center,” Romanucci revealed in the statement. “The letter said there were breaches of his data over multiple dates and that the employees involved are ‘no longer with the organization.’”
Romanucci said the medical center did not explain what information was accessed during the breaches. It also did not specify whether or not the “employees involved” in the breaches were fired from the center or resigned. Floyd was first brought to the Hennepin County Medical Center on the night of his death.
“When George Floyd was desperate for a breath, the city of Minneapolis pushed on his neck further,” Romanucci added. “And even after death, he was abused and mistreated by the system.”
According to Romanucci, Floyd’s family has not yet issued any subpoenas or requested any further evidence about the letter or information breaches. He explained that his team of attorneys is currently “exploring all of our remedies.”
In a statement, the Hennepin County Medical Center did not confirm that Floyd’s data had been breached due to patient confidentiality, but said that any information breach is “taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.”
“If it is determined that a violation has occurred, disciplinary action up to and including termination can be used,” the statement added.
One of the ex-cops involved in Floyd’s death — Derek Chauvin — currently faces up to 40 years in prison. He was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The remaining former officers involved — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.