27 hospital workers suspended after Clooney crash

More than two dozen workers at a New Jersey hospital were suspended without pay Wednesday after allegedly snooping into actor George Clooney?s medical records.
Clooney and his girlfriend were treated at Palisades Medical Center after a Sept. 21 motorcycle accident. The hospital says computer records show the accused workers broke federal law by snooping into the actor?s medical information. According to the hospital, only direct caregivers and their support staff can access a patient?s medical record.
The union representing seven suspended workers says some of them did have reason to see Clooney?s records. It also believes the hospital should have special computer codes to make sure similar incidents don?t happen again.
In a statement Tuesday night, Clooney said, ?This is the first I?m hearing of this and while I very much believe in a patient?s right to privacy, I would hope this could be settled without suspending medical workers.?
A hospital spokesman says Clooney?s fame has nothing to do with the suspensions. He says any patient?s privacy would be treated the same way.