Peruvian clinic fined R$1 million for leaking Shakira's health data

Peruvian authorities on Wednesday (2) fined the Lima medical center that treated Colombian star Shakira in February around 190 thousand dollars (approximately R$ 1 million) for releasing the singer's medical records.

Shakira was urgently hospitalized with an “abdominal problem” that forced her to cancel one of her two shows in Lima on February 16.

In a statement, the National Health Superintendence (SuSalud), the entity that oversees the health system, applied the fine after a five-month investigation.

According to the entity, the clinic violated the confidentiality of the 48-year-old singer's medical data.

The Delgado-Auna Clinic must pay a “fine of approximately US$190,000 for having disclosed health data of Colombian artist Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, while she was a patient,” the agency said.

Under Peruvian law, disclosing patient data constitutes a serious offense and violates the rights of people accessing health services.

Medical establishments are obliged to guarantee the confidentiality and protection of medical records, SuSalud recalled.

The law does not provide for the closure of the medical center, but a maximum fine of up to 1.6 million soles (about 2.44 million reais).

The investigation began in February with inspections at the Delgado-Auna Clinic, where the staff involved were questioned.

At the time, the hospital stated, in a press release, that it had identified and sanctioned “the people with proven responsibility for this serious ethical breach”.

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