Since this weekend, the rap world has been in mourning. Rapper Werenoi, 31 and best record salesperson in France, died on Saturday May 17. Hospitalized in critical condition with salpêtrière pity, he would have succumbed to a heart failure, according to his family confirmations today. But if the case has created amazement, it is also because the statements on his state of health and his death fueled social networks well before the official announcement.
Confidential information apparently sent to an influencer
On the evening of Friday, May 16, the day before his death, an unusual absence from Werenoi had aroused many rumors, some evoking a coma. The Aquababe blogger, reputed to be close to the rapper’s family, then relayed the first signs of a brutal degradation of his state of health. A few hours before the official announcement of his death, he specifically mentioned a coma following a serious respiratory problem – information that was not confirmed by his relatives.
But quickly the rumor, fed by the influencer himself, reported a problematic fact: the information came from an internal person in the hospital who consulted, or was in contact, with confidential information from the rapper.
Medical confidence is an obligation
On this point, Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical and himself a professional of the AP-HP (Paris Hospitals), recalls it firmly.
“Medical and professional confidentiality is a strict legal and ethical obligation for all health professionals and hospital staff”.
A fact established in a legal manner. According to article 226-13 of the penal code: any revelation of confidential information (medical or not) by a professional is liable to 1 year in prison and € 15,000 fine. According to article L1110-4 of the Public Health Code: the secrecy covers everything that has been seen, heard or included in the context of professional exercise.
“Except legal exceptions (violence, contagious diseases …), the patient must give his agreement for any communication” explains the emergency room.
A secret extended to all those who work in the hospital
But this confidentiality does not only concern doctors surrounding patients, known or not. Dr. Kierzek says it: everyone is engaged in medical confidentiality
On the side of doctors and caregivers (nurses, caregivers, etc.) it is strictly prohibited from:
- Give the name, state of health or identifiers of a patient (even indirectly);
- Confirm or deny the presence of a personality in the hospital without his agreement.
On the side of non -medical staff (administrative agents, security, etc.):
- There is a total ban on sharing info on patients;
- Even a simple confirmation (“So -and -so is well hospitalized here”) is a serious violation.
In a publication, the Paris hospitals recalled it “The AP-HP cannot comment on the care of a patient and recalls that any health professional is subject to medical confidentiality, which prohibits the disclosure of information, whatever it is, on the care of a patient”.
What does a professional who share this information risk?
If the blogger has indeed been informed by an internal person in the hospital, the latter risks big:
- Disciplinary sanctions (dismissal, cancellation of order for a doctor);
- Criminal proceedings (fine, prison);
- A complaint from the patient (or his family) for privacy.
“Medicality is absolute for all caregivers and personal” insists our expert.
To date, Clément Garin, another user specializing in the media, announces a vast internal investigation within the hospital establishment to identify the at fault. “”All doctors and nurses with access to exhaustive computerized data from the deceased will be received as soon as possible “, he assured this Sunday. Information which was however not publicly confirmed by the AP-HP.