Indiana AG Dismisses Lawsuit Against IU Health

Indiana's Attorney General Todd Rokita has dropped a lawsuit against IU Health, which accused the hospital system of violating patient privacy laws related to a 10-year-old Ohio girl who sought an abortion after being raped. The lawsuit claimed the doctor, Caitlin Bernard, had breached HIPAA by sharing the girl's story with a newspaper, although her attorneys argued that no personally identifiable information was disclosed. The case became a focal point in the abortion debate following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Rokita stated that actions taken by IU Health, including training staff on patient confidentiality, satisfied the state's initial complaints. A federal judge had previously dismissed the case, and Rokita's office confirmed the lawsuit's dismissal last week. IU Health emphasized its commitment to patient privacy amidst the controversy.