ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday tweeted an image of a medical record appearing to document the finger amputation of New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
ESPN obtained medical charts that show Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had right index finger amputated today.
A source additionally told Schefter that Pierre-Paul is expected to play in the upcoming football season.
But under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, an individual's health information may not be released by healthcare providers or plans without permission.
Federal privacy laws prevent hospitals from disclosing information about patients or their medical records without the patient’s consent.
Representatives of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami — where Pierre-Paul is being treated — said they would "aggressively" investigate any violation.
Jackson Health System takes patient privacy seriously and aggressively investigates any alleged violation.
HIPAA violations may be punished with fines or criminally prosecuted, which could mean jail time if an individual is found guilty.
Any penalties would likely be limited to health workers or the hospital — U.S. courts have held that members of the media may publish documents even knowing they were obtained illegally.
"HIPAA does not apply to news organizations," ESPN said in a statement.
Rumors that Pierre-Paul had injured his hand in a fireworks accident at his Florida home on the 4th of July started circulating over the weekend.
Not confirmed, but hearing a prominent defensive player from the #NYG seriously damaged his hand in a fireworks accident last night.
The possibility of amputation was also rumored.
So for the #Giants fans curious about JPP, I was told that amputation COULD an option, but not confirmed.
