Former Doctor Found Guilty of Unauthorized Access to Ex‑Partner and Child Medical Records
The case centers on a physician who allegedly learned about his ex-wife’s pregnancy and followed the birth and care of her child. He was accused of accessing a patient’s electronic medical history without permission or a legal basis, with the hidden aim of establishing paternity. After admitting the facts during a hearing in the Fifth Chamber of the Valencian Provincial Court, the doctor at the Silla Health Center received a fifteen‑month prison sentence for the crime of discovery and disclosure of secrets.
Earlier, the prosecution had sought a far harsher penalty, requesting eight years in prison for two counts of discovery and disclosure of secrets. In the same proceedings, three other doctors faced charges but were ultimately acquitted. Their involvement appeared tied to personal interest in accessing the ex-partner’s medical history and that of the newborn, rather than professional duties.
The events trace back to November 2011, with the breakup occurring in September of that year when the first unauthorized access to the ex-partner’s medical records took place. Between 2011 and 2014, the physician allegedly accessed the clinical data up to eleven times in his professional role. Investigations also noted entries in the medical histories of the ex-wife and the child’s mother, as well as data linked to friends who were deemed to bear no responsibility for the breaches.
Prosecution Aims for Eight‑Year Term for Unauthorized Access to Ex‑Partner and Child Medical Histories
The convicted individual admitted, during acknowledgment of facts, that he intended to violate the privacy of his former partner in order to track the pregnancy and learn details about the baby’s birth. The case, arising from a custody request, saw the Valencia 13th Circuit Court of First Instance determine the existence of an extramarital paternity relationship. It was established that the child was born on March 30, 2012, and the ongoing tracking of the ex’s life contributed to a fifteen‑month prison sentence, a 1,440 euro fine, and 27 months disqualification from medical practice. The court noted that mitigation measures could allow for postponement of the sentence if no new offense occurred within two years.