VA Nurse Charged With Unlawfully Accessing Patient Health Information

GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jessica Nicole Pitcher, 41, of Shelbyville, Michigan, was charged by misdemeanor information with unlawfully accessing health information pertaining to a patient of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs without authorization, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 1320d-6(a)(2).

          “Patients have an absolute expectation of privacy concerning the communications and information shared with medical professionals and contained within their medical records,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.  “Federal law has long protected such privacy to ensure that patients, without fear of any disclosure, can share with their medical providers all information critical to receiving proper medical care. My office will hold accountable those who access or disclose confidential patient health information without authorization and without justification under federal law.”

          According to court documents, Pitcher is a nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  The misdemeanor information charges that on or about November 27, 2023, without authority, she unlawfully accessed and obtained protected health information of a patient at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan.

          If convicted, Pitcher faces a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.00.

          “Protecting patient privacy is paramount to the VA Office of Inspector General,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG’s Central Field Office. “Unlawfully accessing patient records erodes trust in VA’s programs and services. The VA OIG will diligently investigate any employee who violates this trust.”

          The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is investigating this case with the assistance of the Battle Creek VA Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella.

          The charges in a misdemeanor information are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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