Prosecutors Deny Violating Luigi Mangione’s Medical Privacy Rights

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Prosecutors involved in the state case against Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have denied claims that they violated Mangione’s medical privacy rights. The defense argued that prosecutors improperly accessed confidential health information protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, prosecutors said their inquiry involved only “entirely unremarkable” details and called the allegations unfounded.

Mangione’s attorneys sought to suppress evidence after prosecutors subpoenaed Aetna, his health insurer, for medical information. The defense alleged that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office unlawfully obtained and partially reviewed protected documents. The prosecution, responding in court filings, said the subpoena requested routine information such as Mangione’s insurance account number and coverage periods.

Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann clarified that there was nothing secretive or improper about the subpoena’s scope. He noted that while prosecutors sought a limited set of data relevant to the case, Aetna mistakenly provided additional documents that were beyond the requested materials.

“Given these circumstances, defendant’s real complaint is not about the subpoena itself but about Aetna’s response to the subpoena, which included documents that the People had not requested,” Seidemann said. The prosecution immediately identified the error, informed both the court and the defense, and deleted all extraneous documents from their files.

Complicating matters further, the defense sent prosecutors an email with the entire Aetna file attached despite prosecutors having already deleted those documents. Seidemann criticized the defense for attempting to penalize the prosecution for an administrative error made by the insurance company.

“The defense nonetheless seeks to punish the People for the administrative mistakes of others, claiming that the People have perpetrated a ‘lie and a fraud’ against the defendant, an inflammatory and dubious accusation without any basis,” Seidemann stated.

The prosecution urged the judge to deny the defense’s motion to suppress the evidence and move forward by setting a trial date.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges alleging he murdered Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where Thompson was scheduled to attend an investor conference in 2023. Mangione also faces separate federal charges connected to the same incident, which carry possible death penalty consequences.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim, who was a prominent executive in the healthcare industry. Both sides are preparing for what is expected to be a lengthy trial process.