A woman has sued the Pennsylvania hospital where she once worked over nude photos taken of her while she was on the operating table.
Sheila Harosky, 45, sued Washington Hospital, its chief executive and the doctor performing her surgery, Dennis Brown.
She alleges invasion of privacy and medical malpractice, among other claims in the lawsuit filed December 12.
Sheila Harosky, 45, has sued Washington Hospital, its chief executive and the doctor performing her procedure after nude photos were taken of her during the surgery
She said she discovered the photos when she returned to work after an incisional hernia surgery in September 2016.
Harosky, who had worked at the hospital for 15 years, told the Tribune-Review a colleague approached her with the photos on her cellphone saying, ‘I’ve got something for your scrapbook.’
Dennis Brown was the doctor performing the surgery who Harosky has also sued
She emotionally said ‘I trusted my medical personnel, that’s what hurts so bad,’ AOL reported.
The hospital claims the photos were an extension of a practical joke Harosky participated in by putting fake intestines on her body before the surgery.
While she admitted playing a joke on her doctor, Harosky said she didn’t give permission for the photos to be taken.
The hospital said it fired the nurse who took the photos and no longer allows the doctor to perform surgeries. But Harosky, who worked as an operating room secretary, said in her lawsuit she was subjected to harassment from other employees.
Despite the termination of the scrub nurse Harosky says the hospital failed to protect her from ‘an increasingly hostile and abusive work environment.’
The complaint stated Harosky ‘was now being treated like the wrongdoer – not the victim – and was forced to endure harassment, humiliation and backlash’ from her co-workers.’
Harosky says the hospital failed to protect her from ‘an increasingly hostile and abusive work environment’
Harosky took an extended leave of absence as recommended by her doctor. She told the Tribune-Review she was fired once her leave ended in October.
The hospital said it ‘afforded accommodations’ for Harosky’s return, but she refused the accommodations.
It is unclear what damages she is seeking.
Pictured here is Washington Hospital in Pennsylvania where the incident took place