The Peruvian clinic that provided treatment to Colombian superstar Shakira for an abdominal condition in February has been fined $190,000 over the unauthorized leaking of her medical records, local health authorities announced on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old four-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was compelled to cancel a major concert in Lima in February after being rushed to the hospital with an unspecified abdominal ailment. Remarkably, just two days later, she was back on stage in the Peruvian capital.
Shortly after her brief hospitalization, confidential details of her medical report appeared on social media, triggering widespread outrage among her fans and prompting an official investigation. The Delgado Auna clinic, where Shakira received treatment, had stated at the time that it was investigating what it termed a “serious ethical breach of our code of conduct and regulations governing personal data processing.”
Peru’s national health regulatory body, Susalud, confirmed the fine, which amounts to 668,750 soles (approximately $188,355). Susalud emphasized that the disclosure of the singer’s data constituted a “serious violation” of patient rights, stressing that all patients are entitled to “dignity and intimacy,” along with a guarantee that their personal information will be treated with confidentiality.
Shakira is currently on her first world tour in seven years, titled “Las mujeres ya no lloran” (Women Don’t Cry Anymore). While the singer has not publicly addressed the leak, the substantial fine serves as a clear message regarding patient privacy and data protection within the healthcare industry.
