MONROVIA, Montserrado – Members of the House of Representatives have unanimously agreed to cite authorities of the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital to investigate a potential breach of health privacy after photos circulated on social media of the late Rep. Jay Nagbe Soh at the facility shortly before he died.

The House took the decision based on a communication from Grand Bassa’s fourth district representative, Thomas Goshua. Goshua said the photograph of Sloh that was circulated on social media was “gross disrespect” to the fallen lawmaker and was accompanies by denigrating comments.

Hours after reports of his death emerged, pictures of Sloh’s body, along with another video showing the late lawmaker seeking the help of a traditional doctor, circulated.

Goshua said he believed patients at the John F. Kennedy Medical Memorial Center and other health facilities are entitled to privacy, suggesting that staff at the medical facility may have been responsible for the image being shared to the public.

JFK’s authorities, along with nurses who were in charge of the late lawmaker when he was admitted at the hospital, are expected to appear before the House’s leadership to answer to the alleged privacy breach.

Meanwhile, the hospital has issued a press release suggesting that the photo circulating on social media may have been taken by relatives and friends of the lawmaker who had access to him during his admission.

It read, “Our attention has been drawn to the demeaning and unauthorized photographing of a patient who was admitted in the medical center. The patient was admitted in a private room that was accessible to relatives, friends, and office staff.”

The hospital, however, has condemned the act and asked that people who frequently recorded, photographed, or filmed patients at the facility without authorization desist from those actions.

The medical facility added that it has instituted a Patient Privacy Policy to protect the privacy of every patient.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah