George Clooney must be one of the nicest guys around. It turns out, parts of his medical records were leaked by as many as 40 hospital personnel after his motorcycle accident last month. More than two dozen employees have been suspended without pay, and at least sixteen more are being investigated in the incident. While most people would be outraged and threatening legal action, Clooney wasn’t thrilled by the incident but said that he hoped it could be settled without suspending medical workers. His “E.R.” loyalty must run deep.

“‘This is the first I’ve heard of it,’ Clooney, 46, said in a statement Tuesday. ‘And while I very much believe in a patient’s right to privacy, I would hope that this could be settled without suspending medical workers.’

“Suspicions were raised shortly after the accident when the press had details about the couple’s medial conditions – Clooney suffered a fractured rib and Larson broke her big toe – WCBS 2 in New Jersey reports. Leaking confidential information is a violation of federal law. According to WCBS, hospital employees who were not treating Clooney themselves accessed his medical records via the hospital computer system, with one security guard going so far as to give out the phone number of one of Clooney’s family members.”

[From People]

That’s pretty big of George Clooney. I’d be spiting mad and wanting names. It seems like he has a good perspective and understands that he’s pretty lucky that he and his girlfriend walked away from their accident with relatively minor injuries. I wish I was as magnanimous as George, but I really think these people should be in a lot of trouble. It shows a lack of good judgment and ethics, and that’s pretty important for healthcare workers.

George also mentioned that he’s not done with his motorcycling ways. He noted: “‘I’ve been riding for 30 years, and I’ve had three accidents, which isn’t bad odds. I’ll keep riding,’ he said last week.” Um, way to go? I don’t know if that’s smart or stupid, but he seems to be holding up pretty well, so maybe it’s good for him.