A Long Island hospital is at the center of a privacy scandal and mounting legal action after a staff member was accused of secretly recording thousands of patients and employees in bathrooms across multiple facilities.
The former sleep technician, Sanjai Syamaprasad, installed cameras - disguised as smoke detectors - in nine bathrooms at two Northwell Health sites, recording approximately 13,000 people - including both patients and staff, some of whom were children - between July 2023 and April 2024.
The scheme was uncovered in April 2024 when a coworker reportedly caught Syamaprasad watching footage of a man using the bathroom on his laptop, which prompted authorities to intervene. After his arrest, Syamaprasad attempted to dispose of evidence by tossing memory cards and recording devices into a dumpster near his Brooklyn home.
Following the discovery, Northwell Health sent letters to as many as 13,000 potential victims, and the actual number of people filmed may be even higher because investigators are continuing to review footage.
The hospital maintains it cooperated with law enforcement and delayed notifying potential victims until it was permitted by prosecutors, but this delay has become a focal point in multiple lawsuits, including a recently filed class action.
Attorneys representing victims argue that the hospital's failure to promptly disclose the breach compounded the emotional and psychological harm, violating fundamental expectations of safety and privacy in a place meant for healing.
Syamaprasad pled guilty to five counts of unlawful surveillance and two counts of evidence tampering.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/07/10/us-news/ny-hospital-faces-lawsuits-after-worker-accused-of-secretly-filming-13k-in-bathroom/
Commentary
To prohibit the use of hidden cameras, a hospital should clearly establish formal policies that outright ban all surveillance devices - including those that are concealed - from patient rooms, bathrooms, changing rooms, and any area where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as treatment rooms and sleeping areas.
These policies must be explicit, widely communicated to all staff, and be included in the hospital's official documentation and training programs.
Hidden cameras should only be considered in extremely rare, lawfully justified circumstances, and such decisions should involve oversight from a hospital ethics committee and legal counsel. Staff and contractors should sign agreements acknowledging these rules, and any discovery of a hidden camera should trigger both an internal investigation and, if warranted, law enforcement involvement.
The placement of any surveillance device, even visible cameras, in a hospital should be highly restricted. Most hospitals use cameras only in public areas such as entrances, lobbies, hallways, and parking lots - never in bathrooms or changing rooms.
When cameras are installed in areas with minimal privacy expectations, hospitals should post clear signage to notify everyone that surveillance is occurring. Consent should be obtained before installing cameras in any space where patients could be recorded, such as their own rooms, and patients must be informed about the purpose and scope of the surveillance.
To detect hidden cameras, hospitals must implement regular, unannounced physical audits in sensitive areas. These audits should be systematic and documented, conducted by trained security personnel or third-party specialists familiar with contemporary surveillance technology. Auditors should inspect all potential hiding places - such as smoke detectors, air vents, light fixtures, and electrical outlets - using both visual examination and electronic counter-surveillance tools like radio frequency detectors and thermal cameras.
Special attention should be paid to areas with plumbing or behind mirrors because these are common installation spots. The audit process should also review any suspicious devices or wiring and check for the presence of cameras or other recording equipment not listed in the hospital's official inventory.
Audits should be performed at random intervals to prevent predictability, and results should be recorded in a secure log. Any suspicious findings must be reported to hospital administration and, if necessary, to law enforcement. Regular audits not only help detect unauthorized devices but also serve as a deterrent against future misuse. Hospitals should enhance these physical checks with periodic policy reviews, staff re-education, and anonymous reporting channels for employees to raise concerns about surveillance violations.
