A woman who says gossiping nurses violated her confidentiality wants IHA to discipline those responsible so others won’t ever be made to feel like she did.

Carole Hudson told The Daily News on Monday she filed a lawsuit in June 2008, seeking damages from three as well as Interior Health and Royal Inland Hospital.

She settled that lawsuit on the eve of her trial in January for an undisclosed amount. Hudson said since, she’s been waiting for some indication from IHA those who were responsible for the gossiping, as well as their superiors, will be held accountable.

As well, she wants policies changed to ensure hospital staff know they can’t stick their noses where they don’t belong.

“They owe us that. This lawsuit was not a money issue, it was a principle issue,” said Hudson. “It was malicious gossip.”

Hudson, who is married to Kamloops orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ross Outerbridge, was admitted to RIH in February 2007 after she began having difficulty with her pregnancy, according to the statement of claim filed with her lawsuit.

The claim states one of the nurses told several othes that she was pregnant and what medication she was taking. Hudson said she and her husband had not yet told some of their family about the pregnancy.

She noted there was no valid reason for the nurse to tell any of the others about why she was in the hospital, as none of them was involved with her care.

“She read my chart, and passed it on to others,” Hudson said. “It was completely violating.”

Dr. Outerbridge raised the couple’s concerns to RIH management and asked that steps be taken to ensure confidentiality about patient care was properly maintained.

In February 2008, Hudson attended the hospital for a medical procedure. At the time, Barry was present in the recovery room but was not involved with Hudson’s care.

According to the statement of claim, one nurse told another that Hudson had attended for a miscarriage, which was untrue. She also shared with other nurses other personal medical information.

Two of the nurses no longer work with the IHA. One retired, while the other moved to Alberta.

“If a doctor had done that, even once, they would lose their licence,” she said. “You should be able to trust these people.”

The Daily News sought comments from IHA through the authority’s public relations staff, but calls were not returned by the day’s end.