Employee illegally recorded nude patient inside Ben Taub Hospital, officials say

Todd Patrick West, a patient care assistant at the hospital, faces charges

HOUSTON – A Harris Health System patient care assistant is accused of making illegal recordings inside Ben Taub Hospital.

Officials said a recording device was found inside a box of latex gloves in a bathroom at Ben Taub Hospital on May 6.

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Todd Patrick West, a patient care assistant at the hospital, reportedly admitted to his supervisor, Margaret Grue, that he put the device in the bathroom.

Officials said an officer downloaded the video recorded on the device and said the camera wasn't able to record any activity inside the bathroom.

However, on the device was a recording of a young woman patient at the hospital who was nude, getting ready to take a shower in a patient's room on April 17.

An officer who spoke with West said he admitted the device belonged to him, and he made the recordings.

Officials were able to identify and interview the patient, who was identified as a 22-year-old woman. She told police she did not give anyone permission to record her in the bathroom.

West, who resigned on May 10, faces charges of improper photography inside a bathroom or changing room and improper photography or visual recording. His bail was set at $10,000.

West began working for the Harris Health System on June 16, 2003.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.