Secretly Filmed by Your Chiropractor? Understanding Your Rights and Legal Options

The trust between a patient and their chiropractor is paramount. Patients seek chiropractic care for pain relief, improved mobility, and overall well-being, entrusting these professionals with their physical and personal space. However, what happens when this trust is violated by the secret filming of patients? Recent reports indicate a disturbing trend of hidden cameras in healthcare settings, including chiropractic offices, raising serious concerns about patient privacy and rights. In November 2025, a chiropractor in Illinois faced multiple felony charges for secretly recording patients, including minors, during treatments. This article explores your rights and legal options if you suspect you’ve been secretly filmed by your chiropractor, providing guidance on how to navigate this sensitive and complex situation.

The Shocking Reality: Hidden Cameras in Healthcare

The idea of hidden cameras in a healthcare setting might seem like a plot from a thriller movie, but it’s becoming an alarming reality. In 2025, several incidents involving hidden cameras in hospitals and clinics have surfaced across the nation. These cameras have been discovered in staff bathrooms, locker rooms, and even patient treatment areas, sparking outrage and prompting investigations into institutional oversight and patient safety.

One particularly disturbing case involves a chiropractor in Batavia, Illinois, who was accused of secretly recording nude patients, including children. This chiropractor now faces a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of four alleged victims. The lawsuit details how the chiropractor abused the trust of his medical clients by secretly recording them in treatment rooms. This behavior is toxic and deeply harmful to any individual.

Understanding Your Rights as a Patient

When you seek chiropractic care, you have certain fundamental rights that protect your privacy and ensure ethical treatment. These rights include:

Informed Consent: You have the right to receive clear information about your diagnosis, treatment options, potential benefits, and risks before starting any treatment. You should be able to ask questions and take the time you need to make a decision.
Privacy and Confidentiality: Your personal and medical information should be kept confidential, in compliance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state laws. You have the right to request how your information is communicated and accessed.
Respect and Dignity: You have the right to be treated with respect, dignity, and concern, regardless of your race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or background.
Participation in Care Decisions: You have the right to be actively involved in your care, including accepting or refusing treatment at any time. Your choices will be respected and honored whenever clinically appropriate and legally possible.
Access to Your Records: You generally have the right to access and receive copies of your medical records. HIPAA provides individuals with a legal, enforceable right to see and receive copies upon request of the information in their medical and other health records.

Is Secretly Filming Patients Illegal?

The legality of secretly filming patients depends on state and federal laws, which vary across jurisdictions.

One-Party Consent vs. Two-Party Consent: Federal law requires only one party to consent to the recording of a conversation. However, many states have their own laws, some of which are more restrictive. Some states are “one-party consent” states, meaning that only one person being recorded needs to give permission for the recording to be legal. In these states, a patient or a doctor can record a conversation regardless of whether the other party agrees.
All-Party Consent States: Other states are “two-party consent” or “all-party consent” states, requiring all parties to a conversation to consent to the recording. As of 2019, at least 11 states have laws that make audiovisual recording without prior two-party consent illegal, usually as part of their wiretapping laws. These states include California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. In these states, recording an encounter with a physician would not be allowed without the physician’s consent.
HIPAA and Privacy Violations: Even in one-party consent states, healthcare professionals must adhere to ethical guidelines and federal laws like HIPAA, which prioritize protecting patient privacy and confidentiality. Recording patients without consent can be considered a breach of trust and an infringement on privacy.
Reasonable Expectation of Privacy: State laws often prohibit video surveillance in areas where individuals have a “reasonable expectation” of privacy. This can include treatment rooms in a chiropractic office, where patients may be undressed or undergoing sensitive procedures.

Legal Recourse for Secretly Filmed Patients

If you suspect that you have been secretly filmed by your chiropractor, you have several legal options to consider:

Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit: Secretly recording someone in a private setting can be a clear violation of privacy rights. An unauthorized recording in a private setting often constitutes a clear violation of privacy rights. You may be able to sue for intrusion upon seclusion, which involves filming someone in a private place without their consent.
HIPAA Violation Complaint: If the recording involves your protected health information (PHI) and was done without your consent, it could be a violation of HIPAA. You can file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Report to State Licensing Board: You can report the chiropractor to your state’s licensing board, which regulates chiropractic practices. The board can investigate the matter and take disciplinary action against the chiropractor, such as suspending or revoking their license.
Criminal Charges: Depending on the state’s laws and the nature of the recording, the chiropractor could face criminal charges for illegal recording, voyeurism, or wiretapping violations.
Defamation Lawsuit: If the recording is used to present false information that damages your reputation, you may have grounds for a defamation lawsuit. Similarly, if a video portrays you in a misleading or offensive manner, you might be able to sue for “false light” invasion of privacy.

Damages You Can Recover

If you are successful in your legal claims, you may be able to recover damages for the harm you have suffered. These damages can include:

Compensatory Damages: These damages are intended to compensate you for your losses, such as emotional distress, anxiety, shame, depression, and feelings of powerlessness.
Punitive Damages: In cases of willful or reckless misconduct, you may be able to recover punitive damages, which are intended to punish the chiropractor for their actions and deter others from similar behavior.
Nominal Damages: Nominal damages may be awarded when the evidence negatives any substantial harm.
Legal Fees: In some cases, you may be able to recover your legal fees and court costs.

Steps to Take If You Suspect You’ve Been Secretly Filmed

If you suspect that you have been secretly filmed by your chiropractor, it is important to take the following steps:

Consult with an Attorney: An experienced personal injury attorney can advise you on your rights and legal options, and help you navigate the complex legal process.
Gather Evidence: Collect any evidence that supports your suspicion, such as suspicious devices in the office, unusual behavior by the chiropractor, or any other relevant information.
File a Police Report: Report the incident to the police, who can investigate the matter and potentially file criminal charges.
Preserve Evidence: Take steps to preserve any potential evidence, such as taking photos or videos of the office and any suspicious devices.
Seek Medical Attention: If you are experiencing emotional distress or other psychological symptoms as a result of the incident, seek medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.

The Importance of HIPAA Compliance for Chiropractors

HIPAA is a federal law that regulates how healthcare providers collect, store, and share patient health information. HIPAA compliance is essential for chiropractors for several reasons:

Protecting Patient Privacy: HIPAA helps to protect patients’ privacy and confidentiality. Patients trust their healthcare providers to keep their health information secure, and failure to comply with HIPAA can result in loss of trust and legal action.
Legal Requirement: HIPAA compliance is required by law, and failure to comply can result in significant financial penalties. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing HIPAA, and the penalties for non-compliance can range from fines to criminal charges.
Protecting Your Practice’s Reputation: A data breach can damage your practice’s reputation and result in a loss of patients. By taking steps to protect patient information, you can demonstrate your commitment to patient privacy and security.

To ensure HIPAA compliance, chiropractors should:

Designate a privacy officer who is responsible for ensuring compliance with HIPAA.
Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of patient health information.
Develop policies and procedures to safeguard patient health information and ensure compliance with HIPAA.
Train staff on HIPAA policies and procedures and ensure that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting patient health information.
Implement technical safeguards to protect patient health information, including access controls, encryption, and secure messaging.
Report data breaches to the OCR within a specified timeframe.

Seeking Justice and Protecting Your Privacy

Being secretly filmed by your chiropractor is a deeply disturbing and violating experience. It is essential to understand your rights and legal options to seek justice and protect your privacy. By consulting with an attorney, gathering evidence, and reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities, you can take steps to hold the responsible parties accountable and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Call to Action

If you suspect that you have been secretly filmed by your chiropractor, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal options. We are here to help you navigate this challenging situation and fight for the justice you deserve.