Hospital Fires Staff After Allegations of Sharing Patient Photos and Using AI to Mock Them

A Florida state investigation into an alleged Jay Hospital patient privacy breach documented allegations that hospital staff photographed vulnerable patients, shared degrading images, and used an AI-generated application to create mocking songs referencing patients’ names, medical conditions, and anatomy.

After reviewing the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Statement of Deficiencies, the statement finds that Jay Hospital failed to protect the rights of four patients who were reportedly photographed and discussed among staff using personal devices, social media applications, and an AI-generated music platform.

The AHCA report describes allegations that staff displayed photos of partially unclothed patients, made jokes about patients’ bodies and medical conditions, and created songs referencing patients by name. In one finding, investigators documented allegations that a song referred to a male patient’s enlarged anatomy using vulgar language. Other portions of the report describe songs and comments allegedly mocking female patients’ conditions.

The AHCA investigation has since closed. According to Jay Hospital, the facility fully cooperated with regulators throughout the review.

According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigative report, the criminal investigation began after Baptist Health Care leadership contacted law enforcement in September 2025 following allegations raised by a whistleblower.

The sheriff’s report states the whistleblower alleged that members of a Jay Hospital night shift were taking photographs of patients while they were in “an incapacitated or compromised state” and creating inappropriate content involving patients. Investigators also documented allegations that the content was disseminated through a Snapchat group.

The sheriff’s report identifies three nurses—Bamah Nicole Coleman, 26; Kaylin Victoria Glenn, 24; and Miranda Lynn Faulkner, 48—along with personal care technician Haley Nicole Migas, 27—as individuals investigated in connection with the allegations. Hospital records referenced in the report indicate the employees were suspended and later terminated.

Baptist Health Care is listed as the complainant in the sheriff’s case file.

However, after reviewing the evidence, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office ultimately closed the criminal investigation as unfounded, writing that investigators found insufficient probable cause to support an arrest affidavit.

The report states that while investigators identified concerns that could implicate workplace policy or HIPAA compliance, they did not establish the criminal elements necessary under Florida law.

When Nurse.org spoke with Hunter Rawls and Diane Rawls of Jay, Florida, it was clear the allegations remain deeply personal for the family.

Paul Rawls, Diane Rawls’ husband and Hunter Rawls’ father, was one of the patients referenced in the underlying allegations and died recently. Hunter and Diane told Nurse.org that Paul carried lasting humiliation over what he believed happened during his hospitalization.

“He was embarrassed. He was humiliated,” Diane Rawls said. “He talked many times about how humiliated he was and how it made him not want to show his face in town.”

The family said Paul’s decision to pursue legal action was never about compensation.

“The reason he started the lawsuit, and the reason he would want us to continue, is so it doesn’t happen to anybody else,” Hunter Rawls said.

Hunter said reading the AHCA findings intensified his anger.

“I’ve been a little furious ever since I read that,” he said.

Hunter Rawls also told Nurse.org that his family was not notified immediately after hospital leadership became aware of the allegations, disputing Jay Hospital’s characterization of its response timeline.

He further alleged that hospital representatives later offered the family settlement payments accompanied by a nondisclosure agreement.

“They slid a check across the table,” Hunter Rawls said. “We refused.”

According to Rawls, the family declined an initial $25,000 offer, followed by a later $50,000 offer.

Jay Hospital did not address those allegations in its statement to Nurse.org.

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Civil Litigation Remains Active

Although the criminal investigation has closed, civil litigation tied to the allegations remains active.

Public court records reviewed by Nurse.org show the negligence lawsuit filed in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court in October 2025 remains active. The case names Jay Hospital, Baptist Health Care, Bamah Coleman, Kaylin Glenn, and Debra Jenkins as defendants.

Recent filings include discovery activity, deposition notices involving named defendants, motions to amend pleadings, and an unopposed motion to substitute party following the filing of a suggestion of death after Paul Rawls’ passing.

No final judgment has been entered.

Attorney Joe Zarzaur, who represents the Rawls family, told Nurse.org that the closure of the criminal investigation does not resolve the civil claims.

He said the civil case will proceed under a lower evidentiary burden than a criminal prosecution and may rely on witness testimony, internal records, and other evidence.

“We think that’s going to be enough for us to meet our burden in our civil case,” Zarzaur said.

Zarzaur also said he is not aware of any complaint having been made to the Florida Board of Nursing regarding the nurses involved.

“If anybody has either seen the pictures or they have screenshots of the posts, we’re still asking people to come forward with those,” he said.

In a statement to Nurse.org, Jay Hospital said it “immediately conducted a preliminary investigation and notified the appropriate authorities and the patients.”

“Following the investigation, the individuals involved were terminated,” hospital spokesperson Carmela Cook said.

The hospital said it fully cooperated with AHCA and remains committed to protecting “the privacy, safety and dignity” of patients.

Because of ongoing litigation, the hospital declined further comment.

Questions Remain About Professional Accountability

Jay Hospital told Nurse.org that upon learning of the allegations, it notified “the appropriate authorities,” including the Florida Board of Nursing and law enforcement.

Nurse.org reviewed publicly available Florida Board of Nursing records and did not identify current public disciplinary action, restrictions, or pending enforcement actions involving the nurses at the time of publication.

Public licensure records do not necessarily reflect confidential or ongoing investigative activity.

For many nurses reading the findings, the broader question remains whether sufficient professional accountability mechanisms exist when allegations involving patient dignity and privacy arise—even when criminal charges are not sustained.

🤔 Nurses, share your thoughts in the comments below.

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