N.Y. Lawyer Among 8 Charged in Alleged Hospital Record-Selling Scheme

A New York lawyer is among eight individuals charged in an alleged scheme in which current and former employees of city hospitals are accused of selling confidential patient information to personal injury lawyers.

William Hamel, 45, who works for Manhattan's Dinkes & Schwitzer, is charged with third-degree bribery, reports Newsday. He allegedly purchased information about patients and used it to solicit clients.

Hamel did not immediately respond to a message left at his law office by the newspaper.

Unidentified undercover investigators from the city's Department of Investigation and the state attorney general's office contend that unidentified personal injury lawyers also were involved in persuading patients from city hospitals to obtain unnecessary treatment and submitting inflated claims to insurance companies, Newsday reports.

Additional coverage:

New York Daily News: "7 Bronx hospital workers arrested for bribes; accused of helping crooked clinics with insurance scam"