President and CEO of the Rhode Island Quality Institute Neil Sarkar, who is also an associate professor of medical science and health services, policy and practice, has been accused of using unauthorized patient data for his research at Brown.
The suit, filed by former RIQI employee Darlene Morris in federal court earlier this month, alleges that Sarkar and other RIQI leadership unlawfully retaliated against her for raising concerns about Sarkar’s data misuse.
Sarkar and Morris did not respond to a request for comment.
Morris’s complaint alleges that Sarkar utilized his high-ranking position at RIQI to obtain restricted patient data for independent research at Brown. The patient data was obtained from the statewide Health Information Exchange, which maintains confidential health care information for approximately 550,000 Rhode Island residents — roughly half of the state’s population.
RIQI operated and maintained Rhode Island’s HIE, called CurrentCare, through a set of state contracts. But state regulations prohibit the release or transfer of this confidential information without written consent from the patient or the State.
The lawsuit claims that Sarkar first sought to obtain confidential patient information for a research project in early 2023.
To acquire this data, Sarkar allegedly breached protocol by requesting data directly from RIQI’s data department, circumventing Morris, who oversaw protection of confidential HIE information.
That May, Sarkar presented a research study by a medical student at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School to the RIQI board of directors. The use of this data — which included information from over 100,000 patients — had not been approved by the state, according to the complaint.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Rhode Island Department of Health began their investigation of Sarkar shortly thereafter. Morris assisted in their investigation.
Later that year, EOHHS filed a “Breach of Contract Dispute Complaint” against RIQI, saying Sarkar’s “utilization of HIE data for research at Brown” violated the state contract that gave RIQI access to this information.
EOHSS Director of Public Affairs Kerri White wrote in an email to The Herald that the office takes “seriously the duty to safeguard the confidential healthcare information within the statewide health information exchange.”
“Rhode Islanders entrust their protected health information to the HIE with the understanding that it will be used to prevent disease and protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island,” White added.
In February 2024, Brown submitted a student-authored manuscript to RIQI for their approval. The manuscript allegedly drew from Sarkar’s research presentation back in May, presenting the HIE data differently “than the use in the earlier study.” Neither study had been approved by the State, the suit says.
Two months later, the University advised RIQI that “the manuscript would be published regardless of RIQI’s approval,” according to the lawsuit. Sarkar claimed that this decision was “Brown’s alone.”
Representatives from EOHHS and RIDOH scrutinized Sarkar’s claim, writing that “this decision defies credulity given the dual roles of RIQI’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Neil Sarkar.”
University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald that the University “at all times adhered to federal and state laws, University policies and the provisions of our contract with the institute,” emphasizing that contracts for managing HIE data are between RIQI and the state.
The lawsuit further claims that Sarkar and RIQI leadership engaged in subsequent retaliatory conduct against Morris, who had been assisting with the State’s investigation.
Alleged retaliation against Morris included a diminishment of her authority, exclusion from meetings, limited communication with State officials and restricted access to a database overseeing contracts and other agreements.
Retaliatory conduct continued, even after the State instructed RIQI to immediately cease “further use of HIE data for research purposes” and compelled RIQI to reinstate Morris’ attendance in state compliance meetings, according to the lawsuit.
RIQI terminated Morris’s employment in July 2024. Scott Young, a senior director at RIQI, told The Herald that Morris’ termination was due to a financial stabilization effort that cut a number of positions.
He added that the complaint filed in federal court “is rife with inaccuracies and misleading information and ignores the financial realities that forced the Institute to eliminate positions and lay off employees over the course of the year.”
As of July 2024, RIQI’s state contract was awarded to another vendor, according to the lawsuit.
Cate Latimer is a university news editor covering faculty, University Hall and higher education. She is from Portland, OR, and studies English and Urban Studies. In her free time, you can find her playing ultimate frisbee or rewatching episodes of Parks and Rec.
Megan is a metro editor covering health and environment. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she spends her free time drinking coffee and wishing she was Meg Ryan in a Nora Ephron movie.
