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Peggy A. Randolph, a social worker from Florida, surrendered her license after an investigation revealed that her wife impersonated her and treated patients on an online mental health platform. Randolph worked for Brightside Health and thousands of clients were treated by her wife while she was on bereavement leave. Randolph initially denied the allegations but later admitted to the scheme. Brightside Health conducted an internal investigation, fired Randolph, and reported the situation to authorities. The company reimbursed patients for affected treatment sessions and took steps to ensure such incidents do not occur again, including revalidating licenses and conducting security audits. Randolph agreed not to reinstate her license, pay a civil penalty, and the situation was reported to federal authorities and licensing boards. Brightside Health expressed disappointment in Randolph’s actions and emphasized the importance of trust in the patient-provider relationship in telehealth and in-person care. The company also notified the Office of Civil Rights about a potential HIPAA violation and refunded affected patients’ sessions. This incident highlights the importance of thorough background checks and vigilant monitoring of healthcare professionals in online mental health platforms to protect the well-being of patients.

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