DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Case in point

Posted on September 5, 2009 by Dissent

Some people — who shall go nameless for now — call some of us “privacy nuts” as if it’s a bad thing.

But anyone who works in the field of mental health, as I do, may be understandably seriously concerned about privacy and security issues.  I received a phone call this week that’s a case in point.  Since the caller is not a patient, I can talk about it.

The phone rings and I answer it.  It’s someone calling — not to seek therapy for himself — but he’s calling for a friend who may or may not call me, depending on my answers to a few questions.

The person who needs the therapy wants to know if the therapy can be anonymous.

I ask what the caller means and explain that if the concern is insurance companies finding out about health issues, the way around that is to pay cash and not submit any insurance claims.  A number of patients use that option when seeing mental health professionals, as there is still, unfortunately, a stigma associated with mental health problems.

Okay, he says, but do I actually have to know the patient’s real name?  Could I write a prescription without a name?

By now, I’m beginning to wonder about how serious the patient’s problem(s) might be, even though I haven’t been told any diagnoses.  I explain that first, I don’t write prescriptions as I’m  not a physician, second, I don’t know any legitimate physician who would write a prescription without knowing the patient’s name, and third, yes, I do need to know the patient’s identity but that my records remain in my office and are not shared with anyone — and that despite current trends, I avoid electronic records which reside on systems that could be hacked, etc.

The caller’s friend may be a somewhat extreme example, but there are people in need of mental health treatment who really are very worried about who might find out their diagnoses or other sensitive mental health data.    Could the caller have been sounding me out to see if they could get a drug prescription for a controlled substance for the wrong reasons?  Sure, but my impression was simply that the friend was highly anxious about anyone finding out their diagnosis or that they needed or would be getting treatment.

Forcing people to have records on systems than are inadequately secured or to which too many people might have access is going to scare them away from seeking help.    And since some people cannot afford treatment without using insurance benefits, we need to ensure that databases really are secure and that records really are kept confidential, etc.   Forcing providers to use systems that are not adequately secured from security or privacy breaches is just incompatible with our obligation to really keep sensitive information confidential.

So yes, you can call me a “privacy nut,” and I’ll wear the mantle proudly.


Related:

  • Singapore Facing ‘Serious’ Cyberattack by Espionage Group With Alleged China Ties
  • Missouri Adopts New Data Breach Notice Law
  • Qantas obtains injunction to prevent hacked data’s release
  • Ransomware attack disrupts Korea's largest guarantee insurer
  • Theft from Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital sparks probe
  • Global operation targets NoName057(16) pro-Russian cybercrime network in Operation Eastwood
Category: Uncategorized

Post navigation

← Digital Direct reports breach
UK: Probe after civil servant details given out with FOI →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Singapore Facing ‘Serious’ Cyberattack by Espionage Group With Alleged China Ties
  • Missouri Adopts New Data Breach Notice Law
  • Qantas obtains injunction to prevent hacked data’s release
  • Ransomware attack disrupts Korea’s largest guarantee insurer
  • Theft from Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital sparks probe
  • Global operation targets NoName057(16) pro-Russian cybercrime network in Operation Eastwood
  • More than 100 British government personnel exposed by Ministry of Defence data leak
  • New TeleMessage SGNL Flaw Is Actively Being Exploited by Attackers
  • North Country Healthcare responds to Stormous’s claims of a breach
  • Gladney Adoption Center had serious data exposures in the past few months. What will they do to prevent more?

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚‑𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.
  • Meta investors, Zuckerberg reach settlement to end $8 billion trial over Facebook privacy violations
  • ICE is gaining access to trove of Medicaid records, adding new peril for immigrants
  • Microsoft can’t protect French data from US government access
  • Texas Enacts Electronic Health Record Data Localization Law
  • Upstate NY county clerk again refuses to enforce Texas abortion judgment
  • Attorney General James Leads Coalition Urging Congress to Protect Americans from Masked ICE Agents

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.