DataBreaches.Net

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

Data Privacy Day 2010

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Dissent

Today is Data Privacy Day. I’ve covered a number of events going on over on PogoWasRight.org, but I thought I would use today to mention an aspect of PHI privacy that I haven’t really blogged about here before: emailing your doctor.

As a healthcare provider, I understand that my patients like the convenience of being able to e-mail questions whenever they think of something. I also understand that they may wish to forward e-mails to me that they may receive from their children’s teachers. But I wish they wouldn’t as I really don’t want to have their sensitive information being transmitted unencrypted and I really would prefer not to have their email residing on a server that might be hacked at any time.

And so I try to educate my patients about the perils of using e-mail and encourage them that if they feel they really need to email, not to use their child’s name in any communication or put anything so sensitive in email that they would be horrified if wound up being exposed and archived on the Internet.

But it’s not just my patients where I feel such concern, as colleagues may email me about mutual patients. And despite my efforts to educate them, they may put a patient’s name as the subject line.

Clearly, I’ve still got my work cut out for me, but on Data Privacy Day, please think about how you might be using email with your doctors or your children’s doctors or your colleagues and consider whether you are taking any unnecessary privacy risks. It’s not our liability as healthcare professionals that I’m worried about here — it’s your confidentiality and privacy.

Category: Uncategorized

Post navigation

← Apple Daily: Breach of professional ethics
Privacy questioned after Weyburn woman receives inmate’s psych file by mistake →

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

  • McLaren provides written notice to 743,131 patients after ransomware attack in July 2024
  • A state forensics lab was leaking its files. Getting it locked down involved a number of people.
  • CoinMarketCap Hacked, Scrambles to Remove Malicious Wallet Verification Popup
  • Montana Attorney General launches investigation into Lee Enterprises data breach
  • AT&T gets preliminary approval for $177 million data breach settlement
  • Aflac notifies SEC of breach suspected to be work of Scattered Spider
  • Former JBLM soldier pleads guilty to attempting to share military secrets with China
  • No, the 16 billion credentials leak is not a new data breach — a wake-up call about fake news (Updated)
  • Tonga’s health system hit by cyberattack (1)
  • Russia Expert Falls Prey to Elite Hackers Disguised as US Officials

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

  • The Markup caught 4 more states sharing personal health data with Big Tech
  • Privacy in the Big Sky State: Montana’s Consumer Privacy Law Gets Amended
  • UK Passes Data Use and Access Regulation Bill
  • Officials defend Liberal bill that would force hospitals, banks, hotels to hand over data
  • US Judge Invalidates Biden Rule Protecting Privacy for Abortions
  • DOJ’s Data Security Program: Key Compliance Considerations for Impacted Entities
  • 23andMe fined £2.31 million for failing to protect UK users’ genetic data

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.