DataBreaches.Net

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

Walgreens Sued for Sharing Patient’s Private Medical Info

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Dissent

Josh Crank provides additional coverage on a case previously mentioned on this blog:

A jury ordered Walgreen Co. to pay $1.44 million to an Indiana woman after one of its pharmacists illegally accessed and shared her medical information. But according to conventional legal wisdom, that lawsuit should never have made it to trial.

The suit was filed in response to a privacy breach committed by Walgreens pharmacist Audra Peterson, whose husband was the ex-boyfriend of Abigail Hinchy, a customer at the pharmacy. Peterson suspected Hinchy of giving her husband a sexually transmitted disease, so she used her authority at the pharmacy to access Hinchy’s medical records. She shared Hinchy’s sensitive medical details with her husband, who later sent Hinchy a text message indicating he knew the records’ contents.

Even though Hinchy called the pharmacy to complain, Peterson was allowed to access the information a second time. The suit accused Walgreen Co. of negligence in its supervision of Peterson, though the company fought back by arguing that Peterson’s illegal acts weren’t associated with her employer-authorized conduct. A judge disagreed and sent the question to a jury, which found the company liable for 80 percent of the damages owed to Hinchy. Walgreen Co. indicated it would appeal the decision.

Read more on Lawyers.com

No related posts.

Category: Health Data

Post navigation

← Chinese arrest 1,213 for trafficking in personal information
ICO announces two new undertakings →

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

  • Air Force Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Disclose Unlawfully Classified National Defense Information
  • UK police arrest four in connection with M&S, Co-op and Harrods cyberattacks (1)
  • At U.S. request, France jails Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of ransomware conspiracy
  • Avantic Medical Lab hacked; patient data leaked by Everest Group
  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure

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

  • How to Build on Washington’s “My Health, My Data” Act
  • Department of Justice Subpoenas Doctors and Clinics Involved in Performing Transgender Medical Procedures on Children
  • Google Settles Privacy Class Action Over Period Tracking App
  • ICE Is Searching a Massive Insurance and Medical Bill Database to Find Deportation Targets
  • Franklin, Tennessee Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison on Multiple Cyber Stalking Charges
  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations

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.