Over on PHIprivacy.net, I had often questioned the fact that so many healthcare facilities retain patients’ medical records forever. And while those stored records pose a risk in terms of breaches, I had also noted that there might be times when having a patient’s very old records could actually be helpful.
Here’s another example. KPLR reports:
Old medical records have been moved out of storage and taken to the St. Louis City Health Department.
Information inside those files could solve a mystery surrounding the old Homer G. Phillips Hospital. Some people believe babies were stolen from young mothers at the hospital during the 1950s and 1960s. There are allegations the babies were either sold or given to couples.