Marshall Allen of the Las Vegas Sun is staying all over the UMC breach reported here previously. In today’s commentary, he reviews the findings of past audits of UMC’s HIPAA compliance: University Medical Center, facing a possible FBI investigation for allowing confidential patient information to be leaked to outsiders, has a spotty record of adhering…
Author: Dissent
Cleveland VA employees may have sneaked a peek at suspected serial killer's medical records
Joan Mazzolini reports: The Cleveland Veterans Affairs hospital is investigating whether employees snooped in serial killing suspect Anthony Sowell’s private medical records. A spokeswoman for the Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center confirmed that an investigation was under way. It was unclear if it is an internal investigation or if federal VA authorities were called in….
CA: OB/GYN accused of patient ID theft for drugs
As a follow-up to a case previously mentioned on this site, Michelle Tuzee reports on the case of Dr. Lisa Michelle Barden, a physician who was arrested in January for stealing patients’ identities to support her drug habit. Barden is charged with 276 felonies, including identity theft, forgery, burglary and possession of controlled substances. Court…
ACORN Dumped Sensitive Documents as Probe Began – PI
Joseph Abrams reports: A private investigator says he found tens of thousands of sensitive documents dumped outside a California ACORN office just days after the state attorney general announced an inquiry into the community organizing group. Derrick Roach, a licensed investigator based in San Diego, told FoxNews.com he paid an impromptu visit to the city’s…
Multi-state debit card fraud linked to Hancock Fabrics – police
Linda McGlasson reports: Bank customers in California, Wisconsin and Missouri are reporting fraudulent ATM withdrawals that police say are tied to transactions conducted with the Hancock Fabrics retail chain. In California, Napa Police Department spokesman Brian McGovern says 60 residents reported their cards being used by thieves….. At about the same time, as many as…
Judge dismisses Andrew Speaker suit against CDC
Shelia M. Poole reports: A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention filed by an Atlanta lawyer who claimed the agency invaded his privacy. The lawsuit stemmed from a high-profile case involving Andrew Speaker, who alleged the federal agency divulged private medical information during a tuberculosis…