Tayler Andrews would have turned a year old last week, on June 16. It was a difficult day for his grandmother and grandfather. They fretted, mourned and re-asked themselves a lot of questions. Why couldn’t we stop it? Why did no one help? Why didn’t anyone listen? You probably recall the recent, sad stories in…
Author: Dissent
NYS tax department worker pleads not guilty to ID theft
This incident was originally reported in April 2009, but the Associated Press provides additional details on what investigators found. Walter Healey, the former employee, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday on four counts of identity theft, unlawful possession of personal identification, tampering with public records and official misconduct.. Last year, another employee noticed irregularities in packages…
PCI-DSS: Not on health care provider's radar
Health care providers are certainly no stranger to data privacy and security standards related to protected health information (PHI). Although these providers and their respective organizations are well versed in rules, policies and requirements of HIPAA, few are aware that the PCI-DSS rules apply to their businesses and even fewer are compliant. When HIPAA compliancy…
NY: Ex-Penfield school district worker accused of computer trespass
Owens F. Shepard, a former Penfield Central School District employee, was arrested Friday on charges of using the district’s state Department of Motor Vehicles account to illegally access nearly 150 records. A news release said Shepard illegally accessed the account between June 2007 and May of this year, “including searches apparently done for the sake…
Ca: ICBC cuts deal with chiropractors for patient medical records
The Insurance Corp. of B.C. is defending its decision to enter into an agreement with B.C. chiropractors that could give the corporation access to patients’ medical records. Under the deal, ICBC will pay chiropractors a $900 flat fee for treating an ICBC customer. The chiropractor could then provide ICBC with records of the patient’s treatment….
Public curiosity should not trump medical privacy
More troubling news on the Daniel Hauser case, from the AP: A Minnesota judge has denied a request to seal the medical records of a 13-year-old boy who gained national attention when he fled the state last month to avoid chemotherapy to treat his Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled this week…