In the justice system: A string of identity thefts spanning seven states has resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Wisconsin. More. As a follow-up to a story reported previously, Scottsdale police arrested nine people who allegedly ran an ID theft ring that involved stealing customer data from local businesses including the Henry Brown…
Category: Health Data
Florida couple fed up over medical fax flap
Laura Kadechka reports on a Tampa couple who have been received misdirected faxes containing pharmacy and medical information for over two years, despite their having contacted the pharmacies and medical clinics to tell them of the error. The doctor who had had their phone number had changed it two years ago. Not wholly surprising, when…
Scotland: Patient data security overhauled
The BBC reports that NHS Dumfries and Galloway in south west Scotland improved its security after the loss of two memory sticks carrying patient data in May 2008. It now uses USB devices with built-in security, and is nearing completion on a program to fully encrypt all other portable devices. Patient groups had called for…
CO: Health records blowing in the wind
ABC News in Denver reports that confidential patient records from Agape Healthcare in Greenwood Village were found blowing in people’s yards miles away in Aurora. Some of the records were dated earlier this week. Agape Healthcare provides in-home services to those with six months or less to live.
Bits ‘n Pieces
In the justice system: John Shiefer, the Los Angeles computer security consultant who turned thousands of computers into zombies, was sentenced to four years in prison. More. Four Arizona men accused of spending more than $1 million using stolen credit cards are being held in a Maricopa County jail; they allegedly obtained the card numbers…
UK: Hospital sent private patient notes to electrician
Nick Hyde of The Blackpool Gazette reports that Blackpool Victoria Hospital has launched an investigation after sensitive and confidential details of dozens of patients were sent to the home of a Blackpool businessman. This is apparently not the first time this happened, either. The referral forms sent to him last week relate to patients…