Marti Oakley writes: Unknown to most new parents, or those who became parents in the last ten or so years, DNA of newborns has been harvested, tested, stored and experimented with by all 50 states. And all 50 states are now routinely providing these results to the Homeland Security Department. No doubt we can all…
Category: Health Data
Breach of Britney Spears patient data highlights health care security shortfalls
Jim Carr writes in SC Magazine: Reports this week that the UCLA Medical Center has moved to fire 13 employees and suspended six others for unauthorized access to confidential medical records of pop star Britney Spears is a sign that training and regulations may not be working in some hospitals, experts told SCMagazineUS.com. […] Because…
Wisc. agencies continue to deny ambulance records
Darryl Enriquez writes in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Some fire and police agencies continue to deny public access to ambulance reports, despite a Sept. 28 opinion from state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen that says to do so violates the state’s open records law. Those agencies continue to withhold basic public information, claiming that the…
UK: Patient phone tapes taken home by staff
Caroline Innes of the Liverpool Echo writes: Tape recordings of patient phone calls were taken home by out-of-hours GP service staff. Data protection experts said today they feared patient confidentiality was being compromised by the actions of Urgent Care 24 (UC24) workers. Today the organisation said the practice of taking tapes home to do audit…
Clinic's owner may face fine
Gina Damron of the Detroit Free Press reports: The owner of a Lathrup Village clinic accused of improperly disposing of medical waste said Tuesday that he’s putting biohazard bags in every examination room to ensure that materials don’t end up in regular trash bins again. Dr. A. Alberto Hodari could find out this week whether…
Medical privacy puts boy at risk
Teresa Auch writes in the Post-Tribune: PORTAGE — A Crisman Elementary student’s seizure went unnoticed on a school bus partly because of confusion over health privacy laws, and now his mother wants answers. Katherine Allbritton said her son, Johnny, has epilepsy. When he started kindergarten last year, she made sure to talk with the principal…