What is the matter with some healthcare professionals? AFP reports on this case from Switzerland: A nurse in Switzerland who posted pictures of herself on Facebook sitting next to the corpse of an old woman is coming under fire from her profession, while prosecutors say they have launched an investigation. Saint Gallen’s regional prosecutors said…
Category: Health Data
Hearings set for privacy charges
Charges are still hanging over the head of a nurse accused of accessing over 5,800 patients’ information improperly over a period of years. I had previously noted the incident on this blog in 2011 when it was first made public. Now it seems like it will be June before we know whether she will be…
When – if ever – is notification delayed, notification denied?
Most people I know want law enforcement to investigate some breaches and realize that, sometimes, that results delaying notification of those affected by a breach. But when does delay in notification become unreasonable or too long? Charles Sweeney reports that Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York delayed notification from November 2011 – when it determined…
South Miami Hospital employee stole patients' info for tax refund fraud scheme
Yes, let’s wait until Friday late in the day to disclose another insider breach at a Florida hospital for tax refund fraud. At this rate, we may have to retire the headline “Florida hospital employee steals patient info for tax refund fraud.” Local10 reports: Baptist Health says its privacy office has recently learned that a…
Better Safeguards Urged for Medical Records
Kathleen Struck reports: Hacking into patient medical records can be as easy as tapping into a hospital’s unsecured wireless network from a laptop in the parking lot. Government auditors proved it “by sitting in hospital parking lots with simple laptop computers” and obtaining “patient information from unsecured hospital wireless networks,” according to Julie K. Taitsman,…
AU: Soldiers' medical records found on road
David Murray reports: Confidential medical records detailing names, addresses and injuries of soldiers have been found scattered on a busy Brisbane street. The sensitive documents were blowing along Leichhardt St at Spring Hill near the base of an orthopaedic specialist treating the soldiers. Read more on The Australian. The orthopedist was not named. Hopefully there…