The VA responded to my email inquiries about the recently disclosed breach involving the eBenefits web site with the following statement: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) takes seriously our obligation to properly safeguard personal information. During a limited period of time Wednesday evening, as part of a process to improve software supporting the joint VA and Department…
Category: Health Data
GA: Macon woman sentenced in nursing home identity thefts
Liz Fabian reports: A 32-year-old Macon woman faces 27 years in prison after stealing the identities of nursing home patients and filing a half-million dollars worth of fraudulent tax returns. Yolando Blount, also known as Yolanda King, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Macon after pleading guilty in September to wire fraud, mail…
Trains, pains and allegations: fairness in medical misconduct cases
Richard Booth QC writes about West London Mental Health NHS Trust (Respondent) v Chhabra (Appellant) [2013] UKSC 80 : It is not unknown for lawyers or doctors to speak on a mobile phone about confidential details of a case while travelling by train. Some of you may even have left case papers out on your seat or…
FTC denies LabMD's motion to dismiss
In one of two highly watched cases involving the FTC and data security, the Commission has denied LabMD’s motion to dismiss the FTC’s complaint. In their order denying LabMD’s motion, the Commission writes: Respondent LabMD, Inc. (“LabMD”) has moved to dismiss the Complaint in this adjudicatory proceeding, arguing that the Commission has no authority to address…
OR: DHS sends private info to wrong person
Chris Holmstrom reports: In December, a woman received a Cover Oregon application meant for another person. It contained personal information and medical history. But this week that same woman received highly confidential information meant for someone else from the Department of Human Services. Both packages were addressed to her PO Box in Dallas. “This woman’s…
New Mexico man settles claims against city and county over invasive body cavity searches for drugs
There’s been a development in a lawsuit filed by David Eckert, the New Mexico man who was subjected to invasive and humiliating medical procedures based on a warrant in another county. I had discussed the case in a previous post that focused on the issue for health care professionals asked to comply with police requests that…