Winston J. Maxwell writes: An article published by specialist healthcare news website Actusoins has revealed data breaches at several French hospitals and clinics, demonstrating that such incidents can occur even in a highly regulated jurisdiction. The journalist was researching another article and entered the name of a physician into Google. She was astonished to find, at…
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Stats and more stats
Redspin breaks down and analyzes the 2012 HHS breach data, here. Some of their statistics: 21.5% increase in # of large breaches in 2012 over 2011 but… a 77% decrease in # of patient records impacted Comment: the pattern of increased number of breaches but decreased number of records impacted is consistent with what we…
UK: Big brother to log your drinking habits and waist size as GPs are forced to hand over confidential records
Jack Doyle reports: GPs are to be forced to hand over confidential records on all their patients’ drinking habits, waist sizes and illnesses. The files will be stored in a giant information bank that privacy campaigners say represents the ‘biggest data grab in NHS history’. They warned the move would end patient confidentiality and hand…
Disciplinary panel can proceed against doctor who discussed patient’s details on train, say judges
The current issue of the British Medical Journal has an article by Clare Dyer on disciplinary proceedings involving a psychiatrist who discussed a patient’s case on a crowded train. The NHS trust that runs Broadmoor secure hospital can go ahead with disciplinary action against a consultant forensic psychiatrist who discussed a patient’s medical report with a…
Audit cites UIHC for lacking encryption
Tara Bannow reports: About half of the more than 500 laptops issued to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics employees last summer did not have encryption software to protect sensitive information, a deputy state auditor said Monday. A state of Iowa auditor’s office report released Monday described how the lack of encryption software on some…
Docs 'n guns
I’ve previously noted a Florida law that prohibited doctors from inquiring whether there was a gun in a patient’s home. In my opinion, the Firearm Owners ‘ Privacy Act was, and is, a terrible law, and interferes with health care professionals’ attempts to routinely screen for environmental factors that may, at some point, become a safety risk…