Angus Kidman reports on a breach involving the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that potentially affects those who registered for the ABC’s Bluebird AR interactive drama earlier this year. In an email, ABC wrote: It has just come to the ABC’s attention that between Sept 9 and October 4 this year, an error in migrating files meant…
PHR Privacy Report a Work in Progress
Howard Anderson writes: Federal officials are still months away from submitting an overdue report to Congress on privacy and security requirements for personal health records vendors, which are not covered by HIPAA. Section 13421 of the HITECH Act called for the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report by last February on the…
Family Suing NYC After Teen’s Brain Found In ME’s Office
I’ve occasionally blogged about the privacy of the dead and families’ rights with respect to the dead. Some parents have been shocked and distraught to discover that when their child’s body was released to them, body organs might have been missing as they were still undergoing testing. But when the testing is done, the coroner’s…
UK: Hull man guilty of snooping on hundreds of medical records
John Oates reports the follow-up to a breach previously covered on this site. A Hull man has been given a suspended sentence for looking at hundreds of women’s medical records. Dale Trever, 22, was working for Hull Primary Care Trust as a “care data quality facilitator” when he accessed medical records of 413 female patients….
FL: People’s Personal Information Up for Bid at Hospital Auction
Chad Mira reports: An auction at the Gulf Pines Hospital in Port St. Joe has former employees worried about a HIPAA law violation and possibly even identity theft. One past employee says old files were still in the hospital, and people could have walked away with them after the auction last week. Employees are frustrated…
Iowa crime victims in Iowa hurt by ruling, advocates say
Lee Rodo reports: An Iowa Supreme Court decision allowing criminal defendants more access to confidential mental and medical health records of their alleged victims has become highly controversial in state courts. Defense attorneys praise the July decision. But the ruling has prompted widespread concern from medical professionals, victims’ groups, therapists, social workers and state prosecutors…