Dan Goodin reports: Websites operated by the US Treasury Department are redirecting visitors to websites that attempt to install malware on their PCs, a security researcher warned on Monday. The infection buries an invisible iframe in bep.treas.gov, moneyfactory.gov, and bep.gov that invokes malicious scripts from grepad.com, Roger Thompson, chief research officer of AVG Technologies, told…
New breach notification requirements in effect in Canada
From the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Alberta: Amendments to the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) were proclaimed in force on May 1, 2010, and added a new requirement for organizations to notify the Information and Privacy Commissioner of incidents “involving the loss of or unauthorized access to or disclosure of personal information where…
Hospital fulfills subpoena, gets hit with privacy suit
Amy Lynn Sorrel reports: Patient privacy is no doubt paramount in any physician practice. But when a subpoena suddenly is thrust into the physician-patient relationship, doctors may find themselves caught between the law and their privacy obligations. The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio found itself in such a predicament when it agreed to turn over a…
US-based plastic surgeon's anger at Dubai identity theft
It’s bad enough when a patient’s identity is stolen for purposes of obtaining medical care. But what about when someone steals a doctor’s identity to practice surgery? Mitya Underwood reports from Dubai: The plastic surgeon whose identity was stolen by a disgraced doctor has likened the experience to watching “a very bad movie”. Dr Steven…
Patients, politics don't mix, foe says
Zack McMillin reports: The letter arrived in mailboxes from a woman who has cultivated respect in Memphis and around the country for her work treating women with breast cancer, saving lives and easing suffering with innovative approaches to treatment. Dr. Christine Mroz wrote about her husband Joe Baier’s campaign to join the Shelby County Board…
Za: Patient records still available
A healthcare sector breach out of South Africa. Andrew Stone reports: Health authorities were scrambling yesterday to find out how thousands of confidential patient records ended up being freely available on the Internet. A team of 20 investigators from both the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Health departments have been tasked to find out how…