bioethics.net News Update - Medical Privacy

Info for more than 6000 UCSF patients exposed

Sun, 04 May 2008 09:38:38 EDT

The data was exposed online for more than three months. Hospital officials say there have been no reports of identity theft. The hospital waited nearly six months to notify patients of the exposure.

Former UCLA staffer indicted for leaking patient info

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:28:52 EDT

The federal indictment alleges that the former administrative specialist of selling the health info about celebrities to a media outlet.

Doctors got off easiest for snooping in Britney's files

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

California Department of Public Health officials say doctors at UCLA Medical Center who improperly accessed the records of Britney Spears were given only reprimands and fines, while other employees were suspended or fired.

NYC hospital worker charged with selling info of 50,000 patients

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:32:37 EDT

Police say the former New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center employee sold the names, phone numbers and Social Security numbers of the patients over a two year span.

Person at center of UCLA privacy breach says she was "curious"

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:44:05 EDT

"It was me just being nosy," the former administrative specialist told the LA Times. Hospital officials say the woman improperly looked at the files of more than 60 people. Many of the patients are famous, prompting questions about whether info was leaked in return for money.

Series of patient record breaches at UCLA

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:11:35 EDT

The medical center says the snooping into the records of high profile patients was the work of a "rogue" employee. But a state official says there appears to be a pattern of repeated violations.

Clarifying student mental health notification for parents

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:20:08 EDT

The federal Department of Education says a new proposal would make it clear that colleges and universities would not be penalized for notifying parents when their children appeared to have mental health issues that might endanger themselves or others.

Hospital moves to fire workers for sneaking peeks at Britney Spears' records

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:45:44 EDT

The UCLA Medical Center is moving to fire 13 workers for looking at the pop star's confidential medical records during her stay in the hospital's psychiatric unit. It's the second time UCLA has had to discipline staffers for snooping in Spears' records.

Ads with your health records

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:39:03 EST

Google says its health records service won't initially include ads, but didn't rule them out in the future. One analyst says advertisers would pay "absurd amounts of money" for such ad space.

Google to store patient records

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:56:04 EST

The internet giant is teaming up with the Cleveland Clinic to offer electronic health records the same way it offers web email.

Blue Cross halts requests for doctors to tell on patients

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:42:16 EST

In a statement released Wednesday, Blue Cross of California said the letter calling on doctors to report patients who hadn't disclosed pre-existing conditions was "no longer necessary."

Virginia considers parental notification for college student psychiatric problems

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 09:22:33 EST

A bill being considered would require the state's colleges and universities to notify parents if their child was deemed a danger to themselves or others. Critics say the law will discourage students from seeking mental health treatment.

School district's pregnancy notification policy draws criticism

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:47:57 EST

The revised policy at the Baltimore-area district directs officials to tell parents if students reveal they are pregnant. Experts predict the policy will make students more reluctant to come forward and will slow the delivery of health care.

Judge orders Kansas doctor to turn over abortion records

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:47:10 EST

The order comes after a grand jury subpoenaed all records for patients who sought a late term abortion at the doctor's clinic during the last five years. The grand jury was convened under a 19th century law that allows citizens to initiate investigations by gathering signatures on a petition.

Amgen accused of violating patient privacy

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:25:59 EST

Two former drug reps have sued the company claiming they got the boot after protesting a plan to sift doctors' records for patients that could be prescribed an expensive biotech drug, even though the patients probably didn't need it. The drug maker has declined to comment on the allegations.