Opinion

Treat records theft as the crime that it is -- not as cause for lawsuit

LETTER — Posted April 3, 2006

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Regarding "Oregon computer theft spurs patient privacy lawsuit" (Article, March 6): The Oregon lawsuit by patients whose medical information was contained in a laptop that was stolen from a hospital employee is absurd. The laptop was stolen from a locked car.

Should Providence Health System have hired guards to watch every employee's car? If armed thieves walked into a hospital health information department and stole patient charts, should the patients sue for violating HIPAA? If my bank is robbed, should I sue the bank for improperly guarding my money from thieves? If my child tells me that a classmate copied an answer from her during a test, should I sue the other parent for theft of intellectual property?

At some point, the line has to be drawn when a crime is involved, or once again the only winners will be the lawyers.

Ronald L Hirsch, MD, Elgin, Ill.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/04/03/edlt0403.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn