Reader comments
U. seeks return of stolen billing records
16 comments | Read story
Richard G. | 3:56 p.m. June 10, 2008
Lesson to be learned: Never EVER give you Social Security to a medical office.
You do not have to do so, no matter what they say.
Richard L. | 4:47 p.m. June 10, 2008
This is a serious identify theft issue that is being downplayed by the
University of Utah Hospital staff. "Hospital officials pointed out that
when data has been stolen from other hospitals, there has been not one clear
case of identity theft as a result." How reassuring! Why did they wait
almost 9 days before the public was notified of this theft?
Mike F. | 5:04 p.m. June 10, 2008
Wow, $1,000 for 2.2 million medical records! Come on University Hospital. How
cheap can you be! First you withhold this information to the public about the
missing data for some time and then they come out with a measly $1,000 reward.
Bet the thief can get much more than that on the black market! Yet one more
reason why I don't use University Hospital.
Comments continue below
Lindsay P. | 5:38 p.m. June 10, 2008
Over a week to notify people? are you kidding?
Red | 6:57 p.m. June 10, 2008
It would have been a piece of cake to encrypt the information. It would then
have been worthless to a thief.
I'm afraid that people who collect personal information -- health care systems, stores, credit card companies, etc. -- won't routinely take this absurdly simple step until they're bludgeoned by some *very* hairy lawsuits.
I'm afraid that people who collect personal information -- health care systems, stores, credit card companies, etc. -- won't routinely take this absurdly simple step until they're bludgeoned by some *very* hairy lawsuits.
U Failed to Encrypt Date - Oops! | 8:25 p.m. June 10, 2008
Was this data encrypted or not? University Hospital won't say which means
this data was unprotected. And whose idea was it to offer $1,000 for more than 2
million records of patients? They should be fired. All I saw today was cover
up!!! Make University Hospital for this blunder!
Lisa J. | 8:40 p.m. June 10, 2008
My experiences at the U. Hospital have gotten worse over the years. Terrible
service by staff and nurses. Place looks and (smells) old. Now this! My
insurance allows me to get care elsewhere. I am done with the U. There's
far better care in the state (Primary's, LDS Hospital and the new IMC
hospital in Murray.
Check this out | 9:11 p.m. June 10, 2008
Directly from Perpetual Storage's website:
"Any organization which fails to institute appropriate data security can expose not only the organization but its board of directors individually and personally to substantial liability, which can be imposed by contract an/or by law. The board of directors of a company has a fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders to protect all of the assets of the company. Failure to establish and maintain a reasonable security program is a breach of that fiduciary duty; in case of substatial loss, the members of the board may be personally liable to stockholders whose stock has been devalued. The corporation may also be liable to others, either contractually or under the doctrines of tort law (a civil wrong for which the law imposes liability)."
"Any organization which fails to institute appropriate data security can expose not only the organization but its board of directors individually and personally to substantial liability, which can be imposed by contract an/or by law. The board of directors of a company has a fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders to protect all of the assets of the company. Failure to establish and maintain a reasonable security program is a breach of that fiduciary duty; in case of substatial loss, the members of the board may be personally liable to stockholders whose stock has been devalued. The corporation may also be liable to others, either contractually or under the doctrines of tort law (a civil wrong for which the law imposes liability)."
The NIT | 11:27 p.m. June 10, 2008
What horrible writing and grammar usage from the previous respondents to this
article! I would estimate the average age must be around 11 - based on the
English usage. By the way, the University of Utah hospital system must be
terribly embarrassed by this mess and should pay a dear price. Maybe they will
learn to appropriately protect confidential information [ever heard of HIPPA?].
Hopefully, other medical providers will also learn from this situation.
outraged!! | 12:06 a.m. June 11, 2008
A courier using his personal vehicle then parking over night in Kearns? Are you
joking? Why isn't there more comments about this story? Can anyone find
more information about the legal ramifications and the responsibility that the
University of Utah Healthcare system has now for all their patients. Such a
inexcusable decision and error made by a very large healthcare system in not
safeguarding their patients most private infomation.This could be a tragedy for
millions of people, not just in Utah but so many of their patients in other
states.
infomation? | 12:41 a.m. June 11, 2008
Will those records have patients most private infomation? Such as doctor's
notes? medications their taking? diagnosis? symptoms? WOW I cannot believe
this. Are all you passive Utahns just going sit around and wait for the
consequences to happen to you because of someone's mistake that can effect
you for a life time? Someone has to pay for this I say who ever decided to use
that Mickey Mouse company that has courier's that do not follow procedure.
It was probably the cheapest company to do the job, never mind about high
security for their patients personal infomation. Start firing the upper echelon
and down over this poor decision to use a Mickey Mouse courier service,
probably to save money. Getting rid them will save the university millions. Just
like they are hiring all brand new nurses with no experience to take care of
their patients trying to save themselves money so they can get their big
paychecks, never mind the patient care this is tragic!!!!!!!!
IT Man | 7:38 a.m. June 11, 2008
Encrypt your backup tapes. That way if the tapes are lost or stolen, the data
is unreadable. Even if Mickey Mouse is carting them around.
Stephanie | 8:30 a.m. June 11, 2008
WONDERFUL!!!
melanie | 11:50 a.m. June 13, 2008
One year of free credit check?????? They'd better come up with something
to make us not feel to violated. We can't even sleep well at night. Here
we are taking every precaution with our personal information buying shreders
and everything and the University hits us with this stupid mistake. How long
before we can sleep again?
Guy | 10:28 p.m. June 16, 2008
At least the illegals won't have to worry about their identities. They get
everything for free without any personal information.
Alan D | 4:02 p.m. June 29, 2008
I recently received MY letter from the U. Are any lawyers looking into this? Is
anyone working on a class action suit?
I can't help but wonder, if I sign up for their "free credit monitoring" am I agreeing to NOT seek other action against the UMC?
I can't help but wonder, if I sign up for their "free credit monitoring" am I agreeing to NOT seek other action against the UMC?
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Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Utah/Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences) answers questions from the media regarding the theft of 2.2 million personal records during a press conference, Tuesday.
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