********** Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2001 13:55:01 -0600 To: declanat_private From: Peter Swire <pswireat_private> Subject: Kids' Psych Records Placed on Web From the front page of today's LA Times. "Web Mishap: Kids' Psychological Files Posted" "Detailed psychological records containing the innermost secrets of at least 62 children and teenagers were accidentally posted on the University of Montana Web site last week in one of the most glaring violations of privacy over the Internet. "The 400 pages of documents describe patient visits and offer diagnoses by therapists of mental retardation, depression, schizophrenia and other serious conditions. "In nearly all cases, they contain complete names, dates of birth and sometimes home addresses and schools attended, along with results of psychological testing. ... Full story at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-110701private.story The story, I think, is further evidence that privacy and security practices need to keep improving for health care. National medical privacy rules are scheduled for implementation in April, 2003, including for online records, but HHS has not yet issued the accompanying computer security rules. Peter Prof. Peter P. Swire, Ohio State University Visiting, George Washington Law School, 2001-02 Former Chief Counselor for Privacy, U.S. Office of Management & Budget Phone: (301) 213-9587 or (202) 994-0812 web: www.osu.edu/units/law/swire.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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