Showing posts with label Arkansas Laptop Merck Stolen HIPPA December 14 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkansas Laptop Merck Stolen HIPPA December 14 2009. Show all posts

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Was There Any "Patient Specific" Health Information On This Stolen Merck Laptop?


If so, look for various legally-required notices to go out, far and wide, shortly. The report -- in the local Arkansas papers -- read as follows, of an event that occurred on December 1, 2009:

. . . .501 Millwood Circle: On Dec. 1, Alicia Silva of Maumelle reported the theft of an IBM T200 laptop computer from her vehicle. She told police she either left the computer on the hood of her vehicle while dropping of her child at Little Scholars Academy or it was stolen while she left the vehicle there. The computer requires a fingerprint identification to operate and belongs to her employer, Merck and Company. . . .

Interesting -- I believe that, even with the fingerprint-key feature, since the laptop's hard drive may be easily removed, and then simply dropped into a clamshell case, and connected by USB to any other computer, and all data then read, copied and potentially sold -- the notices will be required. We shall see.