Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on June 26, 2015. Also cited in 43 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000121407, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: COLUMBIA SC - 544
Issue:
Attempt was made to contact Next of Kin (NOK) during an event involving Veteran A to discuss the patient's wishes in regards to advanced life saving measures. When requesting the number for the NOK, the physician was provided with number to his wife by MICU staff. The wife promptly answered the phone and confirmed twice that she was the wife of Veteran A and his medical decision maker before any details were discussed with wife. Wife was given the report on Veteran As current situation and the possible need for escalation in care. Wife stated that (per Veteran As wishes) he would not want to be intubated or kept alive on machines or have chest compressions. Given the previously determined futility of advanced life support measures in this patient's case, he was made DNR/DNI. It was later brought to the attention of MD that the number given for Veteran As next of Kin was in fact the wife of Veteran B who was a patient in the adjacent room. Contact was then made with Veteran As true Next of Kin (brother), who was informed of the patients death.
Outcome:
06/25/15: This appears to be more of a medical care issue than a data breach issue. The Chief of Staff and Director have been made aware of the situation. The privacy aspects are still under investigation. 07/06/15: The Chief of Medicine spoke with the spouse, and it was in the middle of the night, and she couldn't recall much of the conversation. The risk of data breach in this situation is quite low.