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.
ST MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for violations of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on December 4, 2013. Also cited in 4 other reports.
Report ID: VL6I11.02, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to protect Patient 1's privacy when an employee took an unauthorized picture of Patient 1 in the hospital's Emergency Department waiting room, and then the employee posted the picture on her Facebook account for her friends to see.Findings:Protected health information includes personal identifiers. The picture of Patient 1 in the hospital's Emergency Department waiting room was a personal identifier. Since this photograph was taken and used without prior authorization from Patient 1, it constituted a breach of protected health information.See State Regulation E 1952 for further details.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280