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.
Veterans In Partnership (VISN 11)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on September 12, 2012. Also cited in 213 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000080086, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 11 Saginaw, MI
Issue:
A married couple who are also Veterans were also VA employees. One worked at one CBOC, and the other worked at a nearby CBOC. The wife was killed in a fluke accident off duty. Employees accessed the husband's record in order to gain his home address to mail condolence cards and collections taken up at all of the facility's CBOCs. All employees that had accessed the record did state the purpose of going into the record was to gain the address as this was a young couple with two very small children and several collections were taken up for the family. Update: 09/12/12:Even though the intentions was well meaning, this is a data breach and Veteran/Employee will receive a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
The employees that were found to have accessed the record, have been educated and sanctions were done. We ask that no notification be sent to the spouse as it could affect more harm than good as no employee looked at the medical records, only at the address. Credit Monitoring Letter has been mailed out, and a copy has been uploaded.