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Policing Patient Privacy

Patient Privacy and Medical Care

ProPublica is exploring how patient privacy violations are affecting patients and the medical care they receive.

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Policing Patient Privacy

New Jersey to Suspend Prominent Psychologist for Failing to Protect Patient Privacy

The state began investigating Barry Helfmann after a 2015 article by ProPublica and the New York Times about debt collection lawsuits against his patients that included details of their mental health diagnoses and treatments.

Policing Patient Privacy

New Jersey Seeks to Sanction Psychologist for Disclosing Patients’ Diagnoses in Court Filings

Lawsuits filed on behalf of a psychologist and his practice had disclosed details of patients’ mental health diagnoses and treatments, including those of children. Psychologist Barry Helfmann denies wrongdoing.

Policing Patient Privacy

Federal Health Officials Seek to Stop Social Media Abuse of Nursing Home Residents

After ProPublica identified dozens of cases of dehumanizing photos posted on social media sites, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a plan to increase its oversight to prevent and punish such abuse.

Policing Patient Privacy

New York Top Court Revives Suit Against Hospital That Let Man’s Death Be Filmed

Mark Chanko’s family sued NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and one of its doctors for allowing a TV crew to film his death without permission. A lower court had thrown the case out, but the New York Court of Appeals revived it.

Policing Patient Privacy

Another Senator Calls for Action on Social Media Abuse of Nursing Home Residents

The move follows a ProPublica report that identified some three dozen incidents since 2012 in which dehumanizing or degrading photos of residents were posted on social media sites.

Policing Patient Privacy

Senator Asks Privacy Regulators to Stop Abuse of Nursing Home Residents on Social Media

ProPublica reported in December about three dozen inappropriate posts by employees of nursing homes and assisted living centers. A top Democrat wants details on efforts to combat the trend.

Policing Patient Privacy

New York City Hospitals to End Filming Without Consent

After a reality television show filmed the death of a man without getting his family’s approval, New York City hospitals have decided to put an end to filming patients without consent.

Policing Patient Privacy

New York Legislation Would Make It a Felony to Film Patients Without Prior Consent

The bill was filed after a ProPublica story about a man whose death was recorded by the real-life medical series “NY Med” without permission. His widow recognized her husband while watching the show on TV.

Nursing Home Workers Still Posting Nude and Vulgar Photos of Residents on Snapchat

Inappropriate Social Media Posts by Nursing Home Workers, Detailed

The Secret Documents That Detail How Patients’ Privacy is Breached

Health Gadgets and Apps Outpace Privacy Protections, Report Finds

As Cases Multiply, Officials Scramble to Stop Abuse of Nursing Home Residents on Social Media

Stung by Yelp Reviews, Health Providers Spill Patient Secrets

New York Hospital to Pay $2.2 Million Fine for Allowing Filming of Patients Without Consent

Nursing Assistant Fired, Charged After Posting Nude Video of 93-Year-Old on Snapchat

The Consequences for Violating Patient Privacy in California? Depends Where the Hospital Is

Farrah Fawcett Was Right — We Have Little Medical Privacy

Another VA Headache: Privacy Violations Rising at Veterans’ Medical Facilities

Methodology: How We Analyzed Privacy Violation Data

Few Consequences For Health Privacy Law's Repeat Offenders

HIPAA Helper

New Jersey Psychology Practice Revealed Patients’ Mental Disorders in Debt Lawsuits

Nursing Home Workers Share Explicit Photos of Residents on Snapchat

Inappropriate Social Media Posts by Nursing Home Workers, Detailed

Celebrities’ Medical Records Tempt Hospital Workers to Snoop

Small-Scale Violations of Medical Privacy Often Cause the Most Harm

Privacy Not Included: Federal Law Lags Behind New Tech

After Sexual Assault, Woman Says University Lawyers Accessed Her Counseling Records

When Students Become Patients, Privacy Suffers

Foes Dive for Discarded Records in Abortion Clinic Dumpsters

Activists Pursue Private Abortion Details Using Public Records Laws

Health Data Breaches Sow Confusion, Frustration

Despite Wave of Data Breaches, Official Says Patient Privacy Isn’t Dead

Ebola-infected Nurse Contends Dallas Hospital Violated Her Privacy

Podcast: Protecting Your Health Data

Fines Remain Rare Even As Health Data Breaches Multiply

Over 1,100 Health Data Breaches, but Few Fines

When a Patient's Death is Broadcast Without Permission

Are Patient Privacy Laws Being Misused to Protect Medical Centers?