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mahatmakanejeeves

(61,634 posts)
Sun Sep 22, 2024, 04:57 PM Sep 2024

Health system to pay $65 million after hackers leaked nude patient photos

Source: Washington Post

Health system to pay $65 million after hackers leaked nude patient photos

The episode highlights the risk of cyberattacks and their legal aftermath for health-care organizations with especially sensitive information

By Daniel Gilbert
September 22, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EDT

In March 2023, a Pennsylvania woman received a phone call from a health-care executive that left her in disbelief: Hackers had obtained photos of her naked body while she underwent radiation treatments and posted them to a dark corner of the internet. … Lehigh Valley Health Network refused to pay a ransom “in excess” of $5 million to recover the photos and other stolen patient information, but it couldn’t sidestep financial damages from the breach.

The unidentified woman, who is in her 50s and known as Jane Doe, became the lead plaintiff in a class action suing Lehigh for failing to safeguard highly sensitive patient information, including nude photos of hundreds of cancer patients. On Sept. 12, a law firm announced that Lehigh had agreed to pay $65 million to settle the case.

As hackers penetrate American health-care firms with alarming regularity, the episode reveals how cyberthieves are exploiting uniquely sensitive data — with devastating human and financial consequences.
Data breaches that compromise health information of hundreds of Americans happen on a near-daily basis, according to a Washington Post review of cases compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services going back to 2022. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more reports of ransomware attacks on health-care industry targets last year than any other of the 16 sectors it tracks.

The Lehigh Valley case also highlights the legal predicaments for health-care organizations that are increasingly targeted by hackers, leaving them vulnerable to both the cybercriminals and subsequent lawsuits brought by patients whose lives are upended by a breach.

{snip}

By Daniel Gilbert
Daniel Gilbert joined The Washington Post in 2022 and writes about the business of medicine. He previously spent seven years as an investigative reporter for the Seattle Times, and before that covered business for the Wall Street Journal. For sensitive tips, he can be reached on the Signal app: (773) 350-6933.follow on X @bydanielgilbert

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/09/22/health-system-pay-65-million-after-hackers-leaked-nude-patient-photos/

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Health system to pay $65 million after hackers leaked nude patient photos (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2024 OP
Nude Photos? Makes it sound like porn mdbl Sep 2024 #1
Wouldn't be difficult to auto-blur details in truthisfreedom Sep 2024 #2
If hackers had called me, I would have said "Go ahead and publish 'em" FakeNoose Sep 2024 #3
Please, I would like... reACTIONary Sep 2024 #5
I would have demanded EllieBC Sep 2024 #6
I'm 75 and my lady bits are sagging in all the wrong places. If they get a naked photo of Vinca Sep 2024 #8
Wonder how much of the $65 million the individual victims will receive? MichMan Sep 2024 #4
The "mouthpieces" gotta wet their beak first John Shaft Sep 2024 #7

truthisfreedom

(23,328 posts)
2. Wouldn't be difficult to auto-blur details in
Sun Sep 22, 2024, 06:55 PM
Sep 2024

Medical photos using AI. Why should any medical records/photos show details that don’t contribute to diagnosis?

FakeNoose

(36,005 posts)
3. If hackers had called me, I would have said "Go ahead and publish 'em"
Sun Sep 22, 2024, 07:57 PM
Sep 2024

What a bunch of asshole weasels!

reACTIONary

(6,157 posts)
5. Please, I would like...
Sun Sep 22, 2024, 10:02 PM
Sep 2024

... two 8x10's and six wallet sized copies.

I read a anecdote about a diplomat who responded such when someone tried to extort him with some compromat. Don't remember who, and I can't find a reference to the incident.

EllieBC

(3,382 posts)
6. I would have demanded
Sun Sep 22, 2024, 10:52 PM
Sep 2024

to get a cut of the profits. If you’re going to pop my pics onto OnlyFans you better give me a cut of the proceeds.

Vinca

(51,238 posts)
8. I'm 75 and my lady bits are sagging in all the wrong places. If they get a naked photo of
Mon Sep 23, 2024, 06:48 AM
Sep 2024

me having a hip replaced or something, I say enjoy!

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