[BreachExchange] Why hospital workers were fired after Kanye West’s breakdown

[Audrey McNeil]

http://rollingout.com/2016/12/20/why-hospital-workers-were-
fired-after-kanye-wests-breakdown/

Last month, producer and rapper Kanye West was hospitalized after an
unspecified medical crisis. Sources originally claimed West was suffering
from exhaustion and stress. However, other sources claimed West was
suffering from a full-blown “psychotic breakdown” and doctors were
stabilizing him. The music superstar was treated at UCLA Medical Center and
was released several days later. But his stay at the hospital may now cost
some people their jobs.

According to multiple media outlets, an unauthorized staff member at UCLA
Medical Center attempted to access West’s confidential medical files.
According to one outlet, when West was first admitted, several dozen
hospital staff members accessed the computer network searching for
information on the superstar patient. It was reported that West was placed
on a “5150 hold,” which allows a physician to forcibly admit a patient into
a hospital over fears that he may harm himself or others. West was
reportedly handcuffed to a gurney when he arrived at the hospital. When
hospital administrators found out about the attempted data breach, there
was a round of mass firings and an internal investigation was launched.

If the hospital staff did attempt to gain unauthorized access to Kanye’s
files, it could be a violation of the HIPPA laws, which protect a patient’s
privacy. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect
individual’s medical records and other personal health information and
applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care
providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically.
Fines for HIPPA violations can range from $100-$50K per violation. The fine
depends on how egregious the violation is per patient record.
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